#and everything is going perfect with mafia issues but with restaurant...

[courtoffanfics]

Bambina

I had this dream few nights ago and its been stuck in my head so enjoy :)

parings: Mafia!damiano x reader

warnings: smut, protectiveness?, slight dub con non con, hair pulling, dirty talking, language, pet names, claiming, possessiveness, fingering, hand job, probably some mistakes and bad plot lol.

word count: 2,449

It was family night and today they decided to go to a dingy restaurant off the side of the city. Family night had always seemed to go wrong in one form or the other, it got so bad that they would make bets on who would ruin the night first. The night was going good though which is a rare event, the food was nice and everyone was on their best behaviour until she saw him. He was sitting across from their table directly in front of her, looking right into her soul. He was beautiful she had to admit he had long hair a slight stubble along his jaw and upper lip and the most piercing eyes. she knew who he was everyone knew who he was, she's heard many things about him and his gang from the gossip in town. People fear him they bow down to him and never question him or his morals, anyone who does end up dead within 24 hours. He was sitting with one of his friends and when he turned his head to lean in and whisper something in his ear, turning back to make eye contact with her. She could feel the anger boil inside of her, they were talking about her and now they were laughing, you could say it was or anger issues or her pride or you could say she just had a hate for the arrogant mafia boss. She would not let him just laugh at her and not do anything about it, it just wasn't the kind of person she was. He had a big grin on his face, he found interest in her and he knew he just pissed her off, and she was gonna slap the smirk straight off his face. Standing up from her spot she marched up to his table, she finally stopped in front of him and he was even hotter up close, just leaning back leg spread in such an inviting way. but she wouldn't let that cloud her judgment. " I would love it if you could stop staring at me and keep if you could keep your snarky comments to yourself," she said standing her guard, not showing any weakness. " I can do whatever I want Topolino" she couldn't believe that he just did that, she felt it all boiling over, and maybe she was being too rash and over-reacting. But there were two things she couldn't stand, people, making fun of her and condescending pet names.`" Listen here dick face, I don't care who you are but you will not talk to me that way, just because your ego is bigger than you dick doesn't mean you got to take it out on the rest of us." she slyly said, if he was going to play this game with her she was going to play it back. "Do you want to repeat that?" he growled with a deadly tone. She knew she should've backed away and stopped what she was doing, but she wouldn't become another person who bowed down. " I said it's okay to have a small penis, it's fine we get it. No need to cry about it." She's the first one who's stood her ground, the first one to talk to him in such a manner. Slowly he stood up and walked around the table to where she stood, grabbing her jaw in a hard grasp he pulls her towards him. It was a dangerous scene and everyone knew enough to leave the restaurant promptly leaving just the two of them in the low light building. "You've got quite the attitude Bambina, I would drop it before you get into some serious trouble." He darkly said, one hand still holding her jaw in a tight grip, the other toying with her plump bottom lip. She was so beautiful and had a fire within her that entranced him so much. Even if she had an attitude, he would fuck it out of her and make her kneel for him. This is where she should've stopped it, his grip was hard on her and she knew he could hurt her, and although she was scared of that thought, her body betrayed her. she could feel the dampness in the space between her thighs and she just couldn't help herself but to continue to test him. "Make me" was two words that completely set him off, using the hand that was already on her mouth he pushes his large thumb into her mouth slipping his other hand down to her throat, where he squeezed just a little to keep her in place. she scolded herself for how easily she let him slip his thumb into her mouth and how this was all affecting her, she was impossibly wet and didn't know why. He wasn't doing

anything, maybe she just craved authority and didn't know it, but he did. He pulled her ear towards his mouth, making her gasp at the action. " If that's what you wish Bambina, but don't say I didn't warn you. I will fuck that little attitude out of you and pull orgasm after orgasm out of you until your nothing but a mindless cock slut for me. You will not be able to walk, speak or even think all that will be on your mind is my cock and that's all you'll feel even when I'm not there, It's not a threat Tesoro but a promise" His tone was dark and dangerous leaving her breathless and drenched in slick at just his words. He pulled back still holding on to her, her doe eyes were looking up at him pupils dilatated and mouth salivating around his thick finger thinking of all the things he promised. she looked so good like this, Damiano could feel his erection grow just looking at the way she was looking at him with her innocent eyes and flushed cheeks, the sinful act of him having his thumb in her mouth thinking of her looking up at him on her knees with his cock in her mouth. " you're being so obedient" he says with a smirk making her knees want to give out. Pulling his thumb out of her mouth she almost whines at the noise but holds it in to keep a little bit of her dignity, she wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Damiano snakes the hand around into her hair yanking her head back so he can lean into her neck, she was wrapped around his finger and she didn't know it yet. " You smell ravishing Bambina, I can't wait to have a taste of you," he says running his nose along the column of her neck, swallowing deeply and taking a deep breath to calm her self she gives one last fight, "Go fuck yourself Damiano" she breathlessly says affected by the little things he's doing. A dark chuckle erupts from his chest looking at her like she's his next meal. Using her hair as leverage he pushes he down to her knees, he was so pleased with how easily she allowed him to mould her body and how quickly she got on her knees for him. It made him so hard seeing her like this. " Be a good girl Cucciolo" she could have melted right there at his words. If there are two things she's learned about Damiano tonight, is that he's very good with his words and that he's not small, she had the perfect view of his raging boner from where she is. It makes her mouth water, it's like he's unlocking something within her that gives her the urge to be a good girl for him and stop fighting him. "I want you to be begging me for it, begging me to fuck you, begging me to let you cum all over my cock all over my fingers and tongue. And let it be known you will beg. I will just claim you though because you are mine, your pussy is mine everything about you is mine and no one else will touch you. I don't like to share what's mine Bambina." it was a low whisper that sent chills down to her pussy, at this point the slick was running down her thighs, she regretted not wearing underwear under her sundress. She was sure if this continued there would be a puddle left on the floor beneath her. It was embarrassing how wet she was for him and she didn't want him to know, it would give him the satisfaction of knowing the things he did to her body. there was no doubt that he could already see her hard nipples begging for attention through the thin fabric. With his hand still in her hair he pulls her head towards his hard cock, she didn't even know she did it but she subconsciously opened her mouth. She didn't know why he still had all his clothes so she quickly closed her mouth hoping that he didn't see it. But he did and it made him throb seeing her all cock hungry. "Now what was it you said about my dick? want to take it back now sweetheart?" he brought her closer so that her nose is grazing his dick before throwing her back, she catches herself and looks up at him with wide eyes. Damiano undo's his pants holding eye contact with her, " lay down and spread your legs for me" it wasn't a question but a demand. She didn't want to move it would mean he would see that she's not wearing

any panties and that he would see the slick covering her thighs, and when he saw she wasn't going to listen he didn't bother to tell her again. In a blink, he was on top of her nestled in between her legs with a hand squeezed on her neck. Her dress was now not protecting her from his eyes anymore, instead, the hem laid ruffled up on her belly exposing her wet heat to his hungry eyes. He looked down seeing the mess he created between her tights, she was glistening which means he was right about her and the things she liked. " Aw, puppy is this why you didn't want to move? because you didn't want me to see how wet I made you? Your lucky I'm not going to punish you for hiding what's mine or for the attitude you were giving me earlier. Fuck your dripping Bambina, and your not wearing panties" He was making fun of her and her situation. He reached out to touch her and she couldn't help but mewl at the feeling of his fingers slipping through her folds. She wanted him to finger her until she was crying but would never admit it out loud. After gathering some of her slick he pushes his fingers inside her so deep he could feel her sweet spot that would make her see stars, she tried so hard not to make any noise but the feeling of his thick fingers so deep inside her felt so good and she could only imagine what his cock would feel like inside of her. "I'm going to make you cum now and I will paint this sweet pussy with my cum so everyone knows whom you belong to, do you understand me?" He never broke eye contact with his fingers still inside her waiting for her response. Getting frustrated with her bratty attitude he moves his fingers up to hit her sweet spot making her gasp and arch her back, he stays there knowing that she will get extremely needy and uncomfortable. " I asked you a question puppy" he growls leaning down to her neck to leave his marks on her, she frantically nods her head whispering out a soft yes. He finally moves his fingers pushing in and out of her at a fast pace always brushing that special spot, she covered her mouth muffling her moans. He quickly grabs her hands holding them above her head never stopping his tortures pleasure on her pussy, " Be a good girl and moan for me don't hide anything from me, look at me pet" she looks at him wide eyes moans spilling from her lips as the pleasure takes over her body. "keep your hands there" he moves his hand down to her neck where he squeezes hard enough that she can just breathe. She clenched so hard on his fingers whining at the feeling, she could feel her orgasm building at a fast pace and he could see it on her face and the way her walls hugged him. "you're being such a good girl, your my good girl aren't you Bambina? Don't cum until I tell you" she nodded her head frantically as she watches him take out his hard cock, she couldn't help but reach down and wrap her hand around his thick length slowly pumping all the while never breaking eye contact. He could've come just there, she was doing such ungodly things to him and he loved every second of it because it meant that slowly but surely she would become his perfect submissive pet. Using his thumb he rubbed her bud in time with his fingers pushing her further to the edge, she speeds up her movements trying to keep up with him. It all felt so good and his torture continued she wanted to cum so bad for him, she was trying so hard to keep it in but it was becoming impossible with the pace he was setting inside her and now on her clit. "please, please, please". This is exactly where he wanted her, " please what? what do you want puppy?" he knew what she wanted but he wanted her to beg for it. "please let me cum daddy please, ill be a good girl I promise" she didn't even realize what she said but didn't care at the moment, satisfied with her answer he speeds up his movements leaning down to her ear whispering for her to cum. And that's exactly what she did, she came so hard she felt as though she might pass out from the intense pleasure, a few seconds after he came with a groan coating her pussy with his cum just as

he promised her. He pulls his fingers from her used hole bringing them up to his lips, tasting her for the first time. In her dazed state, she watches him clean his fingers groaning at how good she tastes. "you're mine now Bambina".

[dreamkidddream]

Hello sunshine, would it be possible for you to write me some headcanons for my beloved Chuuya, Dazai and Atsushi? I was thinking about them having a fragil health s/o? Maybe they work an office job in the ada/pm and they somehow fall for the s/o? I hope this is no trouble and you have inspiration to write this. If you don't like this you can just ignore it. Thank you very much :)

Hi anon! Thank you for the request! So I’m assuming that when you say fragile health s/o is that the reader can get sick easily/overall very weak? I hope that I got the interpretation right, and I didn’t please feel free to send it in again so I can do it over for you. Reader is gender neutral, and hope you enjoy!

TW: Suicide (Dazai’s part, nothing heavy is mentioned, and it’s only in one line) and Abuse (Atsushi’s, nothing heavy is mentioned)

Easily Sick/Weak S/O with: Chuuya, Dazai, and Atsushi

Chuuya

Oh man, he hated this feeling. He already hated you even working in the Port Mafia (even though he was there too), but he hated it even more since you were weak physically

Don’t get him wrong, Chuuya knows that you’re a strong person through and through, but it was so easy for you to get hurt or sick working on the field, it honestly made him worried

What also made him worried was how he was falling for you and quickly. He’s an executive! He doesn’t have the time for romance, and what if (really when if because he wants you so bad you have no idea) someone decides to come after you because of your ties with him? It was already so easy for him to lose you now, he didn’t want to chance things and speed up the process

But, you were just...a really great person. You were determined, always kept your head up, didn’t take anything from anyone (you backtalked Mori once and still walked away with your throat intact, so that was a sign), and it didn’t help that you were really easy on the eyes (he couldn’t help it, you were already attractive, and those things were just icing on the cake for him)

Chuuya didn’t know how you could stand being in a stuffy office all day, so he always stopped by to check on some “information” for some “case he’s working on). It started out genuine, but then it became a daily occurrence, even on his rare days off. 

One thing about him is that he’s a true gentleman, he knows how to treat his partner right. Bringing lunch to you, flowers sitting on your desk for no reason with a random note (”Hope you have a good day”, “Saw these when I was out, made me think about you”, “These don’t even compare to how beautiful you are, inside and out”, etc.), driving you home no questions asked, even offering you his favorite bottle of wine to share

He knows that he’s being cheesy but he was pulling out all the stops just for you

He knew it was risky for you to be out all the time, so whenever he did finally ask you on an “official” date (you thought sharing his wine was a date but he said that he wanted to show you off, not just in the office), you guys were either in a fully reserved restaurant or at his place. Seriously the way his place looks was like luxury! Damn you knew his job paid good money but wow! This was better than going out honestly

He confessed when you went over to his house one night. It was a particularly rough day for you both, and you just needed some reassurance which Chuuya was happy to give. It seemed like he went on for hours, but really it wasn’t too long, and you were in tears by the end of it. When he ended it with, “anyone would be beyond lucky to have you (Y/N), and I wish it were me. I wish I would have the chance to show you how much I really do love you, words aren’t enough for me. I’ll take the chance if you let me, and I swear you won’t regret it. Be mine, (Y/N), I’ll treat you like you deserve, and you deserve more than the world.”

You both understood the risks that came with dating you, but he swore that he would protect you with his life. If you did get sick, he couldn’t be there for you during the day because of his work, but he made sure to text you every hour on the hour to check on you and as soon as he got home, it was caretaker mode until you both went to bed

He bought you your medicine, the fluffiest pillows ever known to man, I mean did everything and anything. The dude was loaded, money was not an issue obviously

Chuuya is a great boyfriend, and will honestly do anything it takes to keep you safe and happy. He loves you after all, and he doesn’t mind all the extra work that comes with it (he doesn’t even see it as work, just precautions, which still isn’t a problem)

Dazai

He was not only worried about your health and safety, but also the fact that he was falling for you. Dazai was a very secretive person who didn’t like to show his true feelings, and he was scared of what he’s feeling for you. Him being attached and actually caring about people never paid off for him, as his past would tell you...

But here you were, being a bright, shining light in his cruel, bleak, dark world. He tried to keep his distance at first, but he couldn’t help but be drawn to you. You were so fun to be around, despite your condition! You always helped as much as you could in the office, being the first one to pick up on his work when he was too lazy busy to complete it and having reports ready for any meetings, even on short notice. You looked out for him, both as a coworker and as a caring friend, and he could tell

You even helped him annoy Kunikida sometimes, which just made you even more stunning in his eyes

He felt himself falling for you more and more everyday, finding excuses to stay in the office just to be next to you. “(Y/N), please don’t strain yourself my dear! Let me handle this for you, I would be a terrible suitor if I didn’t.” “Dazai, I just have to staple these- nevermind, thank you my knight wrapped in bandages!” 

Kunikida would of course hate this and drag him out every time, but all that it concluded in was Dazai whining and complaining about how it was so unfair that he was being kept from his “precious (Y/N)” and how they must be so lonely without him. It got to a point where Kunikida made a compromise with him: if he actually does some work and help on the field missions, then he can spend more time with you in the office

I feel like they forget that Dazai is actually crazy smart and most likely already knows the culprits to whatever cases that they are handling, and he was definitely waiting for this outcome. No extra work for him and more time with you. It’s a win-win!

When he does eventually accept that he was in too deep, he started to take his advances in a more serious manner (I mean he was always being serious but he was not going to hold back anymore). He’s a great listener, so anything that said wanted that was said in passing conversation, expect it to be on your desk with a little sticky note. You had a strong craving for something? What do you know, Dazai brought just enough for both of you to share (and he gave you the bigger portion of it). You want to go see the stars? Sounds like the perfect date night for you two!

That’s how he actually confessed to you, right underneath the stars. It was perfect, you guys were away from everyone, having an amazing time just stargazing. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this at peace, and you were to thank for that. He knew that while he was risking his life on a daily basis, but you were constantly fighting for yours. You couldn’t even go on a mission with how easy it was for you to get an injury you couldn’t recover from. But he had faith in you and in himself, that he wouldn’t let another person that he cares for perish in front of him. He made that promise to you, and that he would do everything in his power to keep it. He will not fail you

After that night, your dates were usually held at your place, and it ranged from cooking together to having movie nights. You didn’t have to spend money really, you were both fine in the house in each other’s arms. And if you did get sick, you thought he was clingy before, WHEW did it get more intense

You had to push him off of you too many times to count. What part of NO HUGS did this man not get?! You were already suffering, he didn’t need to either. He did try to make this a double suicide opportunity though, and you were not very happy

Was banned from cuddles for 3 weeks straight, it was pure torture for him

You were Dazai’s distraction from this horrible joke he called a life, and he was welcoming of you. He embraced you, never complained about your weakness or anything. You were someone that he can proudly say that he loves, and that won’t ever change

Atsushi

He was so nervous, so scared. He doesn’t even know how to look everyone in the eye, how was he suppose to admit that he started to like you more than a friend?!

Atsushi was in love with you, I mean he was in deep. He couldn’t help it! You’re just so nice, so easy to talk to, always there to give him a pep talk and just keep him in high spirits. It just wasn’t fair what hand life had dealt you. He wanted to spend time with you outside of the office, but due to your delicate situation, he was so scared to. What if the Port Mafia tried to strike and he wasn’t strong enough or quick enough to protect you? He wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if you died because of him. He wouldn’t be able to live-

So he tried (keyword: tried) to spend time with you at work. But with Kunikida on his ass about work, and Dazai being Dazai making his life difficult for his own amusement, made it difficult. Every time he got a chance, before he could even speak a word, someone needed him for something. If he did somehow had the spare time to talk to you, he would either choke or say something that he really meant but chickened out last minute and tried to change it (which was kinda your fault, you like to tease him sometimes too)

“So, um, (Y/N). I remembered that you said you liked that one takeout spot, so if you want I can bring you some back?”

“You would do that for me, Atsushi? Wow, it’s almost like you’re like my boyfriend!”

“Yep, I don’t mind! It makes me happy when you’re hap-w-WAIT HU-“

But besides that, he always checked on your whenever he got back from his missions (even if he was the one injured and bleeding), brought you back small trinkets or food, and always walked you home, not caring if it was out of his way

He hated that you were confined to the office majority of your time working, but he was worried that literally anything could and would happen on his watch, and he didn’t want to risk it. With Kyoka tired of watching him in distress and even Dazai showing a sliver of compassion for him, they helped him set up an inside date

But first, he had to ask you. Dazai wanted him to do some elaborate, over the top, proposal for asking you out (which Atsushi was pretty sure that he just wanted him to panic and embarrass himself) and Kyoka suggested that he gets you tofu (which he was also convinced that she just wanted some again). He decided that he was just going to have to suck it up, and do it himself. He has been through Hell and back, and if he survived that, then he could ask you on a date damn it!

So he finally got some courage, and directly went up to your desk. When you looked up, you flinched back. What was with the intense look in his eyes?! But you realized soon enough when he bowed and asked you to come over for a date. And of course you said yes!

The date was marvelous, and the poor boy was sweating so much you thought he was going to pass out! Whatever Dazai and Kyoka did to the place blew his expectations out of the water. Latern lights strung up along the walls, your favorite meals readied, little messages stuck to the wall made just for you, and the biggest/most comfortable blanket fort that you had ever seen. It sounded so simple, but one look into your eyes and you were overjoyed. He really did mean it that it made him happy that you were happy

He confessed with you snuggled into his side, so anxious yet at ease. Despite everything that he has gone through, you were brave too. You were stuck in that stressful environment, had a body that could quit on you after one bad day, yet you still encouraged him every day, every time you spoke to him after he’s had a bad day, or an encounter with Akutagawa. He was so convinced that he didn’t you, that he didn’t deserve anything good in his life after the abuse he endured at the orphanage. But you didn’t let him believe that for a second, and he’s indebted to you for that

He poured his heart out to you that night, and ever since, he’s been a lot more confident, both in his ability and in himself. You gave him that push in the right direction to trust himself more, and everyone could see the change (Dazai was pretty proud to be honest)

Dates after that were spent at his apartment, relaxing. Once in a blue moon, you guys would go to the arcade where he won you guys matching Tiger phone charms (he was a little embarrassed but he loved you and the charms too much to let it affect him)

If you did become ill, he would panic so bad that you had to bring him back down to Earth while hacking up a lung (not literally but it felt like it). He tries his best, he’s a little shaken because of how distraught he would get due to your fragile body, but he does care for you pretty well. If you need anything, he was too scared to leave you so Kyoka would be his go-to (with the promise of tofu afterwards)

(But don’t worry she’s a little worried for you too)

Atsushi knew he could never forget the horrors that he experienced at the orphanage, but you reminded him of the strength he had to not let it hold him back. He was your hero without a doubt, but you were his in the sense of how strong you really are, and how you didn’t know or believe it when he told you. You became an overall positive influence on his life, and helped him see life a little brighter and more meaningful. He loves you more than you could imagine, and he would continue to prove it to you in everything that he does.

[emmettblack]

He’s home alone when he gets the call. Vida’s out running errands as Emmett waits for her, watching TV with Bart and Gilly resting beside him. He doesn’t answer the first call, the screen showing his uncle's name. It’s probably nothing he thinks to himself until the second call. From his father. Something is wrong and they need him.

He answers but doesn’t get the chance to say anything. His father’s words stopped him from doing so. The phone call lasts for only thirty seconds before his father hangs up, leaving Emmett to just sit there with a tight jaw and expressionless eyes. Even with his two cats meowing and trying to get his attention, he doesn’t hear a single thing. All he can hear is his father’s words.

“We need you, Ji-Hun. It’s time for you to leave.”

tw: death (ish), violence, kashia’s bullshit

Emmett and Vida do live peacefully together! Okay, they do have their ups and downs every once in a while but they’re strong and continue dating. He’s happy, they’re both happy.

Unfortunately Polo dies in December of 2021. Emmett is heartbroken and doesn’t get another fish afterwards. No one can replace his favorite fishboy.

Treats Bart and Gilly as his actual children, probably loves them more than he loves Vida ( which is saying a lot ).

Three years into being a spy and Emmett finds himself no longer loving the job as much. It’s nice and all but it doesn’t… feel right. The only person to know of this is his grandfather who visits alongside Emmett’s grandmother. The two go out for lunch to talk about life and Emmett reveals this to the older man. His grandfather asks him the question “ are you sure this is what you want to do? “ Emmett is unable to answer him, his grandfather doesn’t push him. They move on from the topic and it’s never brought up again.

If you don’t think Emmett is considering proposing to Vida then you’re dead wrong! It’s on his mind but he just doesn’t have the courage to ask her. He’s waiting for the perfect moment to ask her, he just doesn’t know when.

So that phone call? Yeah, he gets it on August 24th, 2027. After that his entire vibe is just off. He doesn’t tell Vida about it, he can’t even though he wants to. Everything within him wants to tell her but he can’t do that.

It takes him a month to get everything ready. He puts in his two weeks notice with MI6 and asks them to keep it a secret. He doesn’t pack any clothes, leaves behind all electronics and cards as he disappears when Vida isn’t home. He has to cover all of his tracks so that no one is able to track him, mainly his girlfriend. His family gives him a new phone with a new number, a plane ticket, and a new identity. Emmett Blackthorne is gone.

BEFORE YOU CONTINUE READING!!!! This part of Emmett’s life will be roleplayed ( idk where aigaojgao ) so it might not be exactly like this rip. But either way, here’s a basic summary of what I want to happen. So please enjoy!!

He moves to South Korea and goes by a new name Yoon Woo-Jin. His parents suggested that he goes by his Korean name and mother’s maiden name, Cho Ji-Hun. However, he goes against it only because he knew that Vida would find him like that. He gets a place to himself and immediately starts working.

His mission? To help an old family friend destroy a new gang from the inside out. While new, the group is stronger than others and growing at a rapid rate. Said gang has been starting problems, doing everything in their power to take control of everyone within their vicinity. Emmett is to not only take down this gang by creating a rapport with them but to put the group into their place. Remind them to stay in their lanes and not to disrespect those older than them.

It’s not too bad, the mission. The worst part is the lack of communication. He’s not allowed to reach out to any of his friends, only his parents, his mother’s family, and those within the gang. He knows Vida’s number better than he knows his own. Almost texts and calls her throughout his entire stay. Drunk him can’t be trusted, he legit almost called her to confess everything. Stops himself every single time.

On Vida’s end, she’s going crazy. Ever since his disappearance, she’s been trying to find him. From asking around at work, reaching out to their friends, and even his family. The Blackthornes say nothing despite knowing where he is. No matter what she does or tries to look for, she can’t find him. For six months, she tries to find him, using every single one of her resources until there’s nothing left. It’s when she comes to a stop still that someone does reach out to her, Sunbin Blackthorne. Emmett’s mother.

During those six months, Emmett has risen in his ranks. He makes himself a useful and valuable asset. He poses as a dedicated member who will do anything for the leader, a man without a family, that’s Yoon Woo-Jin. The complete opposite of the family originated and fun loving Emmett Blackthorne. This new persona is quiet, keeps to himself, and does what he’s told. The leader likes that a lot about him, Woo-Jin is the man for him.

The only problem with him climbing the ranks so quickly is that people grow suspicious of him. They try to look into him, they watch him closely, and follow him wherever he goes. Emmett is forced to be even more careful and cautious of what he does and where he goes. Besides, at this rate, the gang will be destroyed within a few more months. He just has to hold off until then.

But not everything goes like he wants it to when Vida Torres arrives. He gets back to his apartment after a fight with another group where he sees her. Still as beautiful as ever, even as she glares at him with red eyes. He doesn’t give her a chance to talk before he pulls her in for a hug. He cries, she cries, they go inside his apartment. Unknown to the two are the peering eyes that watch the pair walk into the apartment.

Comes to find out that it was his mother who told Vida everything, the older woman giving in because she felt bad. To be left out of the loop about your partner’s whereabouts and mission, it was unfair and she didn’t deserve that. Apologies and a lot of yelling later, he tells her everything. “Just a month or two and I’ll be done. I’ll go back to you, I promise,” is what he tells her as he holds onto her tight. He only needed one more month and he’ll be fine.

Word about him having a girl got out, the other members teasing him about it. He can take petty and dumb teasing but he does not tolerate disgusting comments about the love of his life. One guy tries it, another member at the same ranking as Emmett. He doesn’t appreciate it, he attacks the guy. The two come out of the fight with bruises, a busted lip, and a black eye on the other guy. To the gang, Woo-Jin is always calm and doesn’t bother listening to any of them. Yet here he is, attacking one of them because of something they said about his girl. It’s called he’s in love you fuckers! This doesn’t go well, the other guy is pissed and he’s holding a grudge. Remember him everyone.

As for Emmett and Vida, well, he doesn’t tell her to leave. Honestly, he loves her company. Nor does he tell her to be careful, she’s a spy. If anyone tries to come for her, she’ll take care of them. He takes Vida to meet his mother’s side of the family. The Cho’s own a small restaurant, it’s really cute and homey. They’re a bunch of civilians who aren’t aware of the Blackthorne's true profession but they do know that the family is rich. It’s nice, the two feel normal being with them.

Unknown to the couple, the man that Emmett attacked is known as Lee Sang-Woo is already planning his revenge. He’s not a fan of this newbie climbing the rankings so quickly. Instead of attacking Emmett directly, he tries to find out who he is. By that, he wants to know where he came from and if he’s actually loyal to the group. Ends up finding a trace to the man that Emmett is really working for. Nam Do-Hun, the leader of a well established mafia with ties in the political world in South Korea and minor influences in the entertainment business. The Nam family are a group that had issues with this gang constantly entering their terrority. Using Emmett to destroy them from the inside is just a lot easier and cleaner to do than having them all killed.

But because of this small trace, it gets bad for Emmett and now Vida who’s staying with him. Instead of attacking the two, Sang-Woo and the gang leader set up a plan. The plan is to give Emmett a reason to contact the Nam family and have them meet him somewhere. Probably has him escort or watch over the gang leader. He falls for the bait because he’s been waiting for this moment.

The Nam family arrives but waiting for them is the gang. Big bad, a fight breaks out. Emmett, who is usually a king when fighting, is getting JUMPED by the gang leadr and Sang-Woo. But guess who comes to his rescue? You guessed it, the love of his life Vida <3. They’re literally kicking ass together because they’re SOULMATES.

During the middle of this big ol’ fight, Emmett sees Vida just kicking ass and he just blurts how much he loves her. And asks her to marry him. While people are fighting around them. While gunshots are being fired. She says yes. They kiss, they then go back to fighting.

The mission successfully ends but with casualties. Many were injured, some to the point where they were to be hospitalized. But either way, Emmett’s mission to destroy said gang comes to an end and he’s able to return home with Vida.

They get married :) It’s really cute, they’re both so happy, everyone is happy for them.

Emmett stops being a spy and goes down the route of assassination. Years later he becomes the new Blackthorne head. He loves it here <3

I KNOW THAT DEANNA AND HECATE WANT SATOMI AND TOMMY TO REOPEN BLACKTHORNE AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW!!!! EMMETT AGREES AND HELPS WITH REBUILDING THE SCHOOL. I can’t say much about it because I don’t know anything <3 Just know that he’s happy

Him and Vida have a lot kids! Most are children that they adopt, idk how many pls ask strud. The torthorne kids get to decide on if they want to become spies, assassins, or just civilians.

Very happy with his wife and children. Simply refuses to die and leave them behind so he works extra hard during each mission ( sometimes he comes back a mess but who cares <3 He’s alive )

Dies of old age <3

I love my son.

[untaemedqueen]

The Lions Den

Mafia!Jimin x Wife!Reader

Genre: Mafia!AU, Smut, Fluff, Angst

Chapter 7.

Warnings: Smut, Blood, Guns, Knives, Excessive Cursing, Excessive Alcohol Intake, Smoking (Cigarettes and Cigars), Mental Health Issues

TagList- @ayyyocee​​​​​​​​​​, @mysugabear03, @wisebtsgot7prune​​​, @imaforeigner​​​​​​​​​​, @yeonkiminnie​​​​​​​​​​​, @stories1907​​​​​​​​​​​, @ppersonna​​​​​​​​​​​, @brilee64​​​​​​​​​​​, @gooplibrary​​​​​​​​​​​, @vivpurple7​​​​​​​​​​, @xjoonchildx​​​​​​​​​​, @brightwingr5​​​​​​​​​​, @yaniposts22​​​​​​​​​​, @rjsmochii​​​​​​​​​​, @taeslittletiger​​​​​​​​​​, @pjmcth​​​​​​​​​​, @bts-chub​​​​​​​​​​, @kpoppingthempills​​​​​​​​, @kim-ji-hyeons-world​​​​​​​​, @jikooksgirl19​​​​​, @yoong-i​​​​​, @ruinsofangels​​​​​, @absolutefantrash​​​​, @chiminies-noona​​​​, @eclectically-esoteric​​​, @itsbreeeeeeee, @septembersjoon​​

Sequel to The Bird Cage

To say that you were nervous was an understatement. Hoseok gave very little information over the phone to Yoongi apart from the fact that during the Ims encounter with Jeongguk at the warehouse he had bitten off his own tongue during their scuffle. So there was very little chance that the Im would have been able to tell the mafia family anything at all. Hoseok had found him on the side of the road in a thicket of bushes, bleeding out of his mouth.

Upon arriving home, Jimin was pacing in the sitting room. Hands over his face before hearing the door slam shut. He picks his head up before narrowing his eyes at you, “And where were you three?” He questions as your nephew, Jisuk runs through the sitting room with Jin hot on his trail. 

“At the Bird Cage, handing over the reins to Rina.” You tell your husband as you step down the entryway stairs. He hums before opening his arms for you like a small child. You can see his anxiousness quite clearly, his aura was exuding this sort of tenseness that makes your heart sink. You hug him tightly, feeling his soft lips against your forehead before he’s burying his face into your hair. “Are you tired? Do you and the baby want to nap?” He whispers gently as he rubs the muscles on the back of your neck with his fingertips. 

“I’m okay. No tiredness, yet.” You whisper, relishing in the warmth he gives you. “It’s a girl.” He mutters before looking over at the two men in the entryway. 

“Hoseok is up in the playroom with Im Gyujin. We have to dispose of his body. Quietly.” Yoongi pulls out a cigarette before nodding. Namjoon takes off his hoodie before following Yoongi up the second staircase. You look up at your husband, chin to the middle of his chest. He was the most handsome man in the entire universe. Even now, after all these years your heart still swells at the sight of him. He looks down at you before kissing the tip of your nose. “I love you, Kitten.”

“I love you, too.” You whisper before hugging him tightly. He chuckles gently before exhaling a long breath. “We don’t think he got far enough to tell the Ims anything at all. Which is good. He was bleeding out on the side of the road from his mouth. Passed out from blood loss.” He mumbles to you before running his hand over your back. 

“Well that’s good at least.” You reply before small arms are wrapping around your leg. You hum questionably before looking down at Jisuk as he squeezes your leg. Jimin steps back before chuckling gently, “Aunt Y/N?” Jisuk whispers quietly.

You look over at Jin as he sits down on the couch, “What’s the matter, babe?” You ask before crouching down to his height and pushing some of his hair off of his forehead. 

“Mommy and Daddy are going to take me to the zoo!” Jisuk says happily and you giggle as he jumps up and down. “Are they?! That’s so much fun! You’re going to get to go see elephants! Your favorite!” He nods fervently before Jin sits up on the couch. “We’re going to take Hawon and Minseok if that’s okay. I know you guys have a lot going on right now and I don’t want the kids here when the playroom gets emptied… y’know?” Jin pipes up from the couch.

“That’s a great idea. Thanks Jin.” Jimin says gratefully before your phone begins to ring. Jimin raises an eyebrow before laughing. “Rina already is feeling the pressure?”

You dig into your leather jacket before widening your eyes. “No actually, it’s Im Ryu.” You whisper before showing your husband the phone. Jin stands up quickly before picking Jisuk up and nodding towards the kitchen. “I’ll give you both some privacy.”

The ringer is loud as you both stare at each other. Nervousness encroaching upon your mind before Jimin grabs your hand. He clears his throat awkwardly before nodding to the phone. “Answer it.”

You swipe your thumb over the call button before putting the phone on speaker, “Ryu! Hey!”

You hear a giggle before she speaks, “Vixen! Good afternoon! Did you eat yet?”

You squint your eyes at your husband before he’s shaking his head slowly. “No! I haven’t eaten yet. You?” He looks at his Rolex before pushing some hair behind your ear.

“Nope! You know what that means!” Her voice sounds carefree and as light as air. It’s almost relaxing before you’re holding up your phone to your mouth.

“Gaudio’s?” You ask before hearing a laugh. “My treat, Vixen. See you in an hour?”

Jimin nods slowly before closing his eyes. “An hour is perfect.” You reply before the line goes dead. He exhales through his nose before wrapping his hand around your wrist and pulling you up the stairs. 

“I want Yoongi and Namjoon to go with you. She might not know anything and she might know everything.” Jimin mutters as he riffles through his desk drawers. His eyes light up before pulling out a long thin wire with a small microphone attached to it. “You’re bugging me?” You ask your husband before folding your arms. He nods quickly before curling his hand to have you walk over to him.

“Jimin, no. You’re not fucking bugging me and making me wear this stup-” He silences you with a kiss before putting his forehead to yours. “You’re going to wear this so I can be with you. I need to hear if she knows anything or alludes to anything. Plus, you have my baby inside you and I need this for my peace of mind.” He shakes his hand, the thin wire shaking gently before stilling. Your eyes meet his, pupils flickering between both of his eyes as he stares at you with steely determination.

Now was certainly not the time to be a brat. “Okay.” You whisper before stepping back. You could be unreasonable at any given time, but today with the stakes raised so high, you would give in to your husband. Countless times before you’re denied him simple things to get a rise from him but you couldn’t bring yourself to today. 

“I want you to bring a gun with you just in case. And, your knife.” You nod to him as he pulls down the straps of your dress to attach the microphone. “Don’t trust anything she says. Analyze everything and don’t walk into a trap with your free speaking mouth.” He instructs you before kissing your lips.

You giggle before staring at the new picture above the desk, it used to be just the seven men and now it was them plus the new additions to your family. If this lunch could somehow bring to light if the Im’s knew you took one of their family members, you needed to go through with it.

You didn’t hate Ryu or Haeun, nor their children for what the Im brothers did to your parents. But, they would end up suffering without their husbands. It’s unfortunate that they had to be the ones to do such a thing, but you feel no remorse for your payback. You feel remorse that their families would suffer. This lunch can bring you one step closer to your revenge, whether Jimin tries to hold you back from it or not.

Stepping into the restaurant, you can already feel your palms begin to sweat. Having Yoongi and Namjoon with you was nice but feeling the knife on your thigh gives you a steadiness you need as your heels clack against the marble floor. “Park.” You say to the waiter before taking off your sunglasses. 

This part that you play so easily, the carefree Vixen of Seoul with a steeled brain and a venomous tongue usually dissipates around Ryu and Haeun. You had considered them friends for years before finding out their husbands had murdered your parents. Shortly after finding out this information, your free time that was spent with them was few and far between. You didn’t want to see their faces, didn’t want to feel unwarranted anger rise within you because of something their significant others had done and not them. 

Jimin had told you countless times not to look at them in such a way if you wanted to continue to be their friend. But, how could you not look at them with anger? You were unsure if they knew what their husbands had done or even if Junggoo and Jungin knew who they killed. Regardless, revenge was coming their way and there would be major fallout.

The private dining room doors swing open and you take in Ryu as she sips her wine. She was wearing the Oh Hyungshil necklace you had bought off a patron in the restaurant many years ago and you clear your throat before entering with Yoongi and Namjoon behind you. Ryu only had one Im man with her today. You’re unsure if she knows anything but without more men behind her, you feel yourself falling into a false sense of security which is something Jimin explicitly today you not to do.

She looks up at you, a large smile spreading on her face before looking at both of the guys behind you. “Are you in danger?!” She asks quickly, putting down her glass of wine. 

“I’m not sure.” You reply honestly before taking your seat across from her. She widens her eyes at you before watching as you place your hand over your flat stomach. She reaches over the table before grabbing the glass of champagne she ordered for you. “I’ll take that. Thank you preggo.” She mumbles before sipping the champagne.

This is usually so easy between the both of you, more so then when Haeun is around. Ryu was a genuinely nice person, she was funny and fierce quite like yourself and it tugs at your heartstrings that you’ve kept her so far away because of something her husband did. “Congratulations by the way, I know you were having a hard time trying to get pregnant." She congratulates you and you give her a small smile. 

“Thanks, we just found out yesterday.” Her smile widens before looking at the two members behind you. She points to the chairs beside you before nodding to the men. “Sit down, it’s not every day I get to see two Lions in one room.”

They both sit before looking at each other with a raised eyebrow. The Ims never ask for other men to sit down, they don’t want them to be completely comfortable and so you could imagine how off putting it might be for them. Your eyes find Ryus before she’s sitting back in her chair. “I asked you to come eat with me because I got this.” She whispers before digging into her purse and handing you a letter. 

You watch as she hands it to you, fingers shaking delicately before she runs her hands over the top of her tight bun. “Junggoo wanted to know if you’ve gotten anything like this.” She whispers over the table before chugging the champagne. 

You pull the note out delicately, the stock card rustling before the bold words in black are presented to you.

You widen your eyes at the note before passing it to Yoongi who sits beside you. “No sender, no nothing.” You mumble to him as Namjoon peers over his shoulder.

“You haven’t received anything like that?” Ryu asks, her tone filled with fright and nervousness. 

“No, we haven’t.” Yoongi mumbles before narrowing his eyes at the inked page. You peek down the front of your dress before feeling relaxed knowing Jimin was listening. This was odd, there was really nothing about the Im’s, apart from the knowledge that they murdered your parents, that they really have done wrong. They run illegal cock fighting, guns and own a casino quite like yours. They really aren’t in the business of doing things ridiculously out there. “This is handwritten.” Namjoon notifies you all before taking the letter from Yoongi’s hands with his sleeve. 

“If you don’t mind I’d actually like to get some tests run on this.” Namjoon asks Ryu before sliding it back into the envelope without touching it, “We should run some tests on it. For fingerprints and stuff.” He says to her.

She nods enthusiastically, “Please! Anything would help. I’m so nervous, Y/N. What if my kids get taken or something?!” She whimpers before putting her hand to her forehead. Now this was something any mother would take seriously. “No one is fucking taking your children. Do you hear me?” You grab her hand over the table before narrowing your eyes at her.

“As a mother, you would never allow anything to happen to them and I know you very well. Your children and both you and Haeun are going to be just fine.” You aren’t promising anything else, that would be a lie and you’re too bold to do anything but tell the truth. She nods, eyes becoming glassy before Namjoon puts the letter inside of his suit jacket. 

“Now let's eat.” You tell her as the waiters enter with food, before you can cross your legs you feel a piece of paper land on your knees and you shift before looking into Ryu’s eyes and grabbing it.

Jimin greets you at the door, arms open for you before enveloping you in a hug. “Kitten, you did phenomenal as always.” His tone was full of glee and you find yourself snorting as you hug him back. 

“Are the kids at the zoo with Jin?” You ask quietly, Jimin hums in agreement. You wrap your hand around his wrist before pulling him up the stairs. He raises an eyebrow before following you willingly. Your hand digs into your dress before pulling out the microphone and putting it into your husband's hand. 

Wordlessly you climb the sets of stairs, lips pressing into a tight line. “I didn’t read it. I waited to open it.” You notify your husband before finally ascending to the third floor. 

“Read what, baby?” He asks confused as you pull a letter out of your purse and handing it to him over your shoulder as you walk towards your bedroom. He groans gently as you open up the lion carved doors before slamming it shut behind him.

His fingers rip open the letter before pulling out the piece of stock card within it. He hugs you tightly, running his hand over your stomach before cursing quietly. 

“This can go one of two ways.” Jimin says before throwing the note onto the bed. His lips begin to dance over your shoulder. 

“They find out it was us who had him or they think the person who sent the letter has taken him.” You whisper to him. He replies with a nod before closing his eyes. “I’m praying for the latter.”

[murdereraisuha]

Classpecting TWST: Octavinelle

Time to assign Homestuck classpects to the fish mafia!

Spoilers for chapter 3 and some of the trio’s personal stories. No knowledge of Homestuck required to read.

[Image description: A banner containing a picture of Azul, the symbol for the space aspect, and the words “Azul Ashengrotto: Thief of Space”]

For Azul, I think it’s easier to narrow down what his class is first.

To get back at his childhood bullies, Azul developed his unique magic “It’s a Deal,” which lets him make contracts with others. 

He uses clever loopholes and tricks to shift his contracts in his favor, letting him reap the magic and abilities of his victims. 

However, despite his power and skills, he still has self-image issues. 

In chapter 3, he overblots during a desperate magic stealing spree to make a more perfect him who isn’t a “stupid, clumsy octopus who can’t do anything by himself.”

What I get from this is that he steals from others, he worked hard to shape himself into a successful person, and he perceives fault in himself. Based on this, I think his class is either thief, the active theft class, or knight, the active exploitation class.

With that in mind, what exactly does he steal/exploit, and what do his insecurities relate to? Rather than concepts like luck, freedom, or the soul, Azul seems centered on concrete objects. In his childhood, he was tormented due to his physical appearance. In the present, he carefully controls his diet to maintain a slender physique. He also hoards things like coins and his contracts. 

Based on these things as well as the creativity he exhibits in his elaborate schemes (exam notes, beans day, investigating Scarabia, etc.), I think that Azul’s aspect is space, the aspect of physical attributes, creation, and patience.

So, thief of space or knight of space? After research into both, I think that thief fits the best. First of all, though Azul has amazing abilities on his own, he relies a lot on maintaining a hoard of contracts. Rather than working with what he has, he constantly seeks out more: more power, more profits, more restaurant locations. Similarly to how Azul’s downfall in chapter 3 stemmed from trying to steal too much (Yuu’s house & the photo), the 2 thieves in Homestuck also get into trouble for being too overconfident. Finally, while a knight generally protects and shelters those around them, Azul isn’t afraid to do stuff such as wring Floyd out like a towel to use his eel slime for developing a beauty product. Therefore, Azul is most likely a thief of space.

[Image description: A banner containing a picture of Jade Leech, the symbol for the light aspect, and the words “Jade Leech: Rogue of Light”] 

To figure out Jade’s aspect, let’s consider some facts about him. 

His unique magic, “Shock the Heart,” forces a person who looks him in the eye to truthfully answer a question he asks them. 

He dislikes predictable things, which is a reason why he loves his chaotic brother and enjoys growing unknown plants. 

He prefers to stay in the shadows while Azul/Floyd takes the spotlight.

Based on these factors, Jade seems well suited to either the void aspect, the aspect of secrets, confusion, and irrelevance, or its opposite the light aspect, the aspect of truth, awareness, and importance. Now, how does he interact with his aspect?

Though Jade, Azul, and Floyd are equals, Jade still usually acts in a supportive role to them. For example, in his ceremony robes story, Jade gives the list of the new students’ private Magicam accounts to Azul for him to use instead of using the list himself. Therefore, I think that Jade probably has a passive class.

Jade does not have a deficit of light/void and he does not have a destructive relationship with light/void, ruling out page and bard. He doesn’t truly embody either aspect, ruling out heir, and he doesn’t seem to do much creating/healing of light/void, ruling out sylph. That narrows it down to seer of light, seer of void, rogue of void, and rogue of light. 

Though I originally thought he was probably void and just kept the light option open just in case, Jade might actually be a rogue of light. A rogue, the passive theft class, invites theft of their aspect and through their aspect. Jade reveals knowledge (ex. contract violations & the Magicam accounts) and then leaves Azul and Floyd to do with it as they please. Also, Shock the Heart is activated using his eyes, and eyes are a symbol of the light aspect in Homestuck. 

Furthermore, the rogues of Homestuck often have trouble coping with having their aspect, correlating with Jade being uncomfortable with having people’s attention on him. He also has problems with giving information/the truth about himself. For example, his exaggerated fake tears after Idia doubts his wish during the Wish Upon a Star event strengthens Idia’s belief that Jade's wish is insincere, even though Jade might have really wanted to use his wish for Azul and Floyd’s benefit. Though Jade is pretty different from the typical descriptions of rogues of light I have read, I think he probably is a rogue of light.

[Image description: A banner containing a picture of Floyd, the symbol for the blood aspect, and the words “Floyd Leech: Bard of Blood”]

For Floyd, I have an aspect already in mind.

Breath represents freedom and flexibility. From his general refusal to wear his uniform properly or take on responsibilities to specific events like trying to play dodgeball during basketball club, Floyd certainly exhibits freedom. His unique magic, “Bind the Heart,” references the concept of freedom/captivity in its name. By deflecting any magic aimed at him, it basically ensures his freedom from injury and other harmful effects like Riddle’s” Off with Your Head!”

Just so we’re not narrowing our focus too much though, I’d like to point out that the rage aspect is also a possibility. Rage represents negative emotions, defiance, and persistence. For Floyd, he rebels against conformity and also exhibits some stubbornness in his teasing of Riddle. Floyd’s aspect might also be the opposite of breath or rage, blood or hope, since each aspect and its opposite are just 2 sides of the same coin as we saw with Floyd’s brother.

Anyway, on to class. First off, thief and rogue are out since he doesn’t do much theft. He doesn’t hide behind any masks or act very pessimistic, so knight, page, and prince are out, and he doesn’t seem to struggle with knowledge of things, so mage and seer are out. Of the remaining classpect combos, I was thinking witch of rage, bard of rage, heir of breath, or maid of breath. However, as I just said, the aspects blood or hope might also apply. After looking into god tiers of those aspects, one stuck out at me: bard of blood.

Bard is the passive destruction class, which invites destruction of their aspect or through their aspect. Bards and princes, the active destruction class, are notable in how they exhibit traits of the opposite aspect since they destroy their own aspect in themselves. In Floyd’s case, his abundance of freedom & spontaneousness can also be seen as an absence of commitments & responsibilities.

However, a bard doesn’t destroy all traces of their aspect, which is how I can find evidence that Floyd’s aspect is actually blood rather than breath. In Homestuck, those of the breath aspect tend to be rather emotionally detached or passive. For example, John handles shocking revelations with ease and Tavros uses sleep to escape sadness. On the other hand, blood players tend to be emotionally explosive and assertive. Karkat and Kankri are well known for being rather... cranky. Now, for Floyd,

I don’t think an emotionally passive person would have a murder mode face like this. There’s also the fact that Floyd specifically hates shackles, while a breath player would probably take their freedom more for granted. Anyway, going to how being a bard would interact with Floyd’s aspect, as a bard his actions lead to destruction of bonds/responsibilities. However, a bard’s aspect is still a part of them/an inevitability even if they try to act like it isn’t.

Let’s take the one big example of anguish within Floyd that we have: his school uniform story. While Floyd is having a blast riling Riddle up and trying to bait him into a game of tag, Riddle remarks that Jade doesn’t bother with this sort of mischief and he’s completely different from Floyd even though they’re twins. This causes Floyd’s mood to take a 180 and he abruptly leaves. Even though Floyd does stuff like steal Jade’s clothes or shove work on him—things that might suggest Floyd doesn’t care about Jade—Floyd actually doesn’t want their bond with each other to break. This also holds true for Azul: though Floyd explicitly says in chapter 4 that he and Jade will leave Azul if he becomes boring, that seems like a half-truth: with Azul being the person he is, how likely is it that he would ever become boring?

Floyd is a genius, talented in everything from academic subjects to music to sports. However, as noted by some other characters, his mood swings and flippantness prevent him from being the even more terrifyingly powerful person he could become. His personal challenge may very well be to find a middle ground between running from and depending on his bonds/responsibilities. Therefore, based on Floyd’s values, attitude, and faults, I can say that he is very likely a bard of blood.

-- Final notes --

Firstly, If you actually read through all this and enjoyed it, I recommend checking out mia-pon289’s Octavinelle theories and Dahniwitchoflight’s classpect stuff since this post drew a lot of inspiration from those. 

Secondly, I am going to flip my shit if Ace’s aspect turns out to be blood too once I get to analyzing Heartslabyul. Is basketball club just gonna become blood club?

Thirdly,

[Image description: A venn diagram with 2 circles. One circle is labeled “Animal with 8 legs” and contains “Vriska” in it. The other circle is labeled “Aquatic” and contains “Meenah”. The intersection between the circles contains “Azul”. The whole diagram is inside of a rectangle labeled “Thief”]

[chattegeorgiana]

Not meaning to sound rude/offend(I’m truly not) but why post about USA politics instead of Romanian ones? Ngl I know the 45th isn’t the one true problem to it all (though he still fanned the flames) but after living with 4 yrs of T**** damage(lucky for non-USA people you didn’t have to live with that) it’s just good to have him out of the WH. Also it’s not just the president in charge, decisions are also made by the house of Congress, the senate, and surpreme court. President does have power, just not 💯 % or else it be dictatorship.

What is going on with Romania?

I do post about Romanian politics as well. It’s just scarce. The same way that post was scarce.

I don’t post politics all day on Tumblr or social media. I try to stay as much away as possible, because people are too invested into this to see that the picture is waaay bigger than Trump or Joe or any other politician.

The political system is an abomination of a system made to divide people to their core.

The political system has divided people and extremized them to their goddamn core and you guys think this is a joe vs trump issue.

Congrats, you just fell into their trap. It’s what this system is meant to do.

You think non-USA people weren’t affected? Have you heard about NATO? Have you heard about international relationships?

Don’t think that you lived in a vacuum and there weren’t ripple effects of this thing.

US is/was a world superpower. Everything the US does has ripple effects. The same way those other big players also leave ripple effects.

As for him being out of there, of course, I am not even going to say that it’s good or not. You guys should know better. 

What I would say is that careful with the mass media, ya know? Because some of the words he had said, were true. Some related to China, for example.

How do I know? Because little Romania, a country u guys have no idea about, or better said, my little hometown has been under the effect of Chinese MO.

A single thing has stood to me out of all the limited things that I saw about Trump and your guys’ politics: how he manage to raise employment rates again. 

How? By putting people back to work in the very factories the Chinese bought and then closed.

How do I know that? Because that’s the Chinese MO from Romania as well. From my very hometown.

We had factories of corrugated board (3nd best in the whole wide world), factories that gave the 2nd most purest water in the world and whatnot.

These were the very basic factories that sustained the local economy in my little hometown. Know what happened after Chinese business people came and bought those factories?

Everyone was out of job and my county became the 2nd poorest region in the country, because the factories were closed. People unemployed that had to just flee the city if they wanted to survive. Because those business they did with the Chinese were pure corrupt businesses.

My hometown is mostly a ghost town right now, run by local mafia who got rich after doing those businesses.

So you see, in some respects Trump was right. And I know he was, not because he said he was. I don’t trust a word coming from any politician’s mouth. 

I know he was because I’ve seen it happen with my own two eyes in other sides of the world. All you had to do is connect the dots for yourself. 

The media tried to paint him as crazy for spewing some truth.

So before you believe everything the media tells you about him or how you should think about him, try to detach a bit and do your own research.

I’ve worked in the media. My very first job actually. I learned there how the games are done behind closed doors.

Now, you’ll say I’m a Trump supporter or idk what label you will put on me. Because that’s going to be probably the easiest way to explain this.

Well, I’m not. I won’t support anything political in my entire life lol.

Trump said some truths, but he has some issues as well. He’s a goddamn narcissist and that’s what it was his downfall in politics.

Politics nowadays is shrewd. He’s not. He’s full blunt direct force. The perfect ammo for the system to paint him whatever they want to. In that respect he’s stupid and I would’ve expected him to  be smarter given all the shit he pulled in the past.

Like the thing with the banks and taxes that everyone blames him for.

Do I say he did a good or bad thing? Nah. I say he did a smart thing.

He found a way to give people jobs, while in the meantime getting himself rich. He found a loophole, yeah. But it’s not like all those instances with him not paying his taxes were done on his own. Nah. He had an agreement to people in power.

I often wonder... Do people hate him for not paying his taxes or for not having first the idea that he had to make money? 

Because in the end it’s all reduced to money. Because money is power and it’s what makes the world go round.

He found a way to grab power and be outside of the locks of banks.

Don’t you guys have those credits ever since you’re in school? That’s literally chains on your future.

You spend most of your lives trying to pay back the banks who lock you in an eco system that generates money to them, while keeping you in chains.

He just found a way to be out of those chains. Out of that wretched system.

Because you see, that’s the issue... It’s a system issue, not a Trump issue.

I don’t have the moral authority to say if what he did is right or wrong. After all, he did create thousands of jobs for people as well while doing what he did.

But are you guys under the impression that Trump might be the only one who did that? Lol, tell me you’re not that naive.

Those kind of people have armies of accountants around them to make the papers look good.

It just so happened that Trump probably disturbed someone. 

Because at those levels there’s a looot of power play. I mean, it’s not like in the past they didn’t all hang out together.

Come on, tell me you’re not that naive. It’s a move done by politicians ever since they goddamn invented that wretched system.

And since you asked by Romanian politics, what I’ve just written until now about Trump, is the same thing that happens in Romania.

It’s a global phenomena. It happens in every country. Here it’s the same, lol.

They all used to hang out together, and then whenever the elections come they start being at each other’s throats, posing as if they’re the biggest enemies.

But then you see clandestine pictures of them dining together at a restaurant. Or not even that. Just them hanging together.

You know, when the media isn’t there to be telling the story they want to tell to the audience.

Because if you think that the media isn’t politically subservient, you’re OH SO wrong.

Told you my first job was in the media.

You know what someone I worked with told me about some discussions they used to have in the USA on some sort of workshops or whatever u called them back in the day?

That US media hasn’t been free media since the 70′s. And that Romanian press was still free at that time (this was a discussion back in the 90′s).

But, there will come a time when the press won’t be free in Romania either. That they will write under political command.

Well, guess what happens nowadays? Exactly what that person said. It started somewhere back in 2008-2010.

In the pandemic for example, Romanian government gave the media 70$ billion in funds.

Which makes me wonder, why would the media need something like that, if it’s not an essential domain, like we oh so started labeling?

But hey, they did it in the pandemic so they are now free of any suspicions because if they did it now, all they wanted to do is “help”, right?

To write good about the political party in charge, while admonishing the others.

Despite people knowing all too well how the games are played.

So at the end of the day, all I’m saying is before putting your trust into politicians, look around you.

Now that it’s Biden, you say it’s a senate whatnot problem. Back when it was Trump, everyone blamed just him, as if he was the only one in charge.

Which is it after all? Is it a single person problem or a problem of senate/president/everyone else?

See what I mean?

Anyway... I’ll stop here. I am sure this thing won’t be understood in its true nature so I won’t bother anymore.

All I know is at the end of the day I have my conscience clean, no matter what.

So yeah, hope that answered your question. Basically to sum it up in Romania it’s the same shit as it is in other countries, only adapted locally, ofc.

But it’s still there to divide people, at the end of the day, so that’s that.

[mafia-nct]

Go-Kart (Hendery Mafia AU) (Drabbles Challenge)

#49 (Safety first. What are you? Five?), #55 (You’re a nerd.)

Genre: mafia au!, crack, fluff.

Warning: none.

--

Hendery wanted your first year anniversary to be perfect. He wanted it to be something out of a movie, something you’d never forget, and something other girls would be jealous of. His code name wasn’t Prince for nothing. But, of course, his usual string of bad luck happened. The restaurant where he made reservation had to shut down due to health issues and the gif he ordered for you ended up getting lost in the mail. He tried to call other restaurants, that in his opinion looked worthy of you, but they were all full. He asked Jisung to try to track his package but no result.

He didn’t know what to do. He promised you the night of your life and right now it look like it was going to be the most boring anniversary ever. He had no idea, he was lost. It’s only when he heard Doyoung brag, once again, about how he proposed to his now fiancé that a switch flicked in his mind.

“Don’t cheat!” Hendery said guiding you.

“Baby,” you laughed, “I have a blindfold on. I can’t cheat even if I wanted to!”

He placed you exactly where he wanted to. “Ok, remove your blindfold and open your eyes.”

You followed his orders. It took sometime for your eyes to adjust and see what was in front of you.

“Wait,” you smiled, “this is the go-kart place were we met!”

Hendery smile back. “It sure is.”

“But baby, it’s nine o’clock at night. It’s closed.”

Hendery grabbed your waist and pulled you closer and smiled like a Cheshire cat. “Let’s just say, I bragged Dream, Lucas, Yangyang and Xiaojun in helping me break into the place.”

You slapped his chest. “You’re the worst, but I love it! Thank you!”

He leaned down and kissed you. “Anything for you, now shall me go race!”

You nodded and he grabbed your hand leading you into the place.

The Dream Team members were already racing when you entered. You went to the kart section and chose one.

As you were about to sit down and strap yourself to your kart, Hendery placed a helmet on your head.

“Safety first. What are you? Five?” He teased.

You shook your head. That boy.

You both strapped yourself to your kart and started racing.  

Everything was the same as the day you met Hendery. The karts, the sound of the engine, the laughter, the smells of burnt tire and the competitiveness of the boys.  Everything was exactly as you remembered and you loved it.

You stopped your kart after the finish line, Hendery following after you.“Well, well, well,” you said taking your helmet off and going towards Hendery, “looks like you lost. Just like the day we met!”

“Whatever.” Replied Hendery with disgust.

You wrapped your arms around his neck. “Don’t be sad babe, I guess you try to beat me on our next anniversary.”

Hendery hummed in approval and put his hands on your hips pulling you closer. “Happy one year princess. I love you.”

“Ew you love me?!” You sassed, Hendery looked at the ceiling and sighed. “You’re a nerd Hendery.”

“Yeah,” he smiled, “but I’m your nerd!”

“That was disgustingly cheesy, I hated it!”

Hendery laugh. “Now come on, and kiss me.”

[nofacenocaseblog]

𝗗𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 #3:  NARCOPISOS Inc. /Barcelona narcopisos, a necessary evil

The 3rd episode of Dope Stories is the most in-depth investigation of the series, so much that it took me nearly 3 years to gain the trust and respect of my contacts and more importantly, to get relevant insights about the local drug market and its players to show, under a different angle than mainstream media, what’s happening behind the closed doors of the Ciutat Veilla’s narrow streets.

Playground 1 - Raval, Barcelona / 2018 / iPhone 

“Drugs are ruining our neighborhood! “,  “Narcopisos are disrupting the real estate market!” ,  “ We don’t feel safe!”… 

Those are the slogans or headlines you see in the media or written on banners hanging from people’s balconies.  

“Narcopisos are filthy and dangerous!”

But are they though?

FOREWORD

Before getting started, I wanted to write a few words about Barcelona. After living more than a decade in New York, my wife and I moved to Catalan capital for about 4 years.  After reading this article you might think that I m not particularly fond of the town and its inhabitants.  I won’t lie, we didn’t receive the warmest welcome, especially from Catalans. This said, the town and its vibe are unique and galvanizing.  Very much like Marseille (my hometown), Barcelona is an harbor city with the port/marina right in the center, meaning: lots of traffics, smuggling, immigration, corruption, drugs etc… There is always “something going on”, if you catch my drift.  Shady, nasty, funny, ugly, beautiful, vulgar,  the cast of “pirate-like” characters gravitating around the city center is fascinating.

Occupied - Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / Nikon 3200

As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn toward the forbidden,  the danger, the illicit, the hidden, the bad...  To my eyes, “ugly” has always been more interesting than “beautiful”.  Barcelona is not a dangerous city but you need to keep your guard up: pick pockets roaming the subway,  gypsies asking for money on La Rambla (the city’s most touristic avenue) while releasing your back pocket from your wallet, junkies selling stolen goods or begging for change for their next fix #nextfixandchill , black people selling fake airmax on the Barcelonetta marina, drunken street fights in the early hours of the morning... Tragicomic scenes are unravelling before your eyes in an surreal backdrop: Gaudi’s most beautiful “psychedelic” buildings (Sagrafa Familia, casa pedrera, Palau Guell...) in a jungle of gothic buildings ending on a fisherman village overseeing a beautiful beachfront promenade ending with the native “star’chitect” Bofill’s famous W... 

Poolside - Barcelonetta, Barcelona / 2018 / iPhone

Ok, enough with the touristic tour, time to get real!

Stairway to Hell - Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / iPhone

Embark on a descend to the heroin inferno that became Raval.  From the fields of Afghanistan to the bloodstreams of Spain...

La Ruta [Spanish for “the route”]

19,414 Pakistanis live in Barcelona, 6,600 of them are established in the neighborhood: El Raval (1) meaning more than 30% of the total community.  El Raval has always been my favorite barrio in town.  With 47% of immigrants (2) , the mosaic of faces, cultures and shops you encounter is dazzling .  Going back to the Pakistani population, I used the word “established” for a specific reason: they actually own many of the businesses in Raval: barbershop, cheap bars and restaurants, wholesale shops, import/export businesses, money transfer services (Western Union, Moneygram), food and grocery shops... I’m not accusing here the Pakistani business owners of backing the drug traffic but they basically created a web of small businesses in a tight net community with their own language, making it hard for the authorities to see through this social fabric potentially sheltering illegal activities. 

Why the Pakistani population is subject to speculation and doubt from the local authorities?  The answer is simple: Afghanistan.  Afghanistan  is by far the biggest producer of opium in the world. According to the US military, 90% of the world's heroin is made from opium grown in Afghanistan. It makes up 95% of the market in Europe (3).  The country has been the leader in opium poppy production since 2001.  Based on the 2014 report from the UNODC (United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime), Afghanistan not only grow opium but also process heroin in several laboratory as well as morphine (easier to produce from raw opium by adding calcium oxide and ammonium chloride).  From Afghanistan, several routes are used to smuggle their prime commodities: the Balkan route has been the primary route but things are changing and the Southern route has become more and more used.  Afghanistan share 2,400km of border with Pakistan and over 50% of illicit afghan opiates are trafficked through Pakistan which enjoys a a strategic location making it a perfect dispatch zone with readily accessible by land, sea (Gwadar and Karachi seaport) and air ways .  

The same UNODC report also indicates that the majority (37%) of the heroin seized in Pakistan was en-route for Europe..

*** Read and/or download the full report here ***

By the way, let’s not forget that Barcelona is also one of the Camorra’s stronghold.  And with Russians and Albanian mafias also present on the territory, Spain -where no powerful local crime syndicate operates and laws on prostitution and gambling are “blurred” to say the least-  has become one of organize crime’s favorite playgrounds for money laundering, drug smuggling, human trafficking, gambling and prostitution... Nothing really happens here without their “green light”, but that’s another story (5)

Back to our Southern route, once the product reaches Barcelona, it becomes very hard to pin point. Narcotics coming through the Balkan route also ends up in Barcelona but in different “retailers”’ hands:  Romanian family-based clans, based mostly in Besos (a run-down project in the heart of Poblenou) and  occupying one single narcopisos in Raval (they have moved 3 times over the 4-year period of my “investigation”) but known to have the purest and most processed Caballo sold in town. 

El Caballo [Spanish for “the horse”, street name of heroin ]

[WARNING]  Most of the photographs of this post are uncensored, quite graphic and… of poor quality…. my bad, I took them.  But I had circumstances: hidden cellphone, no flash, illegal activities going on, indoor, with very little to no light…  Shots are not the best (no pun intended) but you’ll step right into the infamous narcopisos you’ve heard of or read about. And not once they’ve been searched and trashed by the police like you’ve seen in the press but while they are in full operation. Raw, those images might be quite shocking to some of the readers, but take the emotion out of he equation and you’ll come to realized that, for lack a better choice, narcopisos are a necessary evil.   My intention here is not to start a polemic nor come out as a provocateur but to shed light on a real issue, still happening, involving real people, slowly dying, failed by a syste unable -or unwilling- to help them.

Gears - Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / iPhone

El Raval

1989,  US superstar Keith Harring is in Barcelona for his exhibition on La Rambla.  After speaking with an old friend of him from New York living here for awhile, he decided to paint a mural, his way to to show his love for and connection with the town. The next day, Harring chose the wall in Plaça de Salvador Segui in Raval.  He was warned that the area was one of the most dangerous areas in town. Back then, in the 80’s the Spanish government had the genius idea to decriminalize the use, but not the supply, of hard drugs and did not implement any proper treatments to sustain this measure...  Spaniards have ignored the issue and it sparked a heroin addiction epidemic that saw HIV rates soar (2a).The artist was attracted to the neighborhood and decided it would offer the perfect canvas for his message about the dangers of drugs and AIDS. At first it was supposed to be a temporary mural but in the end, up to this day, you can still enjoy Harring’s mural behind the MACBA museum. Below is a photograph I took of what became now hot-spot for skateboarder and cool bars

Tricks - Raval, Barcelona / 2016 / Nikon 3200

Beside its bad reputation, Raval has always been a magnet for artists and “cool kids”, misfits and outcasts but more recently the new kid on the block is named gentrification… in other word: Fun is over.   Well… not quite yet.  In Barcelona, everything moves slowly, gentrification included. The result is a mix of fancy hotels, art galleries, designer boutiques... mixed with prostitutes and their lovely clientele, dealers, junkies, businessmen, families of tourists wandering the streets… a fascinating mix of characters with theatrical scenes playing before your eyes: hustlers trying to rip off tourists, white collars finding themselves buying bad cocaine from a kid in a narrow, sketchy alley… the show is in the street, but not only. 

The Narrows - Raval, Barcelona / 2016 / Nikon 3200

What businesses, in Barcelona, are open 24/7, have no vacancy, a steady stream of customers and a product that sells itself? The answer: Narcopisos Inc.

The phenomenon of the Narcopisos emerged in 2016 (a year after I moved to Barcelona) following Spain’s property crash.  Foreclosed or unsold apartments, owned by banks and investment funds were left emptied, abandoned, in a country in full housing crisis...  It wasn’t long before the vacant spaces started being squatted: some by respectable families, in need of a place to live, some by drug dealers using them as selling point and shooting gallery.  A place where you can get a cheap fix in a relatively clean room.

Ritual - Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / iPhone

Helped - Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / iPhone

Thanks to my various contacts, I had access to different types of narcopisos, but from crack to dope houses, most of them were operating the same way: - a cctv video surveillance in place at the street level or someone looking out for the cops. - a room with junkies to confuse police upon arrival and make it look like they are actually squatting the place - 1 to 3 dealers serving customers one a the time. - An exit back door (if available) in case the police knocks on the front door. - One or two rooms for users. - Hourly cleaning of the premises to make the place look “decent” and “squatted” in case of a bust - Little quantity of drugs at the time, no more than 10 grams of each. - Open 24/7 - Re-up every hour or so - Single use paraphernalia available to the users - In some cases, Narcan at hand (medicine used to reverse the effect of an OD).

Cleaning Session - Career d’en Road 22, Raval, Barcelona / 2016 / iPhone

My connections in the Pakistani community took time to build but  strengthen throughout the years to reached a level of trust where we came to split the bread at several occasions… no seriously, we actually got invited in their Halal “canteen” in Raval where only Pakistanis could enjoy their local cuisine, a unique experience… They also gave me access to two of their stash houses: located in legit apartments, in proper buildings, on the outskirt of Raval, close to Sant-Antoni, less prone to police check.  No users there, only wholesalers, dispatching heroin to “representatives” of each narcopisos at below retail-price: between 20 and 40 euros the gram depending on the quantity purchased. 

Going back to the narcopisos, some were run by junkies (where the product was often cut from the bash they were getting from the stash houses), some by pakistani or afghan immigrants, with decent quality product, some by Catalan families, living there for decades under stabilized rent and with their own connection and product of fluctuant quality.  Last but not least, one narcopiso was occupied by the Romanian clan mentioned earlier.  Below are some photos of one of their spot at 22 Carrer d’en Roig, later busted and walled by the Mossos d’esquadra (Catalan police)

Romanian at work - Career d’en Road 22, Raval, Barcelona / 2016 / iPhone

Boss - Career d’en Road 22, Raval, Barcelona / 2016 / iPhone

If narcopisos was selling both crack and heroin, two rooms were at the disposal of users, one for smoking their bottles or pipes and the other room to shoot up or smoke heroin on tiny pieces of foil.

Sterile hospital-like garbage disposal were available for discarding the used paraphernalia.

Bloodstream Hunt - Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / iPhone

#NextFixandChill - Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / iPhone

Everything is provided to avoid the spread of disease and the use of the drug in plain sight in the street therefore reduce public disorder.

Not that dealers became humanitarian all of a sudden, but kicking customers with their (illegal) purchase out in the street expose them to being ratted on or worst, having an overdose in plain sight attracting the police and paramedics... either way, it’s not good for business so narcopisos’ “managers” rather keep their clientele indoor until they’re done using and good to do.

Now, there is another type of business in Barcelona dealing with drug users and addiction: it’s called Centre de Dispensació de Metadona - Centre d'Atenció Primària Casc Antic (the methadone clinic in short....). 

* They’re not open 24/7 but rather in the morning only * It can take up to 2 weeks to see a doctor in order to enroll in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment -MMT (true story...when a single day can be the last one for a heroin addict living in the street) * Last but not least, since the doctors and nurses’ work schedule is way more important tthan their patients’ care, some centers give up 3 to 4 days worth of supply of methadone at once to heroin users so the health workers can have their days and weekends off. The result of this amazing system: the methadone is sold in the street by users so they can buy their heroin and/or in certain case, the methadone is saved up (for rainy days) and the patient keeps using heroin instead.  Yes, the patient: let’s not forget that those “filthy junkies” actually are patients (even if they’re hardly seen as such in those centers),  suffering from a disease called addiction, or substance abuse disorder if you prefer the american way of calling it, and in need of medical care but what can I say... old habits die hard (both way...). 

Patients taking methadone to treat opioid dependance must receive the medication under the supervision of a practitioner. After a period of stability (based on progress and proven, consistent compliance with the medication dosage) and only then, patients may be allowed to take methadone at home between program visits... but not in Barcelona.

Methadone substitution as a treatment of opioid addiction does not function as much to curb addiction as to redirect it and maintain dependency on legal channels. Methadone has been designed that way, as a lifetime treatment whereas alternative palliatives such as Buprenorphine are not even considered by doctors when those therapies would be more efficient in certain cases: with users who do not shoot the drug for example, or with users wishing to quiet and get sober... but let's be honest here, sobriety has never been the objective of those methadone programs.  The real goal of this public service is not to cure addiction, but to make sure junkies don’t use, steal, rob and/or commit act of violence in the streets to feed their habits

The patient here is not the users but the society.   Those centers aren’t trying to help the user quit his habit, but to make sure the society doesn’t suffer from it.  Good or bad, Narcopisos are curbing down the spread of diseases, cleaning up the streets from users as they offering temporary shelter to their customers and operate around the clock..  It seems to me that their function is almost... complementary if not necessary.

So before eradicating narcopisos from the face of Raval, let’s pause and look at the alternative: junkies buying and using drugs in the streets of the city center, in the worst sanitary condition possible with no regard for the residents around.

Mañana

So what’s next? Keeping those illegal activities going on? Certainly not.

But before jumping the gun and closing it all at once, better get ready for the alternative because drug addiction will not disappear with the narcopisos. In my last article, I speak about users stigmatization and how society still struggles to see addiction as a disease and not a will power issue, turning the blind eye to a sheer amount of studies and discoveries explaining how heroin addiction, over time, modify the pathway of your brain frontal lobe and affect your decisional power, making it hard -to not say impossible- to say “no”. 

Don’t take me wrong.  It would be naïve to think all users roaming the streets are here trying to quit and become their better self. Most of them have no intention to do so. I’m not here to judge nor take side.  But in order to find a solution to the narcopiso situation, I would like to introduce Barcelona to his neighbor: Portugal.

Portugal had one of the worst heroin epidemic in Europe back in the 90′s and after the failed many “US war on drug”-type of approaches. They finally shift approach and started treated drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals” says Goulao, the architect of Portugal drug policy.  After the decriminalization and treatments, they planned to open “supervised drug consumption facilities” Naina Bajekal says in her 2018 article in the Time “where drug users can consume drugs in safer conditions with the assistance of trained staff. Such facilities have been running in Europe since 1986, when the first was opened in Berne, Switzerland.”(5)

The result? Evidence (6) shows these these type of sites save lives, reduce public disorder, and curb the spread of diseases.

Does that sound familiar? Yes, that's right, the first of the two businesses we spoke about: Narcopisos Inc.

Purgatory - Carrer d’en Roig 22, Raval, Barcelona / 2017 / iPhone

For No Face No Case: Dope Stories chapter 4, we’re going to Italy.  Don’t worry, it won’t be another mafia-related article explaining how the N’Drangheta and Camorra became the most powerful crime syndicates in the world, you can watch that on TV.  Called “Il Racconto dei Racconti”  (Tales of Tales in english), the article will keep it real, street style: short stories from North to South: Torino, Milano, Genoa, Roma, Napoli... Stay tuned for some dope stories on how drugs are sold, used and abused in the Renaissance country 

References (1) https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/featuresx/report-barcelona-pakistani-community/ (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Raval (3) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47861444 (4)https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2018/12/07/inenglish/1544171107_204329.html (5) https://time.com/longform/portugal-drug-use-decriminalization/ (6) https://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/portugal-heroin-decriminalization/

[ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes]

Roguish Women Part 29

Summary: Kate is an American who fled to Paris to escape her past life. Now she's dancing and playing the part of a courtesan at the Moulin Rouge. There she meets Tommy Shelby who thinks she can be useful in expanding his empire. But has he been blinded?

Part 29: Kate tells her truth

            Francis Lynch was a wreck. She could barely stand or hold her head up and it had been three hours since the police had left. Three hours since one of the detectives informed her of her husband’s accident. In the wee hours of the morning, Ryan Lynch, drunk as a skunk, had fallen into the Boston Harbor and drowned.

            “What am I going to do?” She wailed from her seat at the kitchen table. Her head was in her hands.

            Her eighteen-year-old daughter was sitting on the floor, her knees tucked to her chest. “It’ll be alright, mom.” She said quietly. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father was never the person he was meant to be. He worked twelve hours a day then spent his free time in the pub. He was never particularly loving toward his only child. After all, she was simply a mistake in his eyes. Young and reckless, he got Francis pregnant and his Catholic father guilted them into marriage.

            But Kate was still sad. She still loved him.

            “It won’t be alright!” Francis cried. “We’ll lose the apartment, we’ll lose everything!”

            “No, we won’t.” Kate stood up shakily and tried to comfort her mother. “I promise we’ll be alright.”

~~~~~ 

            “I worked to help pay the bills and to pay my neighbor for ballet lessons,” Kate explained. She sat down on the bed as she started to explain everything, she had lied to him about. “My mom worked too but my father brought in the most money.”

            Tommy wasn’t sure he expected the story to go so far back. In his experience, the farther back a story went, the more lies there were. But he tried to keep an open mind, she was being honest with him even if he was hesitant about it.

            “When my father died, we would’ve become homeless in a couple of months.”

            Tommy frowned. “You didn’t tell me your father died.” As far as the story went, or at least the one he was led to believe, Kate’s father was the reason for all of her troubles. Someone who was caught up in the American mafia, who placed all the burden on Kate.

            “Just, just listen.”

            He nodded and went to sit beside her on the bed. The last thing he wanted was for a confrontation so soon after reuniting with her. That’s why he had wanted to at least delay the truth. But he also didn’t want her to feel guilty either.

            “I’d known Frank Wallace and his brother Steve for a long time. They were already established as the Gustin Gang by that point and they controlled most of South Boston. I met Frank through my neighbor who taught me lessons. He had helped her rent and legal issues. So, I went to him after my father died.”

~~~ 

            “Girl like you shouldn’t be dealing in those sorta things, Katie,” Frank warned.

            They were at one of the bars the Wallace brothers owned. One of the places Kate’s father frequented. Kate looked around the place, wondering if this was the last place her father had been before he left and fell into the Harbor.

            “I don’t think I have a choice.” She replied quietly.

            “I’ll help you find a good job with better pay.” He assured her. “Don’t worry about your landlord either, I’ll pay him a visit if he gives you trouble ‘bout the rent.”

            To anyone else, it would’ve sounded like the perfect scenario. Having friends in gangs sometimes had its perks. But Kate shook her head. “I don’t want that, Frankie. You know how long I’ve been training to dance. I’m not going to give that up so I can work myself to death like…” She paused. “Whatever.”

            Frank tapped his knuckles on the table. “But to get into shit like bootlegging? You’re only gonna bring yourself more troubles.”

            “It’s what I want to do. I can do this and have enough money to take care of my mom. Meanwhile, I can hopefully get into a ballet company. Then over time, I might make more from dancing.”

            The older man sighed. “I know that I can’t fucking do anything to change your mind. But you need to know that this shit isn’t something you can walk away from. Not a little side job you can drop whenever you want.”

            “I know.”

~~~

            “I used my father’s identity to set it all up. I started to facilitate shipments from Europe to get liquor into Boston and then ship it all over the country. I put any debts in my father’s name and Frank helped me deal with anyone so nothing would be traced back to me.”

            Tommy wasn’t surprised that she had managed to create a bootlegging empire. Kate was certainly clever enough to get the job done. He was just unsure why she hadn’t confessed that to him when they initially met. But he wanted to hear her out so he nodded for her to continue.         

            “I was accepted into the Boston ballet company and began dancing. It became so much easier after that. I started to meet people who were higher up in the city. Rich people, people who wanted things done. Only the wealthiest knew who I really was. Everyone else thought it was my father in control.”

 ~~~

            “That was a beautiful performance, Miss Lynch.”

            “Oh, Mr. Weld,” Kate startled as she left the theatre through the backstage door. “I didn’t see you there.”

            The wealthy businessman was standing by his expensive, neatly polished car parked in the back alley. Mr. Weld was dressed in a tuxedo, demonstrating that he had seen the ballet performance that had just ended.

            “Let me drive you home.” He offered, opening the car door for her.

            “That would be kind, thank you.” Kate had no qualms about getting into his car. She was armed with a pistol and even then she doubted the man would attack her. She was far too valuable.

            “I do appreciate your work, Kathleen but I came here to voice some concerns.” Mr. Weld said as he got into the car and started it up.

            “By all means, tell me what you’re worried about.”

            The man sighed anxiously. “I understand you’ve been branching out to Chicago, selling to their bars. Word is you’ve gathered a few men there who act on your behalf.”

            “I don’t give out names of people I work with,” Kate replied calmly. “What I do in Chicago won’t affect my business with your bars, Mr. Weld. You’ll get shipments and protection as long as I’m paid.”

            “What I’m concerned about is the Chicago Outfit.” He ignored the mild threat. He’d been behind a few times with payments and had learned his lesson early on that it didn’t matter that Kate was a woman. She wasn’t someone to be messed with.

            Kate bit her tongue. The Chicago Outfit was frightening to anyone, but she didn’t show fear. “There’s no reason for concern.”

            “Pardon my insistence, but there’s been word that you’ve…you’ve been disregarding their territory lines. I would urge you to be careful or to even back out of Chicago entirely. The more you press…”

            “What?” She glanced over at him, still conveying that she wasn’t bothered even when her stomach was in knots.

            Mr. Weld’s fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel. “The more attention you’ll call to yourself. I don’t wish to have any ties to someone who upsets them.”

            “Then pay me what I’m due and our contract will be finished,” Kate replied with a tone of finality. “You can go over to the North End and ask the Italians for help. Because you won’t get any more help from any of my allies.”

            Mr. Weld swallowed. “Just please consider your actions a bit more carefully.” He parked outside of the Lynch’s apartment building.

            “I run my business how I see fit,” Kate said, stepping out of the car. “Let me know if you want to continue our business relationship.” She closed the car door firmly.

~~~            

            “I was making money but not enough to completely stay afloat. , I branched out further to Chicago and made mistakes. I was given a warning but I didn’t listen.”

            Tommy had been in the game long enough to know the consequences of ignoring warnings. “What did they do?”

            “They took a train to Boston and kidnapped my mother. They tortured her for days but she wouldn’t tell them where I was. They ended up throwing her in the river.” Kate tucked her knees to her chest as she stared at the floor with tears in her eyes. The sight of her mother’s body being hauled out of the river would always be etched into her brain. The guilt was so unbearable she tried to pawn it off to someone else. It was the Chicago Outfit’s fault. It was the fault of whoever gave them her mother’s address. It was her father’s fault for leaving them with no income. But in the end, there was no escaping it. Kate knew it was her fault.

            Tommy, although stunned into silence by her history, he instinctually wrapped an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. His actions had led to the death of others. He knew the weight of guilt that would always rest on his soul.

            “That same night I went to Santo. I wanted him to get revenge for me. I only knew him because he left me a letter after one of my performances. He hounded me for weeks about a business relationship and then something personal. I knew he was waiting for me after the news spread about my mother.”

 ~~~

            “My condolences, Miss Lynch.” Santo poured Kate a glass of wine. They were sat together in a secluded booth at one of the North End restaurants Santo owned.

            “Thank you.” She replied quietly. It still hadn’t quite hit that her mother was dead. Yet, there she was, willing to negotiate for revenge.

            “Why is it you wanted to come to see me so soon after your mother passed?” He asked even though there was a twinkle in his eye. A sort of knowing. There was no mystery as to why she was there.

            “Because I need the bastard who killed her to pay. I want him dead.”

            He raised his eyebrows as if he hadn’t even considered that. “And why should I help you? You’ve never proposed an alliance before, why would I risk any of my men to help you? You must know that the Chicago Outfit are dangerous.”

            “Because you’re the only one in Boston who has a feud with them, you would want an opportunity to raise hell, and I would pay you.” Kate knew that talking to gang leaders was never easy. She tended to get right to the bottom line to skip all the fanfare they were so fond of.

            “I’m a wealthy man, Kate, why would I need your money?” He adjusted his cufflinks almost as an example.

            “What else would you want?”

 ~~~

            “That’s where the deal came in. He killed the man who killed my mother. But when the deadline came, I didn’t have enough money. One of my shipments fell through and I lost a lot of money. I begged Santo to give me more time but he refused.”

            Tommy couldn’t help the instinctual anger he felt when Santo’s name was brought up. It only minorly distracted him from the bewildering story Kate was telling him.

            “I left before he could get me and ended up in France.”

            “And that’s where I come in,” Tommy mumbled quietly.

            “Yeah.” Her voice was almost at a whisper. Kate was terrified of what he would say to her.

            But he didn’t speak for a long while. He kept his arm around her, absent-mindedly rubbing her shoulder.

            “Say something, please.” She begged.

            “I don’t know what to say, Kate.” He finally spoke. “I just-I don’t know if it changes anything but I don’t understand. I don’t understand why you didn’t just tell me.”

            Kate felt like breaking down and just curling into a ball. Hardly anyone knew her true story. If she trusted anyone to hear it, Tommy would be high up on that list. But it was still agonizing to open up her old wounds. “Because when I went to France, I vowed to put it all behind me. I didn’t want to be that person again not after what happened to my mother. But then you came into my life and…” She put a hand to her face. “I don’t know I just thought you might be my ticket out.”

            “I don’t understand.”

            “You made me feel safe. And if I had to go back to what I was doing before then I trusted you would be able to keep me safe. Especially if Santo ended up finding me.” She tried to explain as best she could. “But I still wanted to be rid of my past so that’s why I lied. Maybe I just didn’t want to admit what I’d done.”     

            Tommy wasn’t sure what else he could say. Perhaps she had a reason for lying to him. Maybe it was enough that she wanted to put her past behind her. Sometimes, Tommy wished he could just step away from it all and resume a new life. Start off on a clean slate without any debts. But the world didn’t work that way. Kate was now figuring that out.

            “I didn’t think I would fall in love with you. I didn’t even plan on staying in Birmingham that long. I had no problem lying because…your family was just another step in the road. But…then I-I fell in love with you and I just didn’t know how to tell you the truth. The longer I waited, the harder it got.” Weary from all the emotions she’d gone through in those past months, she slumped forward over her knees, holding her hands to her face. “I don’t want to be just another person who lied to you.”

            “C’mere.” He helped her sit upright so he could cradle her in his arms. “What we have is real, aye? It doesn’t have anything to do with what happened in America. The only thing I care about is what happens between us here.”

            Kate buried her face in the crook of his neck. She wanted him to push her away, to look at her with disgust and hatred. She wanted him to hate her for the things she’d done.

            But he held her close and kissed her hair. “It’s done, yeah? You’re coming home, you leave all of it behind.”

            “Tom, I lied to everyone. I put them at risk I-” She couldn’t say it, but she felt worse than Grace. She had lied for longer than Grace had. She had condemned Grace for lying, yet Kate had been lying all along as well.

            “Leave it behind, Kate.” He urged. “You can leave it behind.”

He looked over her shoulder, still processing everything she’d told him. Kate was right, he was blind when it came to the people, he was closest to. So distrustful of the world, but those who had his heart were above suspicion.

            They sat there for a long while, sitting with everything said and just getting used to being in each other’s company again.

            “How is the rest of the family?” Kate asked quietly, finally lifting her head, able to meet his eyes again. “Have they been alright?”

            He took a deep breath. Time for some of his own admission of guilt. “They’re all in prison and they’ve been sentenced to hang.”

//I hope this format was okay to follow. I just didn’t want it to be one huge text block of Kate explaining everything. 

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Masterpost

PB Masterlist

[yourheroserene]

Polyship Hanayama/Baki/Kozue for number 7?

7. What do they get up to on a night out?

Because Kaoru has the hookup, he’s gonna be the one handling the car for the evening. So when it’s time to meet up, Kaoru rolls up at Baki/Kozue’s place in a nice car with a driver. But even before then, Baki and Kozue spend the early evening getting ready. Baki and Kozue shower together, something they like to do for times when they go out together. Kozue takes double time, cause she’s gotta do both her and Baki’s hair. Baki and Kozue will go out of their way to wear at least one nice thing that Kaoru has bought them. For Baki, it’s some silk socks, and for Kozue it’s her gold hair clip that rests on top of her ponytail, with a flower made of rhinestones standing up on top. You know, 90s bedazzle.

Kaoru knocks on the door and is let in by Mrs. Matsumoto, who lets him know the others are still getting ready, just as Baki and Kozue yell it across the house too. They’re both excited. Baki is ready first, since Kozue also does makeup, and doesn’t want the boys to see until the look is finished. Baki comes out to greet Kaoru, jumping on him, and grabbing his neck from behind in a youthful hug. Kaoru barely shifts, the pillar he is, but a small smile comes over his face as he looks back to greet Baki. Baki jokes around and chats up Kaoru for a little while, as Kozue finishes and comes out to join them.

She asks them what they think, and at first they both can’t see, since Baki jokingly took Kaoru’s glasses and put them on, rendering both his and Kaoru’s sight useless. Taking his glasses back, Kaoru sits at attention, giver her an up-and-down once over, sternly asking what she thinks of herself. Kozue blushes, as Baki is beside himself with admiration for her beauty.

Kozue, looking down shyly, says “Well, I think everything come together nicely. I’m really happy about the new skirt.”

“Then imagine that happiness tenfold, and that’s how I feel about your look tonight,” Kaoru smoothly responds. Kozue’s face lights up as she cups it with her hands, expecting that Kaoru always says something so over the top. She loves when it comes from his stoic demeanor.

“You’re the prettiest girl in the WORLD Kozue!!!” Baki interjects. He can’t hold it in, and he waited his turn! “Your hair and your skin and your makeup, all perfect! and I knew that shirt would go with the new skirt!” He’s nearly vibrating with his affection, and both he and Kozue mutually skip to each other, clasp hands and dip in to touch noses. Very cheesy romance stuff, and it’s touching.

Kaoru says it’s time to go, and they all head out to the car. Tonight is Dinner and movie, Baki’s turn for suggesting. Though Kozue limited the choice at one dinner, lol. Kaoru said he’s surprise them for the restaurant, and boy, was he right. Coming to a stop, Baki and Kozue get out first to see the place Kaoru picked, a fine French restaurant, boasting a gold-gilded 5-star sign above the name. Warm ambient light emanating from within, Baki and Kozue just look on in anticipating amazement. Kaoru, the mountain he is, gets out after to walk them in, recounting how his family ‘does business’ with the owner.

At the table, Baki is the first to have an issue, trying his hardest to make sense of the french dishes and ingredients, all written in the Latin alphabet. Squinting and grimacing for a while, all to the bemusement of Kaoru and Kozue, Baki finally throws his head back, leans back on is seat and exhales sharply that he can’t read the menu. With a chuckle, Kozue also admits though she knows some of the words, she’d rather Kaoru order for her so she knows it’ll be good. Baki then lunges forward into the menu once more, thinking he’ll somehow get it now, and strains to say every sound out.

“I visualized that I went to a bunch of French classes, took the tests, and got a license for French! I don’t get why it failed!” Baki sighed, defeated.

“You don’t get a license for French, idiot. But I’d have one if they made them,” said Kaoru.

Baki sticks out his tongue and sneers. “Well order for me then, Francois.”

After dinner, they decide to leave the car and walk the few blocks to the movie theater. Baki exaggeratedly kicks out his legs in a waddle, to show how full he is. Kaoru knows just how much can fill Baki up for a nice meal. Kozue muses with hands clasped to the side of her face, just how rich the lobster was, and how smoothly the sauce balanced savory and sweet flavors. She nearly drools, regardless of having just eaten, craving that 5-star dinner. Kaoru is proud of himself, and tries not to show it, but Baki and Kozue see the smug smirk and tip-toe up to him, each giving him a kiss on the cheek in appreciation.

They arrive at the theater, and go in circles about what genre of movie to see, Kozue eventually being voted out by Baki and Kaoru. They were going to see a Western. Yeehaw.

“But I thought you’s WANNA see the one about the mafia fighting the cops, Hanayama!” Kozue groans, slouching over where she stood. “bleeeeeeh”

“It’s not the same!” Kaoru sticks his pointer finger up. “The COPS are the heroes in that one. one of my subordinates saw it and warned me. I’m not about to watch some cop-loving snoozefest.”

“I’ve been really into dehydration training, so I’m trying to study up some pointer from cowboys. You KNOW they only drank like, once a week right?” Baki exclaims, settling the discussion on this entirely new brand of stupid.

“Why are you like this, Baki?” Kozue and Kaoru both think in a psychic meld. Both of them lay a hand on each of Baki’s shoulders. In another psychic, morosexual moment, they think “God, I love him” as Baki blinks passively.

Inside the theater, and at their isle, they go through their ritual of rock paper scissors to decide who sits in the middle. Baki with his demonic luck as won 5 times in a row. Make that 6. They go to take their seats, squeezing in close, and not just because Kaoru is a big guy. The film flies by, interwoven by whisper-giggles, held hands, and popcorn-passing.

As they leave the theater, the car comes back around to pick them up. On the ride home, Baki asks Kozue if she’ll be alright if he stays with Kaoru tonight.

“I’m a big girl, Baki. You literally live with me, so one night to myself is a great time to get ahead on my studies!” she winks. A dew gathers at Baki’s eyes, him feigning a puppy dog look at her.

“You mean you won’t miss me??”

“Nope. Not one bit.”

“hnnnn??” Baki gets up close to Kozue’s face. He puckers his lips together like a fish and cries, “But I’ll miss youuuu-” Kozue meets him with her lips, stunning Baki with their softness.

“Don’t be a dummy, babe,” Kozue meets his eyes, stroking his hair down and tucks some behind his ear. Baki sighs with blissful satisfaction and closes his eyes, looking like a cat in a ray of sun. The car has already stopped at the Matsumoto household, and as Kozue gets out, Kaoru grabs her hand, managing a kiss of his own on the back of it. Taking the opportunity of a seated Kaoru showing the top of his head, Kozue also strokes his hair, then down to his cheek, causing Kaoru to just slightly flush, hiding his gaze behind the reflection of his glasses.

“Goodnight, boys.”

“Same” says Kaoru.

“See you tomorrow!” yells Baki. Kozue heads inside, as Baki and Kaoru drive away, Baki yawning and laying his head on Kaoru’s lap for the ride back to his place.

[drabbleshereandthere]

Tainted.

Word Count:

Pairing: Mafioso!Billy Hargrove x Reader

A/N: another work before all my other WIPS? What a surprise.. :,)

Warnings: general creepiness, mafia activity, illegal acts, cursing, implied dirty desires

Summary: Billy, an infamous mafia crime boss, takes an odd liking to a cute diner waitress.

California seemed like the perfect place for you and your larger-than-life dreams. You could see it now, finding love under the summer sun in Cali, living in beachy bliss among salty air and a never ending sun. It seemed perfect- before you arrived, that is. You started off with a job as a waitress at a small diner with an employer who knew nothing of personal space and living quarters that could be described as nothing more than shabby. However, as time passed, you started dealing with things that were out of the ordinary to say the least.

It wasn’t that you didn’t appreciate it, but you were sure what was happening was a horrible accident, or something to be paid back later. There were huge amounts of money being transferred into your bank account. You didn’t touch any of the excess cash, seeing as how there was so obviously something wrong going on. Which you were sure there had to be, because who willingly gave out that much money to some lowlife waitress?

Billy Hargrove. An infamous mafia boss risen from small town Hawkins, Indiana with a hell of a lot of emotional turmoil that nobody spoke of. Hargrove’s pockets were filled with loads of cash, and he was saddled with anger issues to surpass his own father, along with a rock hard exterior that was only let down for the closest to him on special occasion- if that. That man, he would. Manager with no personal space? Tommy, his right hand man. The small diner you worked at? Connected to an underground meeting place for crime bosses and illegal play- kept down low on the radar and yet just outgoing and friendly enough to closet their criminal activity. Everything was in his hands. When he came around the diner- which was rare- yet now becoming more frequent- he would see you. A pretty new face working the clock. Of course you wouldn't recognize him, you saw plenty of faces every day working that place. Not to mention his work behind the scenes to keep himself just out of your view.

But, he always recognized you, mostly because he was specifically looking for you, but he supposed that didn't really matter. Most people greeted him with some sort of recognition and a shiver down their spine, but not you. It enticed him, the way you greeted him with a smile and pretty plump lips just waiting to be tainted by his sinful ones; being completely unaware of who he was and what he had planned. Naive. Malleable. For that reason, meeting you always felt somewhat wrong, that him even clouding the same air as you would leave you tarnished, but when had he ever been right?

He loved the feeling you gave him, and he planned to make you feel the same way. To crave him so desperately like he craved you. Billy wanted you to look at him and flutter those pretty lashes a couple times, then he’d sit back and watch those cheeks flush at his smile in a silent reply that his affections were returned.

All it took was promising Tommy a little extra cash to get your card information and your phone number. Too easy. The only thing he had to do was wait for you to fall into the trap he’d set for you. Except for the fact that it wasn’t “too easy”. You didn't use any of the money he gave you, and he had been so excited for that day.

The day he’d come in and see you with a new pair of earrings and a shining necklace. Or some nice heels for him to watch you walk to him in. Maybe even an entire getup just for him. That never happened, because you never used anything he gave you, you were pure, you’d gone untouched by the filthy craving for money and power, unlike him. It only made you all the more interesting. It was frustrating, but Billy had plenty of experience holding more than one trick up his sleeve. Luckily, he still had that phone number of yours. He���d get what he wanted one way or another, he always did.

It was finally the weekend. After working long hours in a restaurant with locals who ordered so much food yet couldn’t shut their mouths enough to eat any of it, it was great to have your days off come. Calm days for your own enjoyment. No stress, no problems, no chatty Karens who complained about this, that, and the other thing- no nothing. That was until you received a message on your phone that was more than suspicious.

“Hey doll, you buy yourself something nice and pretty with what I gave you?”

Of course, Billy knew you hadn’t, but toying with you was a given. He couldn’t just clue you in on everything already, it would be too easy for you, and considering you’d already made it hard on him, he decided that a little toying wouldn’t bother you too much. The message you sent him back was almost too good. You were only sweetening the pot. It seemed as if you’d meet him sooner than later. Things were going to plan.

“Do I know you? I believe you have the wrong number.”

“Not yet, sweet-cheeks. You could say that we’ve met. No doubt this is the right number, but you haven’t answered my question, have you doll?”

With what he gave you? And he said you didn’t know him. It’s an unknown number for fuck sake. But then it hit you. Buying nice things with with something from someone you didn’t know? Had to be the money in your account. But you had something up your sleeve too.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Playing coy was a killer. You were toying with him now. Maybe you were untainted, but you weren’t stupid. He liked it, but he needed you to spill. He wanted you to realize everything and lay it out in front of him. There was something oddly intimate about secrets being let out in the open. The anticipation was so thick it was palpable. If he was going to get it out of you, he’d have to give you something to grasp onto. Give you false hope.

“No? You don’t know about my gift ?”

You were smart, but he was filthy. He was raised with a silver tongue, and if he played his cards right, you’d fall right where he wanted you. Not to mention, you’d yet to address the elephant in the room.

When he sent that, your plan disappeared in thin air, because it actually WAS the unknown person giving you money. Gift? The money had to be it. It was warranted for no apparent reason, it made sense.

“The money has gone untouched. And why did you gift it to me in the first place? You said that I don’t know you.

There it was. He never actually said that he gave you money, and even though he was hinting at it, he needed you to say it. Let it be known, out in the open. Billy didn’t want any secrets between the two of you. Well, any secrets being kept from him. You, on the other hand, didn’t need to know everything just yet, and it didn’t make him feel so guilty, since you would know in do time.

“Yet. You don’t know me yet. But, we’ve met before. Remember that. I’ll see you soon, sweetcheeks.”

And that was the elephant in the room addressed. Yet. Although things had been addressed- partly- you were somehow more confused than before. Who were they? Why and how did they give you the money? How did they get your number? Who has that much money to just give away? In what way were you to respond? Were you supposed to respond? Apparently you’d met, but where? In what context? Had you spoken before this? And what did they mean by, “see you soon”?

You found out only two days later. Billy decided that after leaving you to your own devices for so long when he was transferring money, he deserved to see you then, and that he just didn’t want to wait any longer. It was a typical shitty Monday to start out the week, and you were on edge from the weekends events. But nothing during the weekend could have compared to face to face.

You knew he had come here before, but you never recognized him without a third or fourth look back at him. He asked for coffee, black, with some simple sugar packets on the side. When you brought his order to him, he spoke. “Get yourself something pretty yet, doll?” The cup shattered on the floor. There was no avoiding the connection in his words. You’d been on edge all weekend due to those texts, and here he was, saying something like that? No way it wasn’t him. You’d stood on stone legs for a few moments before bending down to assess and clean the mess you’d made before going to reply and being interrupted by his voice once again. “Tommy! Get this for her while I chat her up, will you?” And he did. You were surprised. But you sat in front of him anyway. “Not to come off as rude, but who are you to be making orders?”

There were only so many answers to this question. Two, in fact. The truth, or a lie. He could tell you it was family run, that he knew the guy personally, all lies. Or, he could tell you that he was basically treated as royalty in the underground illegal works of the mafia, and Tommy was his bitch. He needed to entice you, not scare you, but maybe a little bit of danger is what you needed- he always liked to be blunt anyway. “I have a lot of power around here sweetheart. I got a way of getting what I want.” Strange. Blunt. Who even was this guy? “Do you have a name?”

His grin was sinful. Intriguing, even. Did he have a name? Hell yeah, sweetheart. God if you didn’t make him shiver. A name that meant a lot to many. Whether it be negative, trailed by danger, or in the rare case- positive, he did indeed have a name. “Billy Hargrove, sweetheart. But it’s a bit late for introductions, seeing as how I know a lot about you already.” That’s right. He has your phone number, presumably your card number, and with all that he must have known your name. “Then fill me in. What is all of this? The money? The cryptic texts..?” He loved it. He was eating it up. You were curious about him and his game. Your words were giving him leverage without you even knowing. You wanted to know more and god was he willing to let you in, but he wanted to toy with you a little more first.

“Listen, (Y/N).-“ Oddly enough, heating your name from his lips sent shivers down your spine. “- I’ll make you a deal. You give me what I’ve asked for, and I’ll tell you all you want and serve it on a silver platter with your name on it. It’s all yours. But first, I want you to buy a pretty little get-up for me, and you’ll come with me to a nice party in it, alright? That’s all it takes. You just have to shake on it.”

He held out his hand for you to take in yours, which was accompanied by that same sinful smile. As you looked at him, as strange as it seemed, you felt a sense of power about him. Somehow as if he would have it everywhere he went. On the other hand, all you had to do was buy a dress and go to a party, and he’d tell you everything you wanted. Fair enough, right? “You’ll really tell me anything I ask?” He would be lying if he said that the hesitance in your voice and your doe eyes weren’t doing it for him right now. He shallowly nodded and let out a rough “mhm” from the back of his throat in response, with his eyes still on yours the entire time. He was dangerous. You weren’t stupid. But if he’s as enticing as he is cryptic and dangerous, you had to know more.

You reached out and took his hand; the warmth from his palm radiating onto yours, and as you shook it, you were sure that maybe everything wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Everything was really bad after all. You were nervous and overwhelmed. It didn’t matter...yet. You were going to go to that party, wear your dress, and own it too. Then you’d get your way afterwards and forget it ever happened. But things never went exactly according to plan, did they? Billy made sure to keep himself wedged into your mind every day leading up to the party. Whether it was a simple, ”Hey sweetheart, hope I'm on your mind.” or him updating you on how many days you had left to get your shit together, he made sure to keep himself at the forefront of your thoughts even without being physically with you.

Then came the text when the amount of days left hit one. You had one more day until you would see him again and get everything over with. He was a lion that got off on power, you knew that much. When you saw him, you swore you’d give him no leverage, nothing to grow from. But then he pulled up at your front door, walked out in the most lavish tuxedo you’d ever seen, and whispered in your ear that it was time to go. The ride to the party was silent.

He wanted to hear you speak to him and get lost in his eyes just as he’d found himself in yours, but he’d give you your time. After all, you needed all the help you could get for what was to come.

[abalonetea]

the rabbit dies first

the first 1,554 words of a story I wrote about two years ago, for a contest who’s deadline date I missed!

I had actually forgotten about this story, so it was a neat surprise to find and I wanted to share some of it!

  “The rabbit dies first.” Don Angelo leans forward, resting one elbow on the dark wood table. The room is thick with smoke from his cigar. “Then we take care of the rest.”   Across from him, the underboss, a rather stout looking opossum who goes by Tony, nods in agreement. “Makes sense, boss. We take out one, the rest’ll crumble. Be real easy to pick them off that way.”   Don Angelo cracks a smile, showing off all of his sharp teeth. Raccoons are smart by nature, but he’s even more intelligent than most. “That runt should have known better than to try and rip me off.”  “We going to bring the others in on this?”   “Not yet. I’m not convinced we don’t have a mole in the mix. Someone had to tell him where we keep the dough, right?”   “You really think someone tipped him off?”   “Rabbits aren’t that smart,” says Don Angelo, rocking backwards. He flicks ash off the end of his cigar. The basement doesn’t have any windows in it. Dim yellow light makes the room look more old than it actually is; they have a real base downtown, set up in the Lucky Apple casino. But, with everything going on right now, Don Angelo felt that his own home was a better fit for the meeting.   The door that leads to the upper floor creaks. Brighter light cuts against the dimness of the stairs. Penny is standing in the doorway, the picture perfect visage of a gun moll. Her long, hairless tail is draped over one shoulder. A series of golden hoops jangle in her left ear and a thick strand of pearls is draped around her neck.    “Angie, I’ve about had it with this!” Penny’s accent is thick and easily identifiable as belonging to New Yorkie. She puts a pale pink hand on her hip, sharp nails bunching up her sleek black dress. “All day, yous down here! All day, yous in here smoking with these boys of yours! What about me? When do we get to do something, just the two of us? You supposed to have off today and look, yous still down here, smoking and playing cards!”   “We aren’t playing cards,” snaps Don Angelo. He bares his fangs, hissing at the young woman. “I’m doing business, Penny! I told you that before I came down here!”   “Sorry, Penny.” Tony offers the mouse a sheepish look. He puts out his own cigar on the edge of the table, never minding the dark singe mark it leaves behind. “I’m not trying to keep your man busy all the time.”   Penny waltzes down the stairs, swinging her hips as she goes. “Oh, don’t you go apologizing, Tony. It ain’t your fault.” She waves a hand at the opossum. “Yous not the one pulling Angie down here all hours of the night.”   “Penny, we’ve been over this plenty of times. You can’t come down here – “   “Don’t yous tell me where I can’t go,” interrupts Penny. “This was my house first, you stupid coon. I’m not one of your little men, and you can’t just go ordering me around and telling me things when you aren’t even really telling me things!” She hooks one clawed hand around Don Angelo’s arm, tugging at him. “Now you get that hind of yours up and you take me out somewhere nice!”   “Penny – “ “ No! I ain’t gonna hear anymore excuses! We’re doing something together today! Tony, baby, honey boy – “ Penny gives him a toothy smile. There’s bright red lipstick smeared over her buck teeth. “ – you just lock up before you leave, alright?”  Tony and Don Angelo trade looks. When the boss nods, just a little bit, Tony’s smile gets more warm. “Alright, Penny. You can trust me to make sure everything gets closed up tight.”

  Don Angelo and Penny end up at one of their usual haunts. Bellissimo Gatto is run by a dear friend of Penny. The pretty tabby cat isn’t seen at the restaurant very often these days, but her likeness is captured in the oil portrait that hangs behind the reception station.   Penny leans against Don Angelo, keeping one arm looped around the raccoon’s own arm. She bats her eyes at him. “Come on, Angie. You and me, we’re due for a night like this.”   “I know, I know, but you can’t just go barging into meetings like that.” Don Angelo waves at the Persian behind the station, letting himself into the dining hall. There’s always a table reserved for the boss of the local mafia chapter. Soft violin music plays through hidden speakers. The white crown moulding is decorated with intricate swirls and simple fish outlines.   Penny pulls her own chair out, sitting down with a pointed look at her boyfriend.  They don’t need to order because they always get the same thing, and in a matter of minutes a bottle of expensive elderberry wine is being sat down, along with two crystalline flutes. “Treat me better, than.”   “I treat you great! Look at this place!” Don Angelo makes a broad gesture with one large paw.  Penny squints at him. “I’ve been coming here long before you were a thing, Angie. You know me and Tish are real great friends.”  A silver platter covered in neatly cut cubes of smoked gouda, wine soaked white cheddar, parmesan, and sheep’s milk cheddar gets sat down in front of the mouse. The waiter knows better than to look either of them in the eye, even as he sits Don Angelo’s plate of raw salmon, smoked chestnuts, and sliced honey crisp apples down.  “Bon appetite,” says the waiter. His long, stripped tail twitches nervously. As soon as Don Angelo waves his hand, the tom cat scurries off.   Don Angelo looks anything but happy. “Sweets, toots, my little ball of munster, you know I love you. You know I would do anything for you. I’ve just got things going on right now. And these things, see, they – “   “You always have things going on.” Penny picks up a piece of smoked gouda. Her pink nose twitches irritably. “Angie, you better start making time for me, you hear? I ain’t gonna be sticking around some pest swatter who just wants a trophy clinging to them. I’m better than that, yous know.”  “I know, I know.” Don Angelo reaches across the table, resting one large paw on Penny’s arm. “As soon as I get this issue squared away, you and I are going to have a real sweet weekend.”    “The rabbit or the rat?”   “Penny, you’re killing me!” With a guttural sigh, Don Angelo drops back in his chair. He drapes an arm over the top of his muzzle, hiding his eyes. “I keep telling you, my business with you isn’t the same thing as my business with the boys! You can’t go around eavesdropping.”   Penny sniffs. “Don’t be having meetings in my house then.”

[mezhane]

JUST MARRIED (...kinda)

PART 2

-A week later-

I woke up this morning , feeling pretty nervous . I was going to meet my husband,or should I say future husband this morning,over brunch , because yes, I actually gave in to my dad and agreed to meet the guy . My dad smiled and hugged me a lot this very morning, and my mom didn’t even wait a minute to call everybody back home and tell them my marriage was settled .

I found endless joy in making my people proud and happy and even felt a hint of self accomplishment. But I quickly fell off my cloud when my dad told me who the lucky pretender was going to be .

-A week ago-

Zhang Yixing .

Zhang fucking Yixing .

My eyes widened at the sound of his name . I choked a laugh, and cleared my throat to manage to make my voice come out .

“Zhang Yixing ? From the Triad gang ? Are we talking about the same man ?” I asked my dad though I already knew the answer .

“Well yes baby, do you know another Zhang Yixing ? You know me and his father have been partners for the longest time right ? Way before you and his son were born ... Just like me , his dad is going to retire soon and let Yixing take over the leadership. He thought it would be a good idea to get him married before he becomes the leader of the gang ... So here we are ! “

I sat down, taking every piece of information my dad was giving to me . My palms were sweaty and my hands were slightly shaking.

“So, what you are trying to tell me is that we are getting married, no, that I’m marrying this guy to allow him to acquire some sort of a respectable image in front of his gang members? HE is becoming the new leader, what does this have to do with us ?” I spat at my dad’s face , trying my best to show my annoyance but staying composed at the same time .

“It’s not only that sweetie , we are really close to the Triad gang , and also business partners! This marriage wil-“

“What? So you’re trying to tell me that you’re using me as an object for you business contract renewal with the Triad ? Is that what it is all about ?” I was whispering at this point, my voice being blocked by the tears bubbling in my throat.

“No!... Yes... I mean yes and no ! My first issue is you of course ! I was worried about you being in your mid-twenties and not having a fiancé, so obviously, when Yixing’s father told me about you marrying his son, I immediately said approved ! Plus, it’s not like you don’t know Yixing, right ? You practically grew up together! You guys used to be close when you were younger! “ My dad was really trying his best to sound as cheerful as possible...

“Younger? You mean when I was the biggest tomboy ever and he would only talk to me because I was the only girl that wasn’t crazy about him and I was like his little sister?”

My dad sighed at this and sat down next to me .

“Well yeah, you were always in good terms with each other ! And aren’t you best friends with his cousin sister? It’s like you’re part of their family already!” He was smiling and I, was unconsciously smiling too.

“Marina and Yixing are two different persons, dad... I haven’t had a real conversation with Yixing in years ! I’m not even sure he remembers me like I remember him ... I mean after all the time he spent studying abroad...” I sounded nervous. Why did I sound so nervous?

“Yes. I know that, but I’m sure he remembers you the same. Don’t worry too much , okay ? “ He kissed my hand and grabbed it firmly with both of his . “So.. is that a yes pumpkin? Are you willing to meet him and discuss this marriage?”

“I guess , yeah , I’ll give it a try “ I replied feigning annoyance.

He hugged me while telling me how much he loved me and how I made the best decision of my life ...

-Present time-

So here I was now, watching myself in the mirror, trying out dresses back and forth to make sure I was gonna leave the best impression possible, checking my eye liner to see if it was even on both eyes , putting one lip colour on, taking it off , putting another on, and whatever nonsense girls do before their first date except it wasn’t a date . I was going to meet my fiancé and his parents, to talk about our arranged mariage , settled by our fathers , both leaders of two of the most influent and feared mafias in Europe . It is a whole lot to take in . And I’m not gonna lie , I am petrified.My dad came to my room to tell me we should leave. On our way to the restaurant, I kept thinking about what I should do , how I should behave,or how should I eat. My mom was sitting next to me . She might have seen the worry on my face and squeezed my hand to reassure me . We finally arrived, and as we were making our way into the restaurant, I could feel myself getting hot . I took a deep breath and thought « it’s gonna be okay Mina, he’s not a stranger , you’ve known him your whole life, relax .»

« Mina?! Is that you ? Oh wow ! You’ve gotten taller, but apart from that , your face haven’t changed a bit , huh, Babyface? »

« Babyface. My heart dropped as I heard the surname. That’s how he used to call me .Yixing. He still had that smile. The very “corporate” smile as I used to call it . He inspired respect and professionalism on all points . Everything about him was perfect. His hairstyle , the way the colour of his tie matched his socks perfectly... Hell, even the amount of shirt coming out of his jacket sleeves was just the right amount of inches ! Yixing was the incarnation of perfection alive and I suddenly felt so little and flustered about him calling me “Babyface” ... Because yes , I lied when I told my dad I didn’t have a crush on him growing up . I did . I fell for him . Hard . And somehow, this stupid crush, this attention towards the 13 year old , tomboy me that I mistook for love, never went away. It was still here somewhere inside of me . He hugged my mother, shook my father’s hand and opened his arms towards me .

“Come here ! “ He hugged me tight and and whispered in my hear. “You’re absolutely gorgeous “ . I gasped quietly and pulled away from him smiling, but never looking at him in the eyes properly. He, Yixing, thought I was gorgeous. Words cannot even describe how hard I suppressed the squeal of joy to come out of my mouth. I shook my head realizing how I was thinking. I still wasn’t over my crush on him .

Here we were again .

Fuck .

[eighthchiharu]

Stridercest Week, Day 3: Meet/Cute! [Guardiancest, Mafia AU]

Written for B! :)

Bro meets David at an underground poker game.

It's romantic, in the old-fashioned sense of the word -- dashing, classicly heroic -- when David bursts through the door and grabs one of the players by the back of his jacket. He yanks the 18-year-old kid out of his seat, away from the fleecing he was about to get at the hands of Bro's compatriots, and rounds on the rest of the room with a glare so fierce that Bro's sure a piece of his own soul -- what was left -- was just incinerated under the magnified pinpoint sunlight of David's displeasure.

"You ought to be ashamed," David snaps, and his Transition lenses are so old-man on his young thirties face that Bro has to fight not to smile.

Who the hell is this oblivious nerd?

"Break it up, all of you. Go home!"

There are men in this room, and one woman. All of them over 18, most of them over 27. They're not children, but David doesn't seem to notice that. He does notice Bro, however, lounging at the back of the room in an incredibly out-of-place leather armchair, two guards leaning against the wall nearby. One of them has a hand in his black jacket, but Bro waves, a staying gesture.

David squints, glowers again, and hauls the poor little rich boy out of the room, issuing more threats about parents and expulsion.

It's goddamn adorable.

So maybe they didn't meet, exactly, since Bro didn't get to say word one, but first impressions are, as they say, the strongest, and it isn't long before Bro has the Zahak brothers do a little research for him. Who was that masked man? Where does he live? Who are his parents, what's his income, and do they have his social security number, because that'll give Bro the really good dirt.

adly, there's little dirt to be found, besides his pathetic profile on Tindr that declares he's bisexual -- or maybe it's a happy lack of dirt, because something about David makes Bro want to try a little. Put in a small dollop of effort. Dress up, find the dweeb, and turn on the charm. It seems incredibly easy, like slaying a dragon with a nuclear bomb, but Bro can't get that indignant, scolding look out of his mind. He wants to see it again, face-to-face.

He has the Zahaks do some careful recon work, and within the week Bro knows David's favorite coffee place, his favorite donut place, his favorite Indian food place, and his favorite place for Mexican. The man does. Not. Cook. It's horrendous that someone that brave and dumb and self-righteous doesn't know his way around a frying pan. Even Bro can make tamales or cannolis when the need strikes.

It's all right for now, though. Time for a little swooping in, saving the day, just like David seems to enjoy.

One late afternoon when David is on his way to the Mexican restaurant for some take-away, a meal his arteries are probably gonna regret if he keeps up his regular order, which Bro is sure he will, Bro sets one of his young, nimble-fingered kids into action. Burritos with everything can't be good for anyone on a weekly basis, and Bro is going to solve this tiny health problem with a combination of slick thinking and city charm.

For today's outing, Bro is dressed in a black jacket and slacks, a white shirt with pinstripes so faint you have to be right on top of him to notice their gray striations, shining faintly, polished Italian loafers, but no socks. No tie. He's Mr Casual, Mr Everyday Joe. Nothing to see here except ordinary human perfection, don't stare, please, it makes everyone uncomfortable. He waits on the corner, watching the action unfold with the mirrors on the wings of his pointed sunglasses. Fagan ain't got nothin' on Bro when he's testin' his kiddos.

David is about ten feet out the door when wham -- the kid slams into him. The burrito hits the ground, the kid's foot smashes the goods -- and while David is dazed, the kid lifts his wallet. No money, no lunch, and when the kid takes off running at a pace Bambi would envy, no one to blame.

Bro can't suppress his smile this time. Good thing he's facing the other way.

He doesn't waste his window, though. He spins around and is at David's elbow before the man can finish pushing his nerd-alert glasses back into place, the low groan of dismay only just starting in the back of David's throat as he realizes his meal is sidewalk mash.

The vocalization only cements Bro's resolve, no pun intended. He speaks up, hands in his pockets to keep from seeming like a threat. "Hey, that sucks. You okay? Kids today, am I right?"

"Yeah, I -- man, my burrito! I didn't even see that guy, he just appeared out of --" David finally looks up from the burrito remains, the paper bag wet with sauce, the smell of peppers and grilled meats wafting up tantalizingly, a final salute to its now-wasted tastiness. He looks up, and his mouth falls open.

It was dark in the back of the church they were using for the poker game. There's no way David recognizes him. But even if he does, that's okay. Just means Bro has to shift gears, come in with the back-up plan, the one that involves a little more strong-arm and a little less wine-and-dine --

"... shit, you're hot," David blurts out.

Bro is about four inches taller, and now his smile really won't stay put. "Thanks. You ain't bad yourself."

"I mean -- I mean, uh, I'm -- I do movies. Direct movies. Not do them -- I'm a director. I just mean that -- that was a compliment. For film. You know, because --"

"-- because movies," Bro finishes along with him. Goddamn, this guy really is fucking innocent.

"Yeah," David agrees, finally managing to get his gaping under control. He tugs his shirt into place, brushes a hand down the front of the soft cotton, spreading folds thin enough that Bro can see David's trim physique beneath the loose fabric. "Anyway. I'm fine, thanks. Nice of you to ask -- wait. Aw fuck, cmon, no." He drops a hand to the back pockets of his dark, old jeans, then to his front pockets, then the back ones again.

Bro's enjoying watching David pat himself down, especially running his questing hands over those slim hips, but he spares David another moment of public agony by asking, as if he didn't know, "Somethin' wrong?"

"My wallet!" David moans, and wow, Bro makes a promise to himself that if he gets David alone someday, he's gonna try to get that exact sound back, just as long and languorous as it was, but with Bro's name instead of the billfold's. "The little shit got my wallet! Aw, fuck."

The word is coarse, and surprising for some reason. David exudes charming suburban class, despite his claim as a worldly movie maker, and Bro didn't expect any epithets that would routinely be banned from classrooms. Admittedly, that'd be a rule for younger students, but Bro's golden eyebrows raise all the same. "Damn, that's messed up. Can you call and cancel your cards?"

"Yeah, I can do it on my app. He didn't grab my phone, probably 'cause it's just a Moto." Unhappy, and probably hungry, David pulls his phone out and opens his banking app.

Now that's a little too trusting. Bro puts out a hand and covers the screen, his Rolex flashing gold in the late sunlight. "Hey, don't do that out here. Tell you what, since you lost your dinner, let me take you somewhere. You can cancel your stuff there, and get some food so you don't starve while they mail you more plastic and make you wait four days for the privilege."

If David knows what kind of watch it is, or what kind of jacket and slacks (Tom Ford) or what kind of shoes, he doesn't give it away in the slightest. He just pulls a sad face as his stomach growls like some kind of anime protag. "I can't -- okay, you didn't hear that. "

Bro shrugs. "Sounded hungry to me."

David actually blushes the slightest bit. "I can get food at the commons, really. Thanks, though. You're -- it's nice of you."

"I know a great Mexican place. Burritos like seven-tier cakes. Fattest things you ever saw, and cheap beer to boot. Nothin' tastes better with good Mexican than shit beer."

That's not entirely true, but if David's teaching at a uni, it's about what he's used to. The man's stomach growls again, and David glances around, as though afraid someone might be offended that he's accepting burrito offers from a stranger. "... you sure?"

"Sure I'm sure. All us hot people are sure."

David makes a face, the blush vanishing. "Uh huh. And where's this amazing Mexican place at?"

Bro names a couple of streets, and watches as David fights some internal battle that Bro long ago gave up on, or relinquished his right to even take part in. There's very little conscience where Bro's concerned; just legality, and which side of the law it benefits him to be on at any given time.

This time, he wants to be on the right side. For this guy. For now.

"... yeah, all right." David finally gives in, slightly suspicious, except for the thunderous snarling coming from his belly. "Sorry, it's just -- thanks. I appreciate it. It's seriously kind of you, very cool. If everyone was as decent as you are, we'd live in a very different place."(edited)

Amen to that, Bro thinks. He nods toward the corner. "It's this way. C'mon, ain't a far walk. Just a few blocks."

David nods his blond head, the lenses of his glasses slowly lightening up as the sun sets. They're still dark, but Bro can see the outlines of his eyes through them -- and over them, since he's so much taller. He can see the part in David's hair, the couple of rare strands that seem more silver than blonde, and he wonders how David's scalp would feel beneath Bro's lips. How firm David's waist will be, how warm his hungry stomach.

The last makes him laugh, and when David asks what's so funny, Bro has to make something up. It works, though, and David falls into step beside him, not even noticing the Zahaks drifting along in their boss' wake. Watching. Ready.

[xxprincessjewelsxx]

Aces Over Eights (Chanyeol Mafia!au Fic) Chapter 7 - Take Me Instead

Warnings: None

Y/F/N = Your Fake Name

Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 7, Ch. 8, Ch. 9, Ch. 10, Ch. 11, Ch. 12, Ch. 13,  Ch. 14, Ch. 15

The beginning of the day started as I thought it would. Minseok introduced me to the others so that I knew everyone’s names in the event that I needed something and then a chore list was shoved in my face.

“You worked at a restaurant, I’m sure you know what cleaning supplies to use,” he stated.

“Speaking of which...what happened to my jobs?” I questioned.

“Everything’s been taken care of for you...nothing you have to worry about,” he replied.

Needless to say that didn’t make me feel better but I went over the chore list and then went to what looked to be a laundry/cleaning supply room for the penthouse and started on the chores.

I was mostly ignored most of the time, though when lunch came around it was insisted upon that after Kyungsoo made lunch I was to be the one to serve it to the nine men that were sitting in the living room. Whatever they were talking about must’ve been pretty important, because they had been in there all day.

I tried my best not to listen to what they were saying as I set up a stool and began to clean the windows, but it was hard not to catch bits and pieces of their conversations.

“It’s going to be difficult to slip something like that into a conversation.”

“You don’t just drop something that’s not well known to people into the conversation, let alone ask for it.”

“We could start a conversation over drinks and wait until he gets drunk.”

“He doesn’t drink heavily when he’s in conversation with other business men, he thinks that’s a way he can get around ever being fooled. He doesn’t mind a few extra drinks from women though....”

I felt nine sets of eyes on me but continued to try and go one without looking back at them. ‘If I don’t look they won’t say anything to me and they’ll forget I exist.’

“Hey sweetheart...”

I didn’t reply because A) I have a name and B) I was really hoping they would leave me out of it.

“Babe...”

‘Don’t look at whoever it is,’

“She has a name, Jongin...”

“Fine...Y/N.”

I sighed and finished the last bit of window before stepping down off the window and turned and looked at them. “Yes?”

“How are your flirting skills?” Jongin questioned.

“Non-existent, thanks for asking,” I replied.

“Ooooh a bit touchy there, don’t tell me you’re a-”

“No...I’m not...I don’t know why that’s even any of your business to begin with,” I said as I closed the stool feeling irritated, “I just have poor flirting skills and if I do end up flirting, I never know when I actually am.” I proceeded to try and leave the room when Junmyeon spoke up.

“No one said you could leave,” he said, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms.

I sighed and turned back around. “I can’t flirt...end of story.”

“I’m sure you look pretty in a dress though,” he said.

“Not really,” I said.

“Sehun...take Y/N shopping and get her hair and makeup fixed,” Junmyeon said ignoring me as he looked over at Sehun, “Then fill her in on what she need to do on your way to the party.”

“I’m going to have so much fun dressing you up,” Sehun said as he walked over and put an arm around me, “We can get some drinks while we’re out too and-”

“Save the fact that you got the hots for her sassy ass for later, Sehun,” Baekhyun said laughing as I pushed his arm off of my shoulder.

“I really don’t feel comfortable with this,” I said.

“You work for us now,” Junmyeon stated, “You don’t have a choice.”

“Well? Let’s see the next dress,” Sehun said, trying to goad me out of the dressing room. The store associates had probably brought me half the dresses in the store and I was feeling tired of trying to pick something out of all the high priced dresses.

“I look like Edward Cullen threw up all over me,” I said opening the door to reveal the overly glittered dress.

Sehun rubbed his chin as he looked at me and the store associate looked insulted by what I had said. “You’re right, next!”

I changed into the next dress and stepped out. “This is way too much cleavage for my liking.”

Sehun just stared at me, his mouth hanging open as he looked me up and down. “Really? Cause I think it looks perfect...”

I looked down at the floor gold length dress, the plunge neck dipping between the valley of my breast, the back swooping low leaving more skin exposed than I would ever normally wear.

“I need accessories and shoes for this and she’s wearing it out of the store,” Sehun said to the sales associate.

“Yes sir,” she said.

“And you said you didn’t look good in a dress,” he said, his tongue grazing his lip.

I looked at myself in the mirror. “Fine feathers make fine birds...”

I looked at the picture of the man in my hand. “So you just want me to talk to him?”

“Essentially,” Sehun replied, not taking his eyes off the road as he sped down the highway, “It’s his party that we’re going to and if you distract him long enough...get him to drink a few drinks with you...that will give me enough time to get around his mansion and find what I’m looking for with no issue.”

“Are you in the mafia or are you a spy?” I questioned, listening to his plan.

“I’m a thief,” he replied.

“Excuse me?” I said.

“I am a thief and you are my distraction...got it?” Sehun said, all signs of his flirtatious attitude gone as he was explaining the plan to me, “Minseok, Baekhyun, and Chanyeol will also be at the party...if you feel like you’re in danger at all find one of them.”

“Why would I feel like I’m in danger?!” I questioned.

“You never know what can happen during these types of things,” he replied.

“I was kidnapped, stuck in a cage, a sold....please don’t sensor the anything can happen b.s. on me now,” I said.

“If he gets grabby or anything and it makes you feel uncomfortable...that sort of thing,” he replied, “We won’t let anything happen to you. Just do your job...”

The party wasn’t a huge one, but as we pulled up to the mansion I could see men and women dress in outfits probably even more expensive than the dress I was wearing. A valet opened the door for me and helped me out and Sehun handed him the keys before offering me his arm. Taking it we made our way into the party, a security guard giving a nod to Sehun as we entered.

“He’ll probably be in the lounge...” Sehun whispered as he let me past the groups of people who were chatting in the foyer until we made our way to a lough area where a couple men were already sitting and talking, drinks in hand, women on either side of them. Including the man from the picture...

“Ah Sehun, I’m glad you could make it,” the man said, getting up to greet him, “And who’s this gorgeous young lady that you brought with you?”

“My big sister,” Sehun replied, “She’s in town and I decided to drag her along.”

“I’m certainly glad you did,” the man said with a grin, “Tell me...”

“Y/F/N,” Sehun said pulling a name out of thin air.

“Y/F/N....do you drink wine or champagne?” he questioned.

“Um...wine,” I replied.

“Excellent,” the man said signalling to a waiter before ushering both Sehun and I to take a seat.

He and Sehun struck up a thrilling conversation about politics and stocks and things of that nature before Sehun excused himself saying that he had to go use the restroom.

After Sehun was gone the man turned to me with a smile. “Now that you’re brother is gone...why don’t you and I get to know each other a little better,” he said placing one hand on my thigh while signaling for another glass of wine for the both of us.

He drank and I managed to come up with some fake story about having some nice office job in downtown Seoul and how I made a nice amount of money but nothing that I go around bragging about. And...I was starting to run out of lies. Frankly I didn’t like to lie and this was the most I had lied in a very long time and I was hoping that Sehun or one of the others would come and get me soon.

I could hear music start up in what I was guessing was the dance hall and the man stood, grabbing my hand as he went. “Join me for a dance.”

He pulled me from the couch and out of the lounge and towards the dance hall. As he did I looked around for any sign of the others, anyone who could possibly come and get me away from this man. 

As he pulled me to him to dance I could feel his actions becoming more forceful and my alarm bells began to go off telling me to try and get away from him even if I didn’t have the help from the others.

“I think I should go find out where Sehun got off to,” I said trying to pulled away from him.

“Now now, there’s no need to be shy,” he said, his hand sliding low on my back and onto my butt as he pulled me close to him, “I don’t think your brother would mind if we shared a couple of dances...”

My gaze slowly looked up to meet his at the way he said “brother”, the alarm bells that had been ringing were now screaming at me telling me that something was wrong and that I needed to get away from this man.

“Does EXO really think that I’m that stupid?” he questioned in a low whisper, his grip tightening on my hand, “It was cute though...using a beautiful woman to try and distract me. But I knew since they were coming here they would try something and I knew what that something would be. It was a good try on their part though...Baekhyun is a brilliant hacker, Sehun being the thief he is, and that Bruiser Chanyeol....I don’t think some of my security guards will be the same since he got a hold of my men...” 

“What are you going to do to them?” I choked out feeling my lip quivering. Chanyeol saved me twice and I owed him my life basically, and though I barely knew him (mostly because he barely spoke to me)...something about knowing that him and the others were in danger scared me.

“I can tell you that they aren’t going to leave this mansion ali-”

“Please don’t kill them...I’ll take their place...but please....don’t,” I said before I was able to stop myself.

The man stopped dancing and looked down at me. “You would take their place?”

“Y...yes,” I replied, “Take me instead...but please let them go.”

“You’re very loyal to them...”

“It’s not about loyalty...I owe one of them my life,” I replied.

His lip twitched as he let out a ‘hmm’ before grabbing my arm and pulling me from the dance hall in a way that wouldn’t attract attention. “Fine...you have yourself a deal.”

To be continued...

[hello-stensy-blog]

Crushable - Chapter IV

Bacon, eggs, and a good old conspiracy theory. What a perfect way to start the day! Clyde was staring into a beautiful pair of green orbs: Stensland’s eyes. While the ginger’s mouth was running in an uninterrupted flow of words, Clyde was trying to focus. By the way he was talking, he could tell that Stensland took the topic very seriously. Clyde figured anything that got so much attention from Stensland must be listened to with the highest regard. Therefore, Clyde’s brain was trying to process all the information Stensland gave him regarding Michael Jackson still being alive, and how the whole death-thing was only an elaborate, meta promotion for a future album.

-When you really think about it, it all makes sense! I’ll send you some youtube videos on Facebook. -I don’t have, err, the Facebook, Clyde said awkwardly -Really? But… How are we going to keep in touch, after this is all over?

Stensland’s eyes were filled with helplessness. Clyde wanted to make it stop, to make all sadness leave his new friend’s face. There could be nothing worse than a sad Stensland. He stuttered:

-Well, uh… I mean… Now, you’re not going anywhere, are you?

Stensland seemed caught by those words. They had never clearly discussed how things would roll for them in the aftermath of all this. They needed to figure out a way out of their current troubles, but then?

-Well, I… guess. I mean… We are meeting with your brother, right? -Right. -And… then? -Well, I mean... Until we find a solution... I mean, even after, you probably won't be safe so you can... Stick around for a while. -Really? Wouldn't that bother you? I mean... You already risked so much to rescue me. -Yeah well, y'know. Might as well.

Stensland cracked a smile.

-Thank you so much, Clyde. You are an amazing person and you deserve the best. You will not be forgotten. There you go, have more bacon!

Having said that, Stensland put an extra slice of bacon on Clyde's plate. Clyde chuckled.

-I'm honored. Beats any kind of decoration. Too bad I can't keep it.

While Clyde was eating his well-deserved bacon, his last sentence had Stensland wondering. He stared at his friend's prosthesis--still sporting the ducky band aid.

-Did you, err... How did you lose your...? -Iraq. -...Okidoki.

Stensland instantly regretted his answer. He did not want to sound like an insensitive prick. But what the hell is one to say in such a situation? Still, “Okidoki” surely wasn’t the best option he had. But Stensland always felt uncomfortable with pain and loss, and he never knew how to lighten up the mood. Plus, Clyde was a secretive guy―something Stensland struggled to understand as someone who was always very emotional and demonstrative. He internally panicked at how to continue. Oh, well. In America, do what Americans do. He started stuttering:

-I-I mean I'm so sorry for your, err... I'm sorry. Thanks foooor your service...?

Clyde was clearly trying to contain his laugh. Stensland had no idea if that was good news or not. Why do I keep being offensive about my lifesaver's lost arm, Stensland internally whined.

-You finished your drink, Stensland noted, You want more beer? I'll get you more beer!

Without giving Clyde a chance to answer, Stensland snatched Clyde's pint glass and ran to the counter.

-Lady, please! Fill up that pint for my good friend Clyde! -A'ight, the old lady mumbled.

The waitress was obviously too busy gossiping with another old lady to quickly fulfill Stensland’s demand. Looking around to distract himself, he opened his eyes wide in disbelief. Casually sitting at the counter was Grady. THE Grady, from the Grady Method for Self Love! Without thinking further, Stensland practically assaulted him.

-You’re Grady, right? From the Method?

The mustached man gave him a proud smile, nodding.

-I am. -I’m such a huuuge fan of it! That’s so inspiring!

Clyde was on his own at their table and he had finished eating. He thought of past and future events. Their situation was complicated, even to Logan family standards. But his brother would figure out a plan, he was sure of that. He always had a plan. When he saw his brother enter the diner, the tension Clyde had been storing up suddenly left his shoulders. Jimmy sat at his table.

-How are you? -I’m good. -It’s been a while, though. What’s goin’ on? -Uh… I have problems, yeah. -Clyde, tell me. Is it, like… Cauliflower big? -Uhm…. -Alright, Clyde. What’s going on?

Clyde leaned a bit, talking in a low voice.

-So I’ve got, uh...My friend over there. We are, err…

Clyde was looking for a good way to phrase this mess of a situation, but he reminded himself that no matter the words he chose, the hard facts were still right there in the form of an angry ginger nipping at their heels. So he just said freely what came to his head:

-My friend and I over there are being chased by some mafia dude. -The fuck? -Well, let’s say... we lost his money, or something. -Okay. Do I know this friend? -No. -What’s his name? -Stensland? -It doesn’t sound like a real name to me. Where did you meet this guy? -Well, it’s...it’s complicated. -I can see that. Clyde. -Wha’ ? -What’s really going on? How did you meet him? -What’s your deal, Jimmy? -I’m afraid your friend is using you. -No, no, don’t worry about that, Clyde laughed -I’m serious, Clyde. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone had taken advantage of you. You just trust people too easily. -I swear, it’s not like that. -Maybe it’s time we have that conversation again.

Clyde shook his head, answering straight away:

-No. No need to. -Clyde. -No. -Even Mellie has noticed it. You gotta know it’s alright with us, you don’t have to hide it from us. -It’s not like that. -No, listen. You don’t need to live a secret life. Find yourself a… a nice boyfriend. Introduce him to us, that’s fine. -I’m not… I’m not what you think. -If people are mean to you, y’know. You got our support, still. You know that, right? You got us. You don’t have to hang out with troublesome people.

Clyde scoffed. This was too much, coming from Jimmy.

-You’re troublesome too, when you think ‘bout it. -I haven’t been in that business for like three years! Don’t be like that. -Stensland is okay. He’s…

“Nice, cute and soft” were coming to Clyde’s head, but he did not want his brother to twist these words and bring back the previous topic. Clyde did not want to think about all that gay stuff.

-He’s...okay.

Bursting into the diner at the perfect moment, a familiar ginger figure angrily thundered Stensland’s name.

Clyde turned to see Armitage Hux followed by a masked figure, and then Stensland who had just taken a selfie with a mustached man, now looking absolutely terrified.

Armitage Hux and his hound chased a fleeing Stensland around the diner. Clyde rushed after them, and his brother followed. Everything quickly dissolved into chaos: the masked man had unsheathed a sword, Armitage Hux had fired his gun twice already, the diner’s clients were screaming, and the waitress was barking out threats with her shotgun held tight. Soon, Stensland was trapped by the blackclad figure, finding himself pressed against a wall with a blade against his throat. He was also held at gunpoint by a sneering Armitage Hux, who was in-turn corned by the waitress lady with the shotgun who yelled:

-Y’ALL BETTER CALM THE FUCK DOWN! -Oh shut up, will you? Armitage snapped, We have serious issues to clear, and I couldn't care less about your opinion right now! -Woah, woah, woah―everyone keep their cool, Grady said carefully as he slowly stood up, rising his hands.

Armitage pointed his gun at Grady’s face in response:

-Don’t you DARE intervene! NOBODY is allowed to talk, except me! -What the FUCK is this! This is not Comic-con! Who carries a FUCKIN’ sword around these days? GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! THIS IS A FUCKIN’ FAMILY RESTAURANT, the diner lady barked.

Armitage Hux shot at the ceiling, and the room fell into stunned silence. With order restored, both gingers were now staring into each other’s eyes. As if he didn’t get the hint that they were currently in the presence of a maniac with a gun, Jimmy asked Clyde loud enough for Armitage to hear:

-So what, this is your boyfriend’s evil twin?

He received an immediate reply from both Clyde and Armitage in perfect sync:

-He’s not my twin! -He’s not my boyfriend!

Stensland made a face, mumbling:

-Jeezus. Didn’t know it was THAT embarrassing to be related to me…

Grady was still trying to make sense of this situation:

-Okay, so what’s the story here?

But before either involved party could speak, three more intruders rushed into the diner, holding machine guns.

-ARMITAGE HUX! -What now?!, Armitage sighed, rolling his eyes. -You fuckin’ traitor, prepare to die! -WHAT?!

Grady was now rolling his eyes as well. In all of his career as a lawyer, he had never been in such a catastrophic situation.

-Okay, guys, I’m going to need you all to start from the very beginning! -Who THE FUCK ARE YOU, MUSTACHE GUY?!

One of the two newcomers spoke with a voice that sounded much too cheerful for someone holding a machine gun in a family diner:

-He’s Grady! -Yup, exactly. I’m Grady, from The Grady Method for Self Love. -Grady Method? What the fuck? Armitage said with a disgusted look on his face.

As if he momentarily forgot that he was threatened by a gun AND a sword, Stensland exclaimed:

-Exsqueeze me? You don’t know about the Grady Method for Self Love? Does your boss keep you in a cave or something? - Excuse me, STENSLAND, but if his field is Self Love, I don’t think I need his guidance! I love myself quite enough, only LOSERS like you need people to teach them how to love themselves. -I mean, Armitage, Kylo interjected, I agree that Stensland is an idiot, but that Grady is quite the famous guy actually, so… -Yeah, the cheerful machine gun man insisted, He’s got his own show, too. -And his book is a best seller, Kylo added. -Could you PLEASE tell me what’s going on? -Well Mr Grady, the boss suspects Armitage Hux to be the traitor we’ve been tracking down these past few weeks. -Lars! Why the fuck are you… -It’s fine! He’s a lawyer! He’s great, Lars insisted. -I’M NOT A TRAITOR!

The three gangsters stared at Armitage, then Stensland. They looked perplexed.

-Wait… what the fuck is that? -There are...two of them? -Which one of them is Armitage Hux? -I AM ARMITAGE HUX, growled Armitage. -Yes, yes. He’s Armitage Hux, Stensland whimpered. -Armitage Hux could say both of these things. -What?

At this point, Grady made a note to himself: I’ll never make it in time for this afternoon’s planned book signing.

Kylo Ren grunted.

-That’s fuckin’ ridiculous. Armitage is not a traitor. He can’t even talk back to the boss. -Yeah, well, maybe it’s just an elaborate scheme of his! -Elaborate scheme? Armitage huffed. -I’m surprised those words are a part of your vocabulary, Lars, scoffed the masked man. -You know what, Kylo Ren? With your smart mouth, I’m sure you’re a fuckin’ traitor as well! -At least you got something right.

Armitage Hux gave Kylo Ren a surprised look.

-You didn’t come for Armitage. He’s not a traitor. You came for me. -Oh, that’s cute, mocked one of the gangsters, He’s trying to protect his girlfriend! -Y’know what? We should just shoot the two gingers and Kylo fuckin’ Ren. -Gentlemen, please! Don’t shoot anyone, advised Grady, I feel like everyone in this diner has a freakin’ gun in their pocket. If everyone dies, what good will that do?

There were a few seconds of complete silence. Everyone was giving Grady’s words consideration.

-I suggest you ALL put your weapons down so we can figure this out. Calmly. Then, you can take your business outside and deal with it the way you please… But there are people here, including me, who had planned to eat nachos without ending up in a bloodbath. -Amen to that, Grady, Stensland said. -You shut your mouth, Armitage growled. -Please, please, Grady said with the voice of a forgiving father. All of you...put your weapons down.

Lars was the first to do so. He convinced his colleagues to imitate him. Even Kylo Ren and the waitress lady listened.

-I really need you to cooperate, son, Grady insisted, seeing that Hux hadn’t yet lowered his gun.

Hux eventually obeyed with a sigh. After this was ensured, Grady proceeded to clear the room of those uninvolved in the dispute.

-Okay Lars, we have heard your point of view already, Grady said. You think that Armitage is a traitor, but Kylo Ren here said he IS the one you’re looking for. Is that correct, Ren? -Absolutely. -So, this is cleared up. Now, Armitage, what’s your issue with Stensland?

Armitage was still staring at Kylo. His face was not tense anymore, but he was worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. He looked like he ached after Ren’s revelation.

-No, Armitage said, Let’s not glide over that fact so soon, he said, What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Ren?

The masked knight remained silent.

-ANSWER ME! -I’m sick of the First Order. I’m starting my own thing. -Your OWN thing? What do you mean, your own thing? You barely know how to iron your clothes and you’re telling me you’re trying to outsmart the BOSS? -Seriously, Hux. Look at this shit (His boyfriend pointed at the three gangsters) Your so-called boss sent these three losers to take you down, and they can’t even tell the difference between you and Stensland who is THIS close to wetting his pants. -Hey, that’s not--Stensland began to defend himself. -To be honest, Hux DID have that same look on his face when HQ was overrun last year, Lars sneered.

His two friends chuckled and approved. Armitage turned red with both anger and embarrassment.

-What I’m saying is… We’re worth more than them, Hux. We could do this. We could do this BETTER.

Armitage shivered. For a moment, he felt flattered by Kylo’s words, but then he suspected it was all some trick.

-You don’t have what it takes, Ren. You’re a child. -So you’d rather put your trust in Snoke, who constantly drags you through the dirt? You want to go on chasing fuckin’ AMATEURS around the country for a man that terrifies you instead of ruling the city with a man that loves you?

Kylo and Hux were staring at each other like everyone around them had suddenly disappeared. The others were at loss, and their eyes jumped between every other person in the room. Stensland and Clyde locked eyes for a few seconds, which was enough to inject courage in the disheveled ginger’s veins. Now’s my moment to shine , Stensland thought. His mouth ran wild again, rising above the grave silence:

-Anything that's worth anything is scary or dangerous in one way or another.

Somehow, this sentence spoke to Armitage and Clyde on a sentimental level. Meanwhile, the group of mafia thugs assumed that Stensland was sending an encrypted message against them. In response, all the members reached for their weapons at once, taking aim at their targets. Clyde jumped up then, running for Stensland and pushing him to the ground. The shooting started. His body pressed against the smaller man’s frame, closer than any shield. This was too unreal. Blindly, Stensland’s hands reached to dig into Clyde’s arms, holding tight. Both felt safe, anchoring him to sanity among the swirling commotion around them.