#and my past graduation experience was god awful

[ego-sum-arbor]

I am now officially an archaeologist!

[gummydummy19]

Hi Gummy!<3

You shared that awful experience and I imagine...

Captain Sy and his insubordinate younger brother. His brother (let's say, Jim?) flirted with you in a pub. You don't really spark and he seemed a bit too slick for your liking, but Jim is persistent and (gradually annoying). It was not long before Captain Sy came barging in and took his younger brother home (and surprise surprise, Jim isn't reaching his drinking age yet XD), which is how you met. Maybe you met him again a few days later in the same pub, maybe you worked on a project that involves the military (hence Sy)

And somehow one of the worst encounters you have had in your life turns out to be the one in which you met the love of your life :3

Just a lil thot :3

JDHDKHCB JAM WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST IDEAS I absolutely freaking love this oml

How I met your mother

Content Warnings: fluff, swearing, unwanted flirting (from Sy's brother)

Word Count: 1.9k+

A/N: Since we're in the middle of the holidays, I decided to give this a little holiday twist :)) Imagine this as a throwback to how you met your hunky husband Sy... In the throwback Jim is 19, Sy is 27, and the reader is 23. In the present Sy is 42, reader is 38, Jim is 34.

Alright? All clear? Everyone good? Let's get this party started then

The entire family was gathered around your beautifully decorated dining table. It was well past midnight, and everyone was stuffed full of delicious food and the expensive wine you saved for special occasions. Sy had his hand resting on your thigh as you both listened to his dad share stories of when he was in the Navy.

"Fuck!" you heard your 13-year-old son yell from the couch behind you, waking up your 9-year-old daughter who was dozing off on her dad's lap.

"Jacob!" you snapped your head back at him, but the boy just rolled his eyes at you.

He was playing some new zombie-murder-call thievery videogame he had gotten for Christmas, courtesy of his uncle Jim.

"Don't you roll your eyes at your mother", Sy stepped in, "and watch your mouth, or that game is going on the shelf till summer."

"But dad!" he whined

"No buts!"

Now it was your turn to put your hand on your husband's thigh, giving him a sweet look to let him know you'd handle it.

"Jake, why don't you come sit with us for a little bit, hmm? Haven't you played long enough?"

"Oh come on, let the kid have some fun", Jim chimed in, earning an angry glare from his brother Sy.

"Yeah and who better to teach him that than his uncle Jim, right?" Sy spat.

"What's that supposed to mean?", Jim shot back.

"You know damn well what that means."

"Dad?" your little girl tugged on Sy's shirt.

"Yes, princess?"

"Don't you think Uncle Jim is fun?"

"Of course I do, Maya, it's just that Uncle Jim used to give us a whole lot of trouble, just like your brother gives us right now."

"Hey!" Jim and Jacob groan simultaneously.

"Oh, I think Jim caused quite some more trouble than our Jakey", you defended your son, who had finally sat down next to you at the table. You gave him a loving ruffle through his brown curls, remembering what Sy's hair used to look like before he started buzzing it off.

"Yeah well, give him a couple years", Jim joked.

"What kinda trouble did Uncle Jim get into?", your little girl chimed in again.

The three of you exchanged some looks before you finally spoke up. "Oh, I can think of a few things, but my favorite one is the story of how your father and I met", you smiled.

"Oh god", Jim groaned, "Can't you just tell them about the pranks I pulled in college or something?"

"No no", Sy chuckled, "I quite like this particular story".

"I love storytime!" your daughter yelled out excitedly.

"I'm kinda intrigued now too," Jake agreed, grinning at his uncle.

Sy's mother gave her husband a look as she sipped from her herb tea and you knew she loved this story too.

"It was 15 years ago", you started, "Me and my friends had just graduated college that summer. By wintertime, a couple of us had started working, or even gotten married, so we decided to catch up right before the holidays"

Flashback

"I can't believe it's almost been six whole months since we've all gotten together" your friend Sarah chided before taking a sip of her cosmo. “I know, I’ve missed you guys like crazy!” You said honestly. The five of you sat there and talked for what felt like hours, sipping on cosmo’s and sharing the juiciest stories from work or dating drama. It was like no time had passed at all.

“Alright girls, I’m gonna go get another refill anyone else need anything?”, you asked as you got up to walk towards the bar. The drinks were definitely starting to get to your head, but you didn’t care in the slightest. This was the most fun you’d had in weeks.

With a fuzzy head, you made your way over to the bar, still giggling at a joke your friend made 10 minutes ago. Leaning against the polished wood, you managed to catch the bartender's attention. "Um, two... wait, no, three more of these," you mumbled in your slightly tipsy state as you shoved your empty glass toward him.

You were patiently waiting for your drinks when a young, arrogant-looking guy slid up next to you, "Hey there! What are we drinking tonight?" he asked and you rolled your eyes.

"Just a couple drinks with my friends" you replied curtly, avoiding eye contact with him.

"Just you and your girls, huh? No boyfriend?"

"Nope."

"Are you looking for one?"

"Nope."

"Hmm I see, more a hit and run kinda gal, huh?" he smirked.

Damn, this guy was annoying.

"Look pal, I'm trying to have a good time with my girls, alright?" You finally turned to look at him. He sure wasn't ugly, but not your type. Besides, he looked a little on the young side you thought and you started to wonder if he should even be in here.

"That's alright baby, I'm all for good times", he stated with a proud grin, making you roll your eyes again.

The bartender slid over your drinks and grabbed them quickly "I'm not your 'baby', now if you will excuse me", you pushed passed him but his hand gently grabbed onto your waist.

"Oh come on, don't be like that...", if your hands hadn't been full you would have smacked him in the face for sure. You looked down at his hands on you and then straight into his eyes.

"You have about two seconds to get your hands off me before you get covered in Cosmo's and my knee introduces itself to your crotch."

"I just-" he started and you got ready to throw your 30 dollars worth of cocktails in his face.

"JIM!", a loud roar sounded through the bar, grabbing everyone's attention, including yours and the guy holding onto you.

He quickly dropped his hands and took a step back from you as the man who just entered stalked towards him. The entire movement made you drop your drinks, but you were too startled to care.

"L-logan....the hell are you doing here, man?", the boy stuttered and his whole demeanor changed in a split second.

"Me? What the fuck do you think you're doing here?!", you let your eyes roam over his body as he yelled out. He was clearly older than you. And definitely older than the arrogant guy. It was obvious that they knew each other. You wondered how. They seemed like two very different guys. The older one had a casual confidence whereas the younger one had made up arrogance.

You stayed frozen in place as you watched them yell at each other. The more you looked at their faces the more you started to notice similarities. The older one was bigger, with quite a bit more muscle to him, but they had the same strong jaw and nose, and their eyes were the same gorgeous shade of blue. Could they be...

"Miss, I'm really sorry for my brother."

"I uhm,...okay, that's okay", you mumbled.

The man gave you a friendly look before sticking his hand out.

"I'm Logan Syverson, but everyone calls me Sy. And that's my little brother Jimmy. I'm really sorry if he gave you any trouble, he's been acting out a bit lately."

You shook his hand without breaking eye contact. The second your skin made contact with his you felt your stomach drop...weird.

"Hey, I'm not a fucking kid!" Jim yelled out, earning an angry glare from Sy.

"Then maybe you should stop acting like one, Jimmy. You really think I wouldn't notice you taking my fucking bike? Huh?", Sy yelled, "You're taking the truck back home. Gimme my fucking keys back."

Reluctantly, Jim gave Sy the keys to his bike and Sy gave him the car keys in return.

"You didn't drink, did you?" Sy asked with a raised brow.

"No, Logan, I fucking didn't. Okay?!" he snapped before turning around and storming out. While you heard the car door slamming closed and the engine starting outside, Sy turned back to you.

"I'm really sorry about all that..." he scratched through his brown curls before his eye fell on the puddle of Cosmo's on the floor, "Oh christ, uh, here, please let me buy you a new round," he said, already pulling out his wallet.

"Oh no, no it's okay really, you don't have to", you assured him.

"No, I insist. I promise I won't stick around to bother you or anything, but just let me pay for them, please?"

Now how could you say no to that?

"Alright then, if you insist", you gave him a sweet smile.

The two of you walked to the bar and as you waited for your order, you couldn't help but give him a once-over. He was wearing a dark pair of jeans and a black shirt with some old writing on it. He was much taller than you, and big...very big. With a mind that was still half tipsy, you couldn't help the words that left your mouth next.

"You know...", you started, getting his attention, "I wouldn't mind if you did stick around for a bit...to bother me."

You swore Sy's eyes twinkled for a second as you looked up at him. Of course, he found you attractive. You were probably the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Scratch that. Not probably, definitely.

But still, the gentleman in him wanted to politely refuse, given your clouded state and what his brother made you endure already, but then your hand touched his arm and your eyes found his. "Please? I insist", you pleaded, and Sy caved. "Alright then, if you insist...", he was only a man after all, and he could only take so much.

Meanwhile, at the girl's table, everyone was far too drunk and caught up in whatever story they were telling to have noticed what just went down. But all the giggling came to a quick stop when a tall handsome man towered over them with four cosmopolitans in his hand.

"Ladies, this is Sy", you introduced him, holding three more drinks, "My savior of the night, and the buyer of our next round."

End flashback

"Aww, dad was her hero!", Maya yelled out.

"He still is", you smiled, leaning into Sy and pressing a kiss on his shoulder.

"Hold on. So, you tried to hit on mom?", Jake turned to his uncle, "That's gross, dude."

"Alright, okay, I remember that story a little differently", Jim spoke up, looking even grumpier than before.

"He was just a teenager", you defended your brother-in-law.

"I was almost twenty", Jim stated.

"Yeah, that doesn't exactly help your case, bud", Sy spoke up, wrapping his arm around you as you tried to stifle a giggle.

"So what happened after that?", Maya asked curiously.

"Well, your dad was too nervous to ask for my number, so I asked for his."

"Hey! I was just trying to be a gentleman", Sy defended argued, giving your shoulder a squeeze.

"Sure thing, hun", you grinned, "The week after we met up again in that same bar, and the rest is history."

"Is that bar still there?", Jacob asked.

"Actually, they turned it into a restaurant, but it's still called Mickey's."

"Hey, isn't that where...", your son started

"Where your dad proposed to me, yeah." you smiled fondly. "and we still go there every year on our anniversary..."

The end

Taglist;

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[my-castles-crumbling]

Hello Cas, congratulations on the new job!

If you are still taking advice, I have a couple of suggestions. I know that you teach ESL, and as someone who took ESL classes for several years, and who graduated less than a month ago, I am taking from personal experience, so it may not apply to all cases.

The number one thing, I would say, is to not outright ban other languages. I know it is very important to speak English to improve, but full on banning of other languages, especially in the beginning, is a good way to mark yourself as an Authority, and can be damaging. Our languages are a crutch, and are comforting to have, even if not used. Encourage the use of English, but do not punish students for not using it. Most ESL students want to learn, to become better at English, because it makes everything so much easier, but prohibiting their language makes them feel as if you are *forcing* them to learn, and maybe even as if forcing them to leave their language and culture behind.

Though that is the main thing, another is to remember that middle schoolers, often don't see themselves as children. They are young, still, and developing, and they know that, but they see themselves as 'growing up' more than anything. They are people, with free will and their own autonomy. Treat them as such. Not adults, but also not-quite children. Adults-to-be. Don't talk down to them, especially with compliments, as that can feel patronizing. A good example, if you want one, is Professor Lupin, in the movie. He is encouraging and sincere, but does not make it a Thing, and embarrass his students. Remus is a good example for a teacher, in general, I think.

In general, if you just try your best, your students will be able to tell. Do your best, and that will be enough. Already, I know that you will be better than some teacher I had. I apologize that this is so long, but I had a lot of feelings on this subject.

Good luck, but honestly, I don't think that you will need it.

Hi!

Congratulations on graduating!

Please, please don't tell me teachers in the past have banned other languages. Oh my god. That's awful. Like, okay I'm so thankful for your advice, but you shouldn't even have to say that! Holy shit...

I love your comparison to Lupin, and this makes so much sense to me, omg. I do very well relating thing to my hyperfixations lol. Thank you for this, now I'm thinking of like putting a quote of his on my desk or something, it's a lovely reminder.

Again, I really appreciate the advice, and congrats on graduating!

[countrymusiclover]

21 - Lot Can Happen in 10 Years

Part 22

It’s About Time

Tags just ask - @lover-of-books-and-tea @bvbwestfall @bubble-bluee @liesanddreams @bethanymccauley @skeletonontheroad @ashsallyblue2 @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @herondale-lightworm @afraidofshrimp @eclipse134

Long awaited update here y’all. Enjoy and please leave comments ❤️

10 ten years later 

“Mommy, where are we going?” My ten year old daughter Maya asked me once we had made our way up flights of stairs to one of my friends that I had met when I moved from Medford, Texas. 

Knocking on the apartment door I kept one hand intertwined with my daughters so she didn’t run off somewhere in this large building.  “To see an old friend from mommy’s past.” The door opens after I knock a couple of times. 

A familiar girl with long blonde hair and a bright smile stuck her head outside into the hallway.  “Hey Y/n.  Little Maya.   What are you guys doing up here? Is Hannah up here with you too?” 

“Hi Aunt Pen!” My son jumped out from behind my leg throwing his arms up with cheer. 

Penny stepped into the doorway ruffing his dark curls on his head. “Hey Grady.  So what’s wrong?” 

“I miss daddy.” He muttered with watery eyes. 

Tucking some hair behind my ear I sighed heavily turning to the side to show her our three small suitcases that we had drug up the stairs given the elevator was out of order.  “So here’s the thing I - we’re needing a place to stay since my landlord couldn’t handle me shuffling around noisy kids anymore.  He kicked me out.” 

“Oh my god that’s awful.  I only have one bedroom but of course you can stay here until you find someone better to accommodate you and your kiddos.” Hannah’s cousin covered her mouth in shock rushing to grab our bags and show us inside. 

Grady and Maya  ran past my legs straight for the window by the small dinner table.  “Wow!” 

The reason I had come to Penny was because she is the only person I know here.  Hannah and Ryker moved to Nebraska after they graduated high school since they fell in love with the scenery.  Marlowe had went to Nashville for a little while but realized that he just liked playing guitar as a hobby and now he worked at one of the music stores outside of Medford. Ashley had stayed in Medford and works as a nurse.  And then there’s Georgie…

“So are you still doing the blog videos occasionally for money or have you found a job that works for you now?” Penny asked me sitting down on the couch while we watched my twins play around the big apartment. 

Hugging my knees to my chest I felt my phone vibrate inside my back pocket meaning someone had texted me but I didn’t think it was important.  “Sort of.  I’m working on getting a better job at another sporting goods store.  I have more past experience in that than anything else.” 

“Penny, Penny, Penny.” Someone knocked calling her name on the other side of the closed door. 

“Who’s outside?” I questioned her. 

She got up from her spot on the couch answering the door. “What’s up, Buttercup?” 

“You have to get rid of the chair.” 

She shut the door in the person's face.  “Nope.” 

“Penny, penny, penny.” 

She spun around opening the door a second time. “What’s the word hummingbird?” 

“For your safety please wait in my apartment as I call the authorities so they may remove the Chair of Death.” 

She shut the door in his face. “No.” 

“Penny, penny, penny.” I huffed wanting to know who this guy was and why he wouldn’t leave her alone so we could hang out. 

Penny opened the door asking.  “What’s the gist physicist?” 

“Under my authority as a self-appointed member of the Center for Disease Control Street team these premises are condemned -“ Penny tried to close the door but he pushed his hand against it stopping her.  “As a man with a keen sense of style I must tell you.  That chair does not work with the room.” 

Penny slammed the door crossing the room grabbing a hold of a small red chair that was sitting beside the couch where I shifted around on the couch raising a brow in confusion.  “Penny, what is this guys deal with this chair?” 

“Oh it’s my neighbor across the hall.  Him and his roommate are really smart.  He came over one day and I told him I got the chair off the street and now he can’t calm down and not freak out if it’s still in my apartment.  Urgh! Can you help me with the door?” 

“Sure.” I jumped up grabbing the door handle ready to fling it open. 

The three knocks went off louder this time. “Penny, penny, penny!” 

“The chair is staying dude - Sheldon, you’re her neighbor!” 

The guy in a yellow and blue striped shirt screamed when my friend held up the red chair and he stumbled down onto the floor trying to get as far from the chair as possible screaming. “Ahhh! - Y/n?” 

“Why didn’t you tell me it was Sheldon.” I turned my head back to my friend who was holding the red chair still in her arms. 

Penny shrugged her shoulders with a half smile.  “I didn’t think you wanted to talk about a certain Cooper boy.  So I just didn’t mention that his brother is my neighbor.” 

“Wait, I'm confused here.  You and Georgie are married.  Why are you living with Penny?” Sheldon questioned entering the conversation once he had gotten up from the ground. 

Glaring at my ex’s younger brother I sighed and dropped my shoulders heavily thinking back on our life.  “According to your brother, being best friends since you were five years old isn't as special as I thought it was.” It seemed like it would always be me and Georgie against the world forever. 

We had been driving in Ashley’s car for hours on end and I still was aware of where in the world we were heading.  The only information I was given was to pack a bag for the weekend and that we were going to visit Hannah’s cousin who lived in Nebraska. Sitting in the front passenger with Ashley driving and Hannah sitting in the backseat.  “Okay seriously you have to tell me why we are going to see your cousin at such a random time.  We’ve only got a few more weeks before we graduate high school.  So why are we going to see Penny now?” 

“It’s a surprise.  Just trust, have we ever steered you wrong?” Hannah remarked from the backseat. 

Shifting around in my seat I glared at her. “What about 8th grade when you had me try out for the cheerleading team.” 

“How was I supposed to know that the coach wasn’t going to give you a spot because he had a crush on your mom when they were in school but she chose your dad.” Hannah shrugged her shoulders remembering what moment I was thinking about. 

Ashley just chuckled finally parking the vehicle in the driveway getting out first.  Hannah and I got out at the same time before I shifted my gaze down to my boots seeing a trail of red roses going up the porch stairs.  “What is all this for?” 

“Go inside.  Just trust us.” Ashley clasped her hands together grinning ear to ear. 

Slowly walking up the wooden porch steps I pushed opened the front door of the large cabin.   I gasped entering the living room seeing Marlowe, Ryker and Missy standing behind Georgie who was standing in front of the large fireplace.   “Georgie, what - what are you all doing here?” 

“Y/n, we’ve been attached at the hip from the age of five, we know each other better than we probably know ourselves, and have no problem fighting over the last tater tot.   Now I’ve gotta admit I wasn’t too bright to not see how you felt about me and me about you , for a long dang time.  But I’m going to work everyday to make it up to you. And you already know  I’m the hardest worker you’ll ever meet.  When I see something I want I don’t stop till I get it.  And what I want is for you to be my wife.”  Georgie lowered himself down on one knee, pulling out a small box revealing a ring to me.  “Will you marry me Y/n?” 

Covering my mouth with my hands I felt happy tears falling down my face before I gave him a verbal answer.  “Georgie. Yes - yes I’ll marry you.” 

“Yes! She’s finally gonna become my sister.” Missy threw her hands up cheering loudly with a grin plastered across her face. 

Georgie rose up from the wooden floor meeting me in the middle of the room when we ran to one another and he quickly slipped the ring on my finger.  “I’m guessing the baby is happy for us too.” I giggled after we shared a kiss once I had felt some kicking against my stomach that was starting to show.  

“Hey you two.  I just needed to tell you that y’all can totally get married out here on my family’s place if you want.” Hannah’s cousin Penny who had her blonde hair up in a ponytail was standing beside my two high school girlfriends smirking. 

Georgie threw a fist up into the air.  “Hell yeah!” 

“Thank you so much.  We'll definitely do that.” I grinned back at the blonde knowing it was a big help to us considering we didn’t have a lot of money at the time saving up for baby stuff. 

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[persephoneflowerpetals]

I have ALWAYS wondered what Hades would think about Christianity, after all Greek mythology and the Gods are pretty different from the purity of Christianity. Greek Gods are much more wild and less hypocrite in my opinion (they don't pretend to lack human sin), that mixed with stuff like the Inquisition or characters like Frollo (who obviously existed and exist in real life...) I mean, I am sure awful people exist in every country and religion, but Christianity has a very dark past. I have always wondered this, but seeing your last Frollo posts, made me wonder even more and I think it would be very interesting lol

Seeing Disney Hades who even though he is a villain, most people can relate to him, he is a comedy relief too... Reactig to how Christianity works and the awful things they have done... Well I think he would be content with plenty of people dying, but he would still find it absurd and very hypocrite seeing how the Church works. I think Hades would be content with people dying, but wouldn't always respect all the ways of doing so (even if he doesn't care, but he would still have an opinion). He would respect Shan Yu because both are driven by power and he worked to gain it all by himself without being an ignorant hypocrite creep who had so low goals, but impose stupid ideals and then being an hypocrite about it, only driven by lust and BY IGNORANCE... (because yeah, real people who are extreme like Frollo and obsessed to that point with religion are pretty ignorant and that's something I think Hades wouldn't respect about someone) Then being a coward too... I don't know if I explain myself well lol but yeah that's my opinion and that's why I also think most villains don't like him either.

For example, I think Hades had respect for Meg because she wasn't the usual passive woman who let other men think for her, even if he got annoyed by her sass and disobedience towards him sometimes. I like to think that even villains like Hades have their limits, that doesn't change the fact that he would do whatever he wants just for power, but he wouldn't fall so low just for lust and ignorance.

I am obviously very late answering this since my Frollo ask were made months ago 🤣

But yeah! I’d love to know the real Hades’ opinion on Christianity (Disney would never let him do that but I’d still love to hear it lmao).

Personal side note: I, myself, am actually a Christian so I know first hand all about the hypocrisy that’s involved when it comes to other Christian people. Obviously, not all Christians are like that (because I mean, I’m not like that lmao) and there are many denominations of Christian like Catholic, Baptist, Methodist (which is what I currently am lol), and so on. I grew up in a southern Baptist community for most of my life. I even went to a private Baptist Christian college prep school and GRADUATED from that school and let me tell you, I have A LOT of stories about my poor experience in that community. It wasn’t the greatest. So, like I said, I know first hand all about the hypocrisy that “devoted followers” display.

But yeah, I honestly don’t know what his detailed opinion would be. For me, I think he knows there’s other gods and religions out there and that he’s not the only type of god people believe in. I think he also doesn’t mind Christians or people who have other religions, but isn’t fond of the huge hypocrites like Frollo. The types that cherry pick what they believe in and use their belief as an excuse for the bad things they say or do. The types that claim to be full on believers in front of others, but will do horribly sinful things behind closed doors and keep it a secret. Those types of religious people would probably really bother him and that’s exactly how Frollo is, so he isn’t a huge fan of the guy.

[a-guy-named-e]

the states as weird things my directors have said

alabama: you have so much school spirit i almost forgot you don't know how football works

alaska: why can't you all shut the hell up every once in a while

arizona: you're the only person i'll let complain at this point. i don't think you're right, but i do think it's funny.

arkansas: you're still here? i thought you graduated. leave already, dammit.

california: i thought i was ready for the pronoun question but clearly i was not.

colorado: i don't know why he hangs out with you, all you do is smoke weed! [turns to me] you haven't started smoking weed have you?

connecticut: i will pay you seven dollars if you can get the tenors to stop giving me stupid nicknames.

delaware: yes. i know you were the first to reset. that's because you don't move.

georgia: do you know where the disembodied cougar head is? no? well then i don't know what to tell you.

florida: i never thought i'd have to say this but please do not pick up any more squirrels.

hawai'i: your disregard for authority is only funny when it's [band director], not when it's me.

idaho: i don't care what you call it, i want to know why you were arranging a marriage on the back of the bus.

illinois: i need you to do me a favor and make sure [friend] never wears that packers jersey again because next time i might strangle him.

indiana: why is it so hard for you to march slides? just turn and look at the damn cornfield!

iowa: alumni, i appreciate you coming out to watch, but please do not turn our rehearsal into a field of dreams moment.

kansas: if you make one more comment about the scenery i'm kicking you off the bus.

kentucky: you were a horse girl in a past life, weren't you?

louisiana: i know you can't dance worth shit but i need you to play like you're trying to convince someone that you can.

maine: i can't tell if you're agreeing with me or just acknowledging me but i like being agreed with so i'm going with that.

maryland: i don't trust anyone whose only experience with crab is imitation crab meat

massachusetts: i'm not technically allowed to swear around you but that was fucking terrible.

michigan: so are you just emotionally invested in awful sports teams or what?

minnesota: i know this is the midwest but can someone please bring anything other than a casserole to the pitch-in?

mississippi: i don't care who was talking, i'm telling all of you to shut up so i know i get the right one.

missouri: i know dark humor is in and all but i feel obligated to tell you that i'm a mandated reporter, so can you please make your jokes about jumping off the arch where i can't hear them?

montana: no, you may not run laps in the enchanted forest.

nebraska: it's almost the 4th, right? okay, if you can play three notes better this rep i'll run to the cornfield and check if it's knee-high for you guys.

nevada: oh my god you did not just start a poker game.

new hampshire: i don't care that it's 101°, i'm not allowed to let you be shirtless.

new jersey: the way some of you march makes me so scared of you becoming drivers.

new mexico: this should be sultry! be sultry!

new york: i don't pay $5 for my coffee. i like it black. like my soul.

north carolina: you're acting like a whiney little brother. i should know. i am the whiney little brother.

north dakota: all things being equal i'd love to agree to disagree. however all things are not equal. i'm smarter than you.

ohio: buckle up kids, this is going to be the only interesting thing you see for the next several hours.

oklahoma: trumpets i am begging you to get a personality other than metaphorical dick measuring contests with the tubas

oregon: i don't care that we used the bridge last year, we're using it again. it's our thing now.

pennsylvania: i often get sad about the fact that we border ohio but then i remember that ohio also borders us

rhode island: one more wrong note and i'm putting the piccolo on a high shelf where you can't reach it.

south carolina: i want you to play like $40 peach sweet tea.

south dakota: i wish i were an only child too, but not all of us can be that lucky

tennessee: if you hear me blasting dolly parton in my office shut up and mind your business.

texas: we don't have much going for us, but i can guarantee no one else is dumb enough to cram 90 horn players on a gym floor and make them march.

utah: i don't know why you have seven pictures of jesus taped to your face and honestly i'm a little scared to ask.

vermont: alright folks, practice is starting late today. someone put seventy two bottles of cracker barrel maple syrup in my office. yes, i counted.

virginia: i hate to be a buzzkill but unfortunately murder is still very illegal.

washington: i'm sorry, you're now legally required to get starbucks before all of our competitions. i will buy it for you if that's what it takes.

west virginia: you may have noticed country roads is in our pep band binder. please note that i will be using this as leverage for the rest of the season. if you cross the line, it gets cut. consider yourself warned.

wisconsin: i have a lot of questions honestly, but i think the two most pressing are "why are you eating a whole block of cheese" and "aren't you lactose intolerant"

wyoming: you know what? i think i'm with you on this one, i would've preferred sexy cowboys to sexy firemen too.

[ransprang]

guys please don't judge me, i can't control who i love. this ended up a lot longer and different than i had in mind oops

Reigen x gn! reader: The Intern - SFW

Being a recent university graduate you desperately needed some internship experience to even get a full-time job. No one wanted a pitiful graduate with no experience.

That's when you saw an unpaid intern listing at Spirits and Such Consultation Office. Of course you immediately figured it must be some sort of a shady business, but hey you need some experience.

You get a call in to the office for an interview where you meet the blond entrepreneur - Arataka Reigen. Just by the first glance you knew your gut instinct was right. This was a bad idea.

He was intently staring at his laptop screen so he didn't see you come in. Putting on a warm smile you greet yourself, "Hello, I'm here for the interview." Startled he almost falls off his chair, but quickly recollects himself and stands up "Ah yes you must be y/n, I'm Reigen nice to meet you."

You both sit down and the interview mostly consisted of him showing you his god awful website and asking the different ways you'd make changes to it. You didn't realize your future boss was such a boomer with technology even though he looked just a little older than you.

After showing him your portfolio you easily got the intern role and started immediately effective the next day. The days were filled with Reigen being amazed by your website designing skills and you were amazed by his con artist skills. You eventually met the others who'd occasionally come by like a kid called Mob who is quite fond of Reigen.

Even though Reigen was a bit of a manipulator with his customers, you couldn't help but feel your heart grow fonder. After much observation you realized he's actually very intelligent and a good teacher to Mob.

Soon your final day at the office arrived as you garnered enough to put on your resume for your first full time job. Reigen took you out to a bar to celebrate your last day. He was surprisingly drinking quite a bit for a man who's supposed to be your boss.

"Mannnn the days went by fast huh y/n!", he says drinking another shot with his face already utterly red. It's not like you were any better, you drank helplessly as you knew that tonight onwards you wouldn't have much of an excuse to see your handsome ex-boss ever again.

"Yea, sure did Reigen. Thank you for everything these past few weeks", you said smiling at him. His face got even redder and he had to tear his eyes away from you. Staring at the wall and scratching his neck, "Nah I didn't do much it was all you. You taught me a lot I appreciate it. I didn't know technology was so advanced." Both of you laugh thinking about what his previous website looked like.

He met your gaze again, "No but really I liked having you at the office. You are a good person y/n, never change. You brightened up my days at the office." Now it was your turn to look away meekly, "Oh Reigen you flatter me too much thank you."

You gasp as his hand touches your chin and pulls your face back towards him, "I wonder.." he whispers as he starts moving his face towards your with his eyes closed.

Oh god oh god what is he doing. I mean I like him of course but is this really appropriate? I was his intern just a few hours ago. Ah to hell with it. You close your eyes and lean forwards as well till your lips meet. Your hands wrapped around his neck bringing him closer to you. His lips were surprisingly soft and tender.

After a few seconds he slowly detaches his lips from yours. "You have no idea how long I've been wanting to-". His face quickly changes from a lovestruck expression to one of pain. He rushes to the bathroom leaving you to giggle and look forward to more kisses with him.

your intern,

admin sar

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for torturing my friend's girlfriend/abuser? (I won't be getting into graphic details) TL;DR: I (~150M) started physically torturing my friend's (~23NB) abusive girlfriend (~26F) without my friend knowing because the girlfriend feels guilty for doing a lot of bad things in her life and believes that if she gets hurt she can learn to be better. For context, my friend was manipulated into dating the girlfriend, by said girlfriend. She has the awful habit of hurting other people in general, which distresses her. I'm a sort of out-of-commission priest, but I take confessional because of some of my own baggage that isn't relevant for the moment. Thus I suggested to the girlfriend that she come confess to me. Prior to this, I've kept in contact with both the friend and the girlfriend, and it was made clear to me after a few times of talking with them that, while the friend believes the girlfriend to be the "mouse" caught by themself, the "cat", it's more that the "mouse" forced her way into the "cat's" life, akin to a pest. This intrigued me, hence my recommendation. To my delight, the girlfriend accepted. The conversation in which I recommended confessional to her and confessional itself have both taken place privately, and without the friend's knowledge. During confessional, as is expected, the girlfriend had come clean about the things that make her experience guilt. If I'm allowed to be crude, I would say that she's more of a sociopath than my friend is, which speaks volumes considering she is mortal and they are not. She regularly takes advantage of my friend is all I can say on the matter. This has not phased me, I've heard and done worse in my own youth. After confessional, I tend to give the sinners penance. The girlfriend suggested that I torture her. This obviously shocked me, but I decided to listen to her full suggestion. Basically, she feels that putting herself in that situation, where she is the subject of torture, would allow her a more "tangible" way of handling her instincts, and in this way she will be able to hold onto the pain, remember it and force herself to become a better person. I accepted. I honest to God accepted. I won't detail the things I have done to her, but something in me snapped at her suggestion and I went through with it, all without my friend's knowledge. I Embraced her, made her a non-mortal, and proceeded to use all my knowledge and all my worst tactics in her torture. This had gone for quite a while, and at some point, the "discipline" had proven effective, by her account, and the sessions had stopped. I had no trouble with doing this for her in the beginning. I am not proud of what I've done in my youth, which was infinitely worse than what I've done to this woman, but torturing her had reminded me of the things I used to do when I was younger, and it brought a sort of satisfaction to me in the beginning to be on the giving end of pain again. In time, I grew more worried. I was wondering if I was really doing the right thing, considering I promised myself I would stop hurting people unnecessarily some good decades ago. And then I began to feel guilty. I thought to myself, I'm a monster, I'm hurting her instead of helping her, this isn't OK, and all other kinds of similar thoughts. It's been a bit since she'd "graduated" from her "discipline courses", and she thanked me for my help, but I feel like I've done something unforgivable again. My old baggage resurfaced while new baggage got added to it. I feel awful, worse than devastated. I don't think I should've listened to her and done what I did, but it's too late now. I wanted to do the right thing for once, to get as far away from my past self as I could, but I've just done it again. Am I really such a monster? AITA?

[thespectrespecss]

MONDAY CURRENTLY VOL. 6

Well, would you look at that-- we're here again after a month. Here's to finding spaces to write, reflect, share, and yap! haha It's been such an eventful month, and I have so much to talk about, but I still have a lot of "backlogs" to write about. I should probably save it as drafts to remind me I have something to write about. That or they'll all just be left on drafts, never to be published. HAHA

Anyway, here's our Monday Currently! ✨

reading 1 Corinthians 13. I'm not really sure if I'm chapters behind our New Testament reading plan or if I'm a chapter ahead, but this chapter will always have fresh revelations for me every time I read it. You know, Love is Patient; Love is Kind? Different revelations in every season. 🥰 So far, this season is my favorite 🧡

writing my journal entry for today. I have been journaling my day out of verses that are being highlighted to me, which has changed the tone and direction of my prayers for the past 4 weeks. It's more centered on the truth than what I feel. It's more comforting knowing that there's a word in my situation. It feels like finding the perfect Taylor Swift song for your current love life status.

listening to my made-for-you playlist on Spotify (day list), I love how Spotify has been curating my day list for me. It's always songs to worship God with or kpop soft beats or disney songs. Thanks, Spotify. haha

thinking about what else God has for me this season. I've been feeling so fille with his love recently-- through my friends, pretty skies, secular songs, or even just flowers.

smelling lavender-scented candles. there have been so many flies recently; it's so annoying. Google says lavender repels flies, so I'm glad a friend gave me a homemade scented candle for my birthday last February. The smell is keeping me calm as well.

wishing praying for all things Kids Big Day Out to be accomplished victoriously this week. Wuw. I'm really just a little jittery about all the preparations. I feel like I need to remember something when I don't even know what I forgot. Praying God comes through in all things!

hoping for good morning weather tomorrow to easily book angkas and I won't be late.

wearing Counterculture merch and shorts. I was wearing this going to the Worship Team rehearsals earlier. Went there as head coordinator for experience... not as part of Worship team. haha

loving God's tangible presence of his love. I love LOVE. I'm in love with love. I've been crying happy tears just taking all the love in-- my friends, my leaders, my family, and my God's thick presence. I'm in awe of how this season is turning out to be; just pure contentment but still very much expectant.

wanting for myself to decide. awuw. djk. I'm just waiting for God's movement in all areas of my life. Baka may mag chat na, may magmessage bigla, may tumawag, may chumika. hahaha

needing more time and space to write a blog about Bohol, getting on staff, graduation, year 2 appreciation, and even mentorship highlights. dami daldal!

feeling so kilig with God. Surreal kilig. Haaay, love you, God.

[claumanlambus]

Bye 2022, Hello 2023!

Hi everyone! How time flies! It's already 2023! It’s so nice to see I was able to make two blog entries last year. I tried my best! Anyway, I just wanted to share my 2022 highlights because it's been such a wonderful year for me and my family! I wanna share how grateful I am for all of the blessings we received over the past year. I really felt optimistic that 2022 would be a good year for us and indeed it was! Even though it hasn't been really an easy year for us, I am still grateful.

It just feels surreal! I am still in awe of how things turned around for us in 2022. First, is my promotion as a Lead Trainer. I've been a Training and Content Developer since 2018 and I am actually unsure about my career path. I am somewhat considering going towards the leadership path but felt it's just not really something I wanna pursue for now because I don't want other responsibilities that would make me spend less time with my family or for my self. I was actually happy with my role but then I've been in that position for 4 years already and probably got too comfortable with it. That is why I tried working on more projects and helping out our team more. Being a Lead Trainer is the next best option for me since it’s a role where you don’t actually have people under your bucket yet but just working more on the analytics side of the whole Training Team. Luckily, out of all the other eligible candidates from my teammates, I was able to get the post. I am really thankful to my leaders for believing in my abilities and entrusting me with this position. Of course, I worked hard for it too, and prayed and hoped to get this because I know I will definitely learn new things and enjoy this role.

Another blessing we have received is for my partner. His long-awaited Bar Exams finally pushed through after waiting for two years! Xavier graduated from Law School in 2020 but the pandemic happened so it got postponed for quite a while! It's been a struggle because I’ve been the sole financial provider for our family ever since he resigned from his job last 2016 to focus on Law School and with the bar exams getting delayed, our plans for our family was greatly affected. I know, It was a significant risk we took and it’s a total struggle but we just hoped and trsuted that these sturggles will be worth it someday. I just can’t explain all the details because it will be a very long story, but glad we were able to survive. But of course, the waiting and the agony doesn't end when he took the bar exams. We were dreading about the results because that is a make or break for our future. But by God's grace, my partner passed the #BestBarEver and is now officially a lawyer! ♡

However, it hasn’t been all sunshines and rainbows for us. I know this one I'm about to share isn't something to celebrate but maybe God's reminder that despite all the achievements and blessings we received, we should not forget our loved ones who have been with us all throughout the things we have been through. We lost our first family dog, Ginger. Ginger is Xavier's gift for my 25th birthday that is why she is really special. She’s been with us for 7 years. The whole time while Xavier’s in law school. What makes it harder is we were out of town when she left us. Ginger has been the most loyal and strong out of all our dogs. Prior to Ginger we already lost 2 furbabies, Twix and Cali due to Ehrlichia. I can't help but blame myself because we've been so busy with other things that sometimes we tend to neglect our pets. It's so heartbreaking thinking that they deserve better but my partner and I have really tried to be a better furparent for them. But I guess that's just life. This made us feel we are not really ready to have pets in the meantime especially since our youngest child is still a toddler.

Despite the heartbreak we experienced in losing a pet, I guess it's just something we have to experience to be able to move on and be ready for the next phase of our lives. This is really something unexpected but we were finally able to get a place of our own. We got our own Condo! After years and years of renting, God finally answered our prayer.

Just a short story, Xavier and I decided to live together in 2014. Since we don't have the financial capacity yet to get a place of our own, we just rented. We have been renting for 8 years. In between, of course, we hoped and tried to look for our own place but just really can't because of our financial situation. The unit we got right now is something we've been eyeing since it was pre-selling I think around 2015 or 2016. You have no idea how bad I wanted to get a unit here because of the location, the amenities plus the unit size and layout are definitely way better than the other Condos we've seen online. But you know how things work. it won't always get in our way so I just kept on praying and hoping that someday we can finally get a unit here. Well, I guess God is really listening and got tired of how stubborn I am so he finally gave in. LOL! Just kidding! We just have to believe that great things take time. God probably just tested our faith and patience to see if we are ready and deserving of this.

We just trusted him and believed it will not always be struggles. I just can't believe how things are aligning for us at that time. Since Xavier can help me out with our finances because he finally got a job as a Lawyer, we were finally able to get our unit! and I am proud because this is something that we worked hard for on our own.

Here's a photo of our community from our balcony:

I had fun deciding what furniture and appliances we should get since our condo unit obviously has bigger space than our apartment. From choosing the curtains, pillows, decors, plants, and many more! I'm actually still not done decorating our interiors and still enjoying buying stuff for our home. That's my guilty pleasure right now! I guess that phase won't end anytime soon. We also celebrated our first Christmas and New Year here and I am already excited and looking forward to the next holidays, actually! Now, we have been here for 5 months. Turning 6 months by the end of January.

I am excited about what 2023 has in store for us. Hopefully, this will still be a good year for us. Of course, we will continue working hard for a much better future. I am excited to share more stories through my blog. Hoping that I could get more time to post this year.

[cielrouge]

YA SFF Books by Black Authors 

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow: About the strength of black sisterhood set in Portland, OR, best friends Tavi and Effie discover their true supernatural identity when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical siren voice during a police stop.

A Chorus Rises (A Song Below Water #2) by Bethany C. Morrow: Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw is an Eloko, a person who’s gifted with a song that woos anyone who hears it. Everyone loves her — well, until she's cast as the awful person who exposed Tavia’s secret siren powers. When a new, flourishing segment of Naema’s online supporters start targeting black girls, however, Naema must discover the true purpose of her magical voice.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown: Inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess, Karina, and a desperate refugee, Malik, find themselves on a collision course to murder each other, despite their growing attraction.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that she has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer.

Akata Warrior (Akata Witch #2) by Nnedi Okorafor: Now stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny Nwazue, along with her friends from the the Leopard Society, travel through worlds, both visible and invisible, to the mysterious town of Osisi, where they fight in a climactic battle to save humanity.

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis: For fans of Us and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes a witchy story full of black girl magic as one girl’s dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future.

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi: After he eats the sin of a royal, Taj, a talented aki, or sin-eater who consumes the guilt of others whose transgressions are exorcised from them by powerful but corrupt Mages, is drawn into a plot to destroy the city, and he must fight to save the princess he loves and his own life.

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray: Two Black teenagers, talented Beastkeeper Koffi and warrior-in-training Ekon, must trek into a magical jungle to take down an ancient creature menacing the city of Lkossa, before they become the hunted.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton: In the opulent world of Orléans, where Beauty is a commodity only a few control, Belle Camellia Beauregard will learn the dark secrets behind her powers, and rise up to change the world. 

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney: A whimsical and butt-kicking Alice in Wonderland retelling featuring a black teen heroine who battles Nightmares in the dark and terrifying dream realm known as Wonderland. 

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves: 16-year-old Hanna reunites with her estranged mother in an East Texas town that is haunted with doors to dimensions of the dead and protected by demon hunters called Mortmaine.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury: Set in near-future Toronto in which, after failing to come into her powers, 16-year-old Black witch Voya Thomas must choose between losing her family’s magic forever or murdering her first love.

The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley: Set in Victorian England, African tightrope walker Iris cannot die; but soon gets drafted in the fight-to-the-death tournament of freaks where she learns the terrible truth of who and what she really is.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi: 17-year-old Zélie and companions journey to a mythic island seeking a chance to bring back magic to the land of Orïsha, in a fantasy world infused with the textures of West Africa.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2) by Tomi Adeyemi: After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But with civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron: 16-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia flees, hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Crown of Thunder (Beasts Made of Night #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Taj has escaped Kos, but Queen Karima will go to any means necessary--including using the most deadly magic--to track him down. 

A Crown So Cursed (Nightmare Verse #3) by L.L. McKinney: Alice is ready to jump into battle when she learns that someone is building an army of Nightmares to attack the mortal world, before she learns of a personal connection to Wonderland.

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron: In Jim Crow South, black teen Evalene Deschamps finds her place among a family of women gifted with magical abilities, known as jubilation - a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: The Civil War is over, but mostly because the dead rose at Gettysburg—and then started rising everywhere else. Fighting the undead is a breeze for Jane McKenne, an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. But the fight for freedom? That’s a different story.

Deathless Divide (Dread Nation #2) by Justina Ireland: After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler. But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to Nicodermus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880’s America.

A Dream So Dark (Nightmare Verse #2) by L.L. McKinney: Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates) Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends and stop the Black Knight once and for all in Wonderland.

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds: Jamal’s best friend Q is brought back to life after a freak accident … but they only have a short time together before he will die again.  How can Jamal fix his friendship without the truth?

Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley:  Before they can save the world from the monstrous phantoms, four girls who have the power to control the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water must first try to figure out how to work together. 

For All Time by Shanna Miles: Tamar and Fayard, two Black teens, are fated to repeat their love story across hundreds of lifetimes, from 14th-century Mali to the distant future, as they struggle to break the cycle.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna: Inspired by the culture of West Africa, a feminist fantasy debut traces the experiences of 16-year-old Deka, who is invited to leave her discriminatory village to join the emperor’s army of near-immortal women warriors.

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. When Clementine accidentally kills a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape to find freedom, justice, and revenge.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron: Set in a West African-inspired fantasy kingdom, Arrah comes from a long line of powerful witchdoctors, yet fails at magic. When Arrah trade years off her life for magic to stop the Demon King from destroying the world—that is if it doesn’t kill her first.

Legacy of Light (The Effgies #3) by Sarah Raughley: After Saul’s strike on Oslo—one seemingly led by Maia herself—the Effigies’ reputation is in shambles. Belle has gone rogue, Chae Rin and Lake have disappeared, and the Sect is being dismantled and replaced by a terrifying new world order helmed by Blackwell. If the Effigies can’t put the pieces together soon, there may not be much left of the world they’ve fought so desperately to save.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: In this King Arthur retelling, Black teen Bree Matthews infiltrates a secret society of powerful magic wielders to find out the truth behind her mother’s untimely death.

Mem by Bethany C. Morrow: In alternate reality Montreal (1925), a young woman’s personality is the result of a startling experimental procedure, leaving her to struggle with the question of who she really is.

Miles Morales, Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds: But Miles Morales accidentally discovers a villainous teacher's plan to turn good kids bad, he will need to come to terms with his own destiny as the new Spider-man. 

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard: Half-mortal teenager Helen Thomas goes to live with her father—who is Zeus, masquerading as a university professor—and must do her best to keep the family secret intact.

The Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds: After falling for Kate, her unexpected death sends Jack back in time to the moment they first met, but he soon learns that his actions have consequences when someone else close to him dies.

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith: Set in a futuristic, hostile Orleans landscape, Fen de la Guerre must deliver her tribe leader's baby over the Wall into the Outer States before her blood becomes tainted with Delta Fever. 

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney & Robyn Smith: When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all—her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class—to become the hero society tells her she isn’t.

A Phoenix First Must Burn: 16 Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell: Filled with stories of love and betrayal, strength and resistance, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron: In this contemporary fantasy inspired by The Secret Garden, Black teen Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants with a single touch. Up against a centuries-old curse and the deadliest plant on earth, Bri must harness her gift to protect herself and her family, when a nefarious group comes after her in search of a rare and dangerous immortality elixir.

A Psalm of Storm and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) by Roseanne A. Brown: As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires.

A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) by Amanda Joy: After learning the truth of her heritage, Eva is on the run with her sister Isa as her captive, but with the Queendom of Myre on the brink of revolution, Eva and Isa must make peace with each other to save their kingdom.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko: In a West African-inspired empire, Tarisai is raised by The Lady and sent to kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

Redemptor (Raybearer #2) by Jordan Ifueko: For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar's throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer.

The Ravens by Danielle Page & Kass Morgan: The sisters of Kappu Rho Nu share a secret: they’re a coven of witches. For Vivi Deveraux, being one of Kappa Rho Nu’s Ravens means getting a chance to redefine herself. For Scarlett Winters, a bonafide Raven and daughter of a legacy Raven. When Vivi and Scarlett are paired as big and little for initiation, they find themselves sinking into the sinister world of blood oaths and betrayals.

Rebel Sisters (War Girls #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Though they are working toward common goals of helping those who suffered, Ify and Uzo are worlds apart. But when a mysterious virus breaks out among the children in the Space Colonies, their paths collide.

Reaper of Souls (Kingdom of Souls #2) by Rena Barron: After so many years yearning for the gift of magic, Arrah has the one thing she’s always wanted—at a terrible price. But the Demon King’s shadow looms closer than she thinks. And as Arrah struggles to unravel her connection to him, defeating him begins to seem more and more impossible.

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy: A North African-inspired feminist fantasy in which two sisters, Eva and Isa must compete in a magical duel to the death for the right to inherit the queendom of Myre.  

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves: In Portero, Texas, teens Kit and Fancy Cordelle, daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, bring two boys with similar tendencies to a world of endless possibilities they have discovered behind a mysterious door.

Siege of Shadows (The Effigies #2) by Sarah Raughley:  After Saul reappears with an army of soldiers with Effigy-like abilities, threatening to unleash the monstrous Phantoms, e-year-old Maia and the other Effigies hope to defeat him by discovering the source of their power over the four classical elements, but they are betrayed by the Sect and bogged down by questions about the previous Fire Effigy's murder.

The Sisters of Reckoning (The Good Luck Girls #2) by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The blockbuster sequel to an alternate Old West-set commercial fantasy adventure.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow: Set in the near-future, in which a captive teen human and a young alien leader—bonded by their love of forbidden books and music—embark on a desperate road trip as they attempt to overturn alien rule and save humankind. 

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi: Set in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria, sisters Onyii and Ify, separated by a devastating civil war, must fight their way back to each other against all odds.

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst: When the goddess Bayla fails to take over Liyana's body, Liyana's people abandon her in the desert to find a more worthy vessel, but she soon meets Korbyn, who says the souls of seven deities have been stolen and he needs Liyana's help to find them.

The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum: After a horrific accident brings loners Ryann and Alexandria together, Ryann learns that Alexandria's mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system.

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: Black teen Marigold and her blended family move into a newly renovated, picture-perfect home in a dilapidated Midwestern city, and are haunted by what she thinks are ghosts, but might be far worse.

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle: Black teen Rue, from a poor neighborhood who, after learning she is half-human, half-goddess, must embrace both sides of her heritage to unlock her magic and destroy the racist gods poisoning her neighborhood with violence, drugs, and crime.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Thomas: In this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut, two witches from enemy castes—one seeking power, and one seeking revenge—will stop at nothing to overthrow the witch queen, even if it means forming an alliance with each other and unleashing chaos on their island nation.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood: An Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling in which an unlicensed debtera, or exorcist, Andromeda, is hired to rid a castle of its dangerous curses, only to fall in love with Magnus Rochester, a boy whose life hangs in the balance.

Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson: Black teen Andre Cobb undergoes a liver transplant and as a side effect winds up slipping through time from present-day Boston to 1969 NYC on the eve of the Stonewall riots, delivering a story that is part romance, part gay history, and part time-travel drama, exploring how far we have and haven't come. 

[trashywritestrash]

hc abt the reader and eddie being ennemies to lovers? ty

Eddie Munson Enemies to Lovers Headcannons

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Henderson!reader

Word Count: 1.65k

Warnings: STRANGER THINGS SEASON FOUR, VOLUME ONE SPOILERS. Canon level themes: murder mention, reader owns/possesses a gun, a little emotional hurt/comfort if you squint?, a couple curse words, this is literally a full fic written in bullet points, accidentally jumping between past and present tense but oh well

A/N: Please excuse how haphazard this probably is lol, I did my best. It got away from me though oops. This goes a little off prompt though, sorry :/

Please tell me what you think! This is my first time writing for Stranger Things, so I would love feedback!

gif by drogonstone

You think Eddie is annoying

Seriously, who the hell climbs onto a table in the middle of lunch and starts yelling about conformity? (You weren’t there to experience it, but Dustin told you about it later)

You weren’t too happy when Dustin and his friends got mixed up with him. But they idolized Eddie and said he wasn’t so bad

What could you do? Force them to give up Hellfire? No way, you couldn’t do that to them

So you decided that they could go to Hellfire all they wanted, as long as you didn’t have to deal with Eddie yourself

Unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan

You and Steve took turns dropping the kids off and picking them up from Hellfire

Steve was in the same graduating class as you and you two became friends once he dropped the whole “King Steve” complex

The two of you were essentially the parents slash babysitters of these kids. Dustin is your brother, so that makes sense. But the others? You don’t remember adopting them, but it apparently happened along the way

Fighting a Demogorgon (along with other assorted demonic creatures) together creates an unbreakable bond

So when Dustin spoke through the radio he gave you and asked you to come inside after Hellfire, you had to say yes

One of the other members gave him a big box of… whatever junk it was that he didn’t want anymore, but Dustin couldn’t lift it

And instead of having him help carry it, Dustin asked you

You entered the room, took one look at the box, and said “You couldn’t lift this?”

Dustin immediately tries to defend himself “It’s heavier than it looks!”

When you pick it up you realize Dustin could absolutely carry this

That little shit

“So you’re the sister”

God, that voice. You wanted to punch him before he could keep talking

“Yeah, and you’re the Dungeon Master”

He grins, “So the pretty princess has heard of me? I’m honored”

Now it’s your turn to grin. “Can’t say I’m impressed” Eddie’s grin falters, but quickly bounces back

“Awe, honey. Maybe you just haven’t heard enough”

“Oh, I’ve heard plenty”

While both of you are grinning, everyone can see the daggers that you both are throwing with your eyes. Dustin has to step in

“Thanks for carrying the box, Y/N. We’re gonna head out now! See you guys next week!” Dustin, Mike, and Lucas all push you out of the room

Eddie Munson thinks you’re a brat

But Dustin clearly loves you, so he doesn’t say anything

After that first encounter, Dustin tried to ease some of the tension between you and Eddie

It didn’t work

“Hey, Eddie! Can Y/N watch our session?”

“Unless she’s playing, she’s not coming in”

Dustin would have genuinely invited you to play, but the Cult of Vecna was not a beginner friendly campaign

“It’s okay, Dustin, I don’t want to play with Hellfire anyway. He’d probably ruin my introduction to the game and I’d end up hating it. I’d rather learn with you kids”

“We’re not kids!”

“You’re younger than me so you’re a kid”

Dustin suddenly looks solemn

“I just wish you two would get along better” He mutters sadly

Your heart cracks

You’re the best sister Dustin could ever ask for. You help him with his homework (when he very rarely asks for it), you drive him places without being angry about it, you take an interest in the things he likes instead of calling him a nerd

Well, you still call him a nerd, but he knows you’re not saying it in a mean way. It’s just playful teasing, and you both love it

When Chrissy Cunningham died, your world turned upside down. More like Upside Down

Dustin pulled you into everything, and you didn’t mind. As traumatic as it all is, you appreciate knowing what’s going on and being able to help your brother where you can

It’s the I’d-rather-get-hurt-than-you mindset

Another thing that makes you a good sister: you trust Dustin

So when he told you that Eddie was innocent, you believed him

You still took a gun to Reefer Rick’s house, just in case

Yes, a gun. After seeing, fighting, and experiencing all of the things that you did, you felt safer with some kind of protection

When Eddie jumps out from under the tarp, you reflexively push Dustin and Max behind you and reach for it

Dustin roughly grabs your arm, silently telling you not to do it

Eddie looks moments away from slashing Steve’s throat, and that terrifies you

But Dustin talks Eddie down and Steve is released. You rush to him, rubbing his back comfortingly

You stay quiet while Eddie reveals the details of Chrissy’s death. It’s almost too brutal to stomach, but you keep yourself together

Robin puts a hand on your shoulder. You reach over and set your hand over hers, giving it a small squeeze

Eventually, everyone decides to go out to buy food for Eddie

Max speaks up “Someone should stay here with Eddie. Just in case”

Obviously, you’re not going to let either of the kids stay

“I think Y/N should stay”

You give Dustin a look that says ‘what the fuck is wrong with you?’

“You have a gun” he explains

“Wait, what—?”

“You have a gun?!”

“Where the hell did you get a gun?!”

“Okay, stop! I’ll stay” You stop everyone before pointing a finger at Steve “Keep an eye on them”

He rolls his eyes “I always do. I’m the babysitter, remember?”

“So am I, that’s why I’m saying it again”

You and Eddie are left in awkward silence

“So… you have a gun. Why?” Eddie tries to start a conversation

“After fighting demons and monsters, I wanted something to help me feel safe”

“Did it work?”

“No” You answer genuinely, sitting on the floor beside him

Eddie pauses for a moment before asking “Did you bring it here because of me? Because you think I killed Chrissy?”

“No, I don’t think you did it. You’re not capable”

He frowns “But I’m the freak”

You turn to face Eddie, deciding that this conversation is important. You’re not going to be sarcastic or sass him right now. Eddie feels the same level of sincerity and it shows

“I’ll admit, it looked bad. But when Dustin told me he knew you were innocent, he didn’t have to convince me. You’re wild, and bold, and a little unhinged; but you’re not evil. And you’re not a freak either”

“If you’re not careful, honey, I’m gonna think you’re warming up to me”

“You’re not half bad when you’re not being an ass”

You both chuckle until Eddie stops to ask “What did I do when we first met? What made you not like me?”

“Honestly, I told myself I didn’t like you before I even entered that room. Dustin always talked about you, and it was all praise. That kid worships you.”

“I don’t get it. You didn’t like me because Dustin did?”

“Yeah? I’ve always been afraid that Dustin would wish he had an older brother instead of me. I made myself into the best version of a big sister that I could be, but I’m not a boy, I don’t get everything.”

“What about your boyfriend? You’re not worried about him with Dustin?” There’s something in Eddie’s voice that confuses you… Jealousy? No, that can’t be it

“Steve?” You scoff “He’s not my boyfriend. We both symbolically adopted the same group of kids and we became friends because of it. And yeah, Dustin likes him, but it’s not the same. In his eyes, you can do no wrong. But he constantly calls Steve dumb”

Eddie thinks over the information “So, if Dustin thinks I’m perfect, you’re worried that he won’t think you are?”

“I don’t need to be perfect” You grumble a little, but Eddie is still smiling. He thinks it’s kind of cute “I’m not perfect and I won’t pretend to be. But I don’t want him to prefer you over me”

Eddie gives you a thoughtful smile “He could never. Dustin loves you, you’ve done so much for him, and he knows it. You don’t hear what he says about you”

“Wait, what does he say?” Your eyes lock onto Eddie’s, desperate to hear what he has to say

“He loves spending time with you, you’re his favorite person to be around. When you told him you wanted to learn to play D&D he came into lunch and started running his mouth about how he had the coolest sister, and he was going to teach you how to play so that you could join Hellfire and he would get to spend even more time with you”

Your heart softens “He really thinks that? I thought he would get tired of spending time with me”

“No way in Hell” Eddie shakes his head “He would spend every second of every day with you if he could”

Eddie leans in like whispering a secret. His warm breath tickles your neck, sending an excited chill through your body. Wait what?

“Don’t tell Harrington, but when Dustin sees his car instead of yours, he actually looks sad”

You slap your hand over your mouth to hold in a laugh “Oh, I’m totally telling Steve that. I need the ego boost”

Eddie laughs “Well then you didn’t hear it from me”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep your name out of it” You laughter dies down into a soft smile “Thanks, Eddie. I needed to hear all that”

“Any time, sweetheart”

Eddie holds out his hand to you “Truce?”

“Truce” You shake his hand, solidifying the deal.

When the rest of the crew returns, they find you and Eddie still sitting on the floor, talking and laughing like old friends

Dustin smiles to himself, happy that two of his favorite people seem to finally get along

—————

If you enjoyed this or would like to read more of my work, please consider liking, reblogging, or tipping my Ko-fi!

[sirthisisa-wendys]

Independent Study: Geto Suguru x Fem!Reader

synopsis: Geto Suguru is a star grad student with a lot going for him. And he wants to add you to that list.

wc: 1.9k

tw: NSFW (oral, unprotected sex, light exhibitionism)

“Professor y/n?” The sound of your name makes you look up from the laptop in front of you and into the black orbs of the graduate student everyone was raving about.

“Mr. Geto,” you call out, and stand from the wooden desk, fingertips grazing the surface carefully. “Please, come in. Close the door.” The man comes into your office, sliding the leather messenger bag off his shoulder and onto the floor before shutting the door, then taking a seat in front of you. “I heard you made the Dean’s List for the third time from Professor Yaga; congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Geto smiles sheepishly at you, ducking his head a little. “I’ve been working on a presentation, and I wanted to come to ask you some questions.” He pulls out his laptop and rests it on his knees, placing his glasses over his eyes as he squints at the screen. You can’t help but notice how studious he appears to be at all times.

The staff had gone wild over the man when he first arrived, not only because of his looks but his fully-funded endowment that brought the university over one-hundred thousand dollars in revenue. Here he was, in your office, despite you being in the physics department, and Geto being an engineering student.

“How can I help you?”

He turns the screen to face you, and you see the tell-tale font of a research paper. “I’m having a hard time with this study. Mind taking a look?” You hold your hands out for the device and take it willingly, sliding it across your desk and reading the title: A Study on Intercourse.

“Interesting,” you muse, but as you continue reading, you realize by the second sentence that the paper is anything but peer-reviewed research-based. Your cheeks heat up as you turn the laptop back around, avoiding his gaze. “Um, Mr. Geto, I’m not sure that this is your research paper.”

“Oh?” He squints at the first couple of sentences, then tilts his head. “No, that looks about right.”

“It’s… um… it looks like the beginnings of a personal account of your dealings with… intercourse.”

“That’s right.” He turns the laptop back to you. “You see, I require a sample size of twenty since I only have two variables in this study. I don’t want to parade around campus having sex with twenty girls. Too many unknowns, right?” You stare at him dumbly, anticipating his next words. “So I thought, why I don’t I just ask the most attractive woman on campus if she’d be willing to have sex with me twenty times? And that’s where you come in, Professor.” Have sex… with… Geto Suguru? The thought makes you feel the heat between your legs, but you fumble for your answer.

“I-in Section Fifteen of the employee handbook, it states that I am not allowed to engage in any relations with students on or off-campus. That--”

“Includes sexual relations, illicit drug use, drinking, or parties of any kind.” Geto finishes.

“How do you--”

“I’m employed to study here, Professor y/n. Did you think that hefty endowment couldn’t buy me some leeway?” You gape at the man, mouth slightly ajar. “Besides, being a scientist in residence is part of the endowment.”

“I--”

“If you want to help me, meet me here tomorrow at 12.” He slides you a sticky note with an address scribbled on it. “Your lunch is an hour and a half, right?”

“Yes…” you breathe and he nods, stuffing his laptop back into his bag before standing.

“Great. Oh, and… bring a change of clothes if you do show up.” Geto unlocks the door and leaves you sitting in your chair, dumbfounded.

_____________________________________________________________

Your finger finds the doorbell of the townhome, and as it rings, you look at your watch.

11:58.

You fiddle with the hem of your blouse as you wait for Geto to answer the door, hoping against all hope that he wouldn’t answer and you could go back to work without considering any--

The door swings open, and Geto stands in the doorway, hair falling around his face.The grey shirt he’s wearing matches the joggers, but you dare look no further than the waistline. “Right on time,” he coos, and you enter the abode, looking around at the foyer and dining room. Everything is immaculate, you note, looking up at the crystal chandelier in awe. “Pretty, isn’t it?” You nod, and follow him past the kitchen and into a bedroom that’s twice the size of the one in your apartment. “You want anything? Water, something to eat?” He asks, turning around to face you.

“No, thanks,” you mumble, and he shrugs, shifting papers around on a desk that’s opposite a large bay window. The room is just as clean as the rest of the house: the bed is made, the floor is clean, and a video camera sits on a stand in the corner. “Um, Mr. Geto, I can’t--” Geto follows your line of sight and grunts once.

“I have to record these to gather evidence.” You look over at him, startled, and he holds up a piece of paper with blank spaces on it. “For my dissertation?” The reminder eases your nerves and you slide your purse off of your shoulders, setting it on his dresser. “I need you to sign this.” He walks over to you and hands you the paper with a ballpoint pen.

“What’s this?”

“Just a statement saying you agree to participate in the experiment and be filmed, but I agree to keep these for my viewing pleasure only and it won’t be distributed elsewhere.” You read over the words on the contract and sign below Geto’s name once you’re satisfied. When you finish, he takes the paper back and sits it on his desk before turning on the camera. “Date, ninth of May. Time, twelve o’five. First trial out of twenty.”

“H-how many are we going to do today?” you whisper.

“Just one per day. Though, we can go multiple rounds if you want,” he chuckles, rolling his shirt over his head and revealing his impeccable physique. You’re so focused on the way he looks half-naked that you almost forget why you’re there in the first place. Well, that is until he approaches you with a half-grin on his face. When he cups your chin and tilts your face up, you have no time to prepare for what comes next.

The kiss shared between you two snatches your soul from your body, and you lose all sense of what to do. Sure, you’ve had sex before, but it was always rushed, drunken, and passionless encounters. But the feeling of Geto’s fingers dipping beneath your blouse and to the edge of your pants makes you heady and so…

“I’m going to take my time with you,” he murmurs against your lips. “I want the best results for my research.” You reply by kissing him again, and he finds the zipper to your blouse easily, pulling it down so that you can slide it off without breaking the kiss. When Geto guides you to the bed, you sink back onto the soft sheets, and he leans over you, pulling your hands above your head.

He trails soft kisses down your neck and to your breasts, covered in a lacy pattern you fished out from the bottom of your drawer. You lift up a little so his fingers can fiddle with the clasp, and he undoes that with dexterity and ease, much to your surprise. He flings the item across the room and marvels at the way your body looks beneath him, eyes drifting over your figure with lust.

“I’ve been obsessed with you since my first day,” he admits, and you gasp slightly. “Fuck.” His mouth finds your left breast and tugs at the nipple with his teeth before easing the discomfort with his cool tongue. While he’s giving your chest attention, he’s simultaneously pulling your pants down, exposing your lack of underwear below. Geto notices a moment later, and chuckles again, looking up at you in surprise. “My, my, it looks like we left our underwear at home, huh?” He dips a finger past your folds to see how wet you are and is not met with an unsatisfactory discovery. In response to this, he immediately drops to his knees and pulls you to the edge of the bed. His tongue finds your core and you moan loudly, hoping that the camera would pick up every single sound you utter.

The slurping and hums of appreciation drive you wild, and your hands lace through his hair as he loses himself in eating you out. “Geto…” you breathe, and that drives him to go a little faster, drawing noises out of you that you aren’t used to hearing. He flicks at your clit once, twice, then dives back down to your slit eagerly, attacking your core like someone who hasn’t had a decent meal in ages. When he pulls away, mouth covered in your slick, he licks his lips and raises a brow at you.

“Ready?” You nod in response, and he pulls down his joggers to reveal a raging hard-on. “See? Both of us wore nothing underneath.” You stare at his length, mesmerized by how long and thick and… proportionate it was.

First, Geto was smart, then he’s handsome, and he’s well-endowed? It was virtually impossible, right? He grabs his cock and pumps it a few times, driving the head toward your slit and pressing past your folds with some difficulty.

“Shit,” he mutters, sliding the tip out and trying again. “You haven’t been fucked in a while, have you?”

“Uh-uh,” you respond before hissing at the stretching feeling.

“Fine by me.” He pulls out again to try one more time, and finally, the tip of his cock slides into you fully. He groans and you whimper gently. Geto sinks into you and leans on top to deliver a series of sweet kisses to your mouth as he moves inside of you slowly. “God, this is fucking amazing.”

You clasp an arm around his muscled back, moaning as he rocks his hips back and forth. “G-Geto, please…” Your words encourage him to move a little faster, the sound of your wet pussy slapping against his hips obscene and loud, but you don’t care. All you want is for Geto to fuck you senseless. The bed creaks with his movements, and his hair tickles your face as he watches your expression change from semi-discomfort to enjoyment.

“Mmmm, seems that all you needed was a little bit of stretching out,” he muses, capturing your other breast in his mouth and sucking the skin hard. You cry out, digging your nails into his back, and he hisses, mouth lifting off of your chest. “Shit, y/n.” You buck your hips against him fervently, and Geto’s eyes close as he finds his rhythm again, biting his lower lip.

The way he feels inside of you, stretching you past your limit and yet, caressing your walls with his veiny length - it was all too much. Forget experiments, this was more than that. This was passion.

“Suguru,” you pant. “I… I’m going to cum… I--”

“Cum for me,” Geto whispers in your ear, and you let loose, spasming around his cock while continues to thrust into you. “Mmmm, just like that… Fuck!” Seconds later, he cums as well, grunting as he tosses his head back and drenches your insides with his seed. As you both come down from the feelings of ecstasy, you wind your fingers through his hair and he rests his head in the crook of your neck, sighing contentedly.

“And how many times did you say we’d have to do this?” you wonder, stroking his hair.

“Twenty is the minimum… but I could always use some extra trials… you know, just in case.”

_____________________________________________________________

TAGLIST: @leanne-tamashi @jotazinha

[generallybrontidefeelings]

Stressed

Rating: NC-17

A/N: Brought to you by this post. I'm tired and sleepy and don't want to make any decisions. The degree is an actual MS you can get from American University in DC. U of Tennessee’s anthropology dept. hosts what’s called a body farm. It's a lab for forensic pathology students. Do NOT I repeat DO NOT look up pictures.

Pairing: Marcus Pike x reader, Marcus Pike x you

Summary: Marcus Pike is an associate faculty member at your forensics college. You ask him to be your second reader for your thesis, even though you have a huge crush on him. Nothing is better than something, right? By the time you pass your exam, you're so pent up you could scream.

Warnings: cadaver talk, pining, age difference, some power dynamics?, annoying college talk, sex, dirty talk, a God awful metaphor curtesy of Blanche Devereaux, 39

“Take a deep breath.”

You huff in a small shallow breath. Then let it out, and take in a longer, fuller one.

“Now let it out.” You let your cheeks puff up as cool air streams past your lips. “You’ve made huge improvements, and you’ve studied hard. The paper exam will be easy, and the oral will be a cinch.”

You gulp. “I know. It’s just...pre-show jitters, you know?”

He gives you a full smile, and flips the document shut. You hand him the binder clip, accidentally brushing his fingers when you do.

"Anything else I can do for you?"

You swallow, fiddling with your paper edge. God you feel like a twelve year old. You're fucking twenty-seven and about to apply for the FBI, why are you such a sap? He’s not available. Not even remotely. He will be gone in a year, back to the Bureau. There is no reason to nurse a crush. And you curse yourself for asking a man you’re attracted to - you, idiot, idiot! - to spend more time with you. Even if it is reading your dull chapter.

"No, I have everything I need, thanks."

"Then scoot. I have to read like...thirty pages of Tanner's chapter before he gets here."

You pull your bag to your shoulder. "you're not going to get that far," you scoff. The tensing in your shoulders relaxes a little when you stand to leave.

"We'll see," he says. He opens the door of his office for you. You glance back once more, and he's still in the doorway watching you go. "See you tomorrow."

"See you." Your mind swirls back and forth between thoughts of Mr. Pike, your thesis, Pike, your oral defence, your paper exam in two days, Marcus crossing his ankles in his reading chair. And you walk. Straight ahead, not looking back. But when you get to the door handle you turn around. And he's still there. Watching.

You've never been so stressed in your life.

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

You met Marcus Pike on a muggy afternoon in August deep in the heart of Tennessee. The air warped off the pavement as you drove together to the School of Anthropology to visit your cadaver lying relaxed and prostrate in the middle of a fenced field. The air is already warm, then lightning flashes in the clouds to your right, and plopping rain drops scatter across the lawn, and dampens A-0017’s second hand suit. His raisinette hands lie against the grass almost like he’s communing with the earth. You watched the water hit his face, and permanently closed eyelids, and shaved head.

You had no business being so fidgety while kneeling next to a cadaver. Agent Marcus Pike and the facility director chat a couple feet away, leaving you to your business with A-0017. Pike had never been to the school’s mysterious forensics lab, even though he had plenty of time to when he was earning his own masters. That’s what he said in his email to you three weeks earlier. He’d heard a first-year student was running a fibrous material experiment and asked to tag along. And you said yes. Why not? He was faculty. It wasn’t unheard of. His email was so polite too, letting you know if you weren’t comfortable he understood. Pike. The name rattled a memory somewhere. So you emailed him back, and the next morning he sent you his itinerary: he would meet you in Tennessee. He’d even pay for the rental car.

You sent your advisor a quick text to ask if he was ‘crazy.’ She’d sent back the laughing emoji. No, she said, Marcus Pike isn’t a crazy. You’ll like him.

You did like him. He was waiting for you at the Hertz desk, and heat licked up your skin when you realized - he was striking. He was the type of man you’d make eyes at in a bar without any hope of even getting a number. His brown hair was neatly trimmed, and he had a softness brought on by a light scruff that didn’t hide his dimples. You barely registered that he was apologizing for not getting to introduce himself before flying out, but promised he was who he said he was. Even pulled out his credentials.

“Bureau?” you said to his badge. “I thought you were an associate professor?” You want to smack yourself.

Oh, “I am,” he replied. He dug in his wallet and pulled out a campus ID that matched yours. “I’m taking an interim year. I thought teaching would be a nice way to ease into DC life.”

Now he was here, sweating under the storm clouds while watching you unbutton A-0017’s shirt, and half listening to the director tell him all about how they kept the lawn looking green despite, ahem, fluids. You sternly told A-0017 to be on their best behavior while you pulled their shirt back to examine some fiber swatches stapled to his rubbery chest.

On the flight back Pike asked you all about your thesis plans. You stuttered as you began. He waited, patient. You were writing on how the FBI could contribute to cultural repatriation efforts internationally by returning art pieces. Do you know what it could do to boost scholarly opportunities? The doors it could open! Why put it in cold storage when it could revitalize movements? Art breathes, after all. You were exhausted by the time the plane landed. Both from answering questions, and from keeping a steadily building tension under wraps. You hoped he didn’t notice how you crossed your legs.

“I’d love to read it.” He handed your backpack down from the overhead bin.

“Maybe you should be my second reader.” You got serious when his face perked up. “I still need one.”

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

That was nine months ago.

Your exams are in a week, and instead of thinking about preparing, all you can think of is that once everything is turned in, you probably won’t see Marcus again. He’s been your anchor these last months, and you’ve gotten used to his solid presence and encouraging platitudes. You cup your hot cheeks because it’s a dirty thought.

He lets you work in his office for a couple hours a week every week. The crammed little space is tight quarters, but he makes room for your laptop anyway. Sometimes you worked together heads bent for full time. Sometimes he read pages from your thesis, and you help him grade some papers from his first-year art history course. And sometimes you drink three pm coffee together and don’t work at all. It’s your favorite time of the week. The glow his praise gives you is embarrassing. And he’s an easy companion - nope, colleague. Your heart beats and your mouth waters every time you’re fifteen feet from his office door. The cold door knob jolts you took. You harbor a secret. Keep it warm in your belly. It swirls hungrily deep in you.

But now it’s a problem. You’re so distracted. Every time you leave his office, you’re tense from want. Your body is already over-caffeinated and achy from sitting in hard library chairs so long. But you keep going. Every time an anxious heat lights up the alarms in your head your instinct is to ask him what to do. You have to rest your hands in your head and remind yourself: he isn’t your babysitter, he’s a grown man who doesn’t have boundless time to tell you what to do. You have to figure it out yourself. Even if you really just want him to tell you what this or that section needs, is the title here misleading, is it lunch time, do you think the tone here is condescending?

What do you think? What do you want it to look like?

You think you want to grab his dumb button down collars and bite his lip. You want it to look flushed and tousled and desperate. You want to ride him in his reading chair with the door locked. It just isn’t fair.

The night before your first exam you take z-quil, drink lavender tea, and read a chapter of your favorite book to relax. Your phone buzzes at nine. It’s Marcus: good luck! You’re going to do great! Well. Better take some more Z-quill now that your heart is palpitating.

You pass both tests in excellent standing - MS in International Relations: complete. Pike attends the oral exam. Your skin goes hot when he smiles at you when the committee declares you exceed expectations. He invites you for a celebratory drink in the next couple days, which means you have two days to sternly wrangle your crush back into the dirty corner she came from.

You fail miserably.

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

“Look,” he says, setting his beer down on the glass bar counter. “I know it’s not my business, but you still look stressed out. Are your grades bothering you?”

The rim of your gin and tonic is wet with condensation from where your finger circles it. “No, they’re great.”

He bumps your shoulder with his. “Then what’s the damage? You’re jumpier than a…” he trails off thinking a good metaphor. He squints at you a little.

“A virgin at a prison rodeo?” you supply. He inhales sharply, eyes wide. “You can laugh.”

“I didn’t know you watched ‘The Golden Girls,” he says. His tone is admiring. “I was going to say jumpier than a graduate student giving their defense.” You purse your lips when he raises his eyebrows at you. “Can I help at all?”

You watch his Adam’s apple bob when he takes another sip of his beer. The soft orange lights in the bar spill around his jaw and throat, they flicker in his irises. His face in three quarter profile is august. You’re utterly exhausted from the polite ‘student mentor’ dance you’ve had to do for months while keeping your desire at bay. And more than that, you didn’t want to answer. You wanted to show him and let him decide. The sultry washboard and piano music give you that last boost.

You make sure he’s watching you, then you slowly reach out and wrap your fingers around his wrist.

Then you wait.

Marcus pauses from lifting his beer bottle, eyes glued to your hand on his wrist. It’s petite against him. He stares at your baby blue fingernails pairing beautifully with his Stirling watch - and he feels himself harden.

All the skin on your body stands at attention when he meets your eyes. Everything in them tells you he wants you just as bad. There’s a hesitant curve above his eyebrow though. You get it. You were his student - he’s such a sweet man he wouldn’t even dream of using a power dynamic like that to get laid. Your breath comes in short heaves.

“The semester ended thirty-six minutes ago,” you say over the music. He takes a deep breath. You aren’t his student anymore. Not according to the school, anyway.

You want him to decide. If he doesn’t, you’ll go home and fall apart under your fingertips thinking about how hot it would have been to lift your dress and sit on his cock while wearing your thigh highs.

“Do you want to leave?” You nod, resisting the urge to bite your lip.

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

Marcus’s apartment is homey. Streetlights flood the floor of the living room through the street facing windows. You turn this way and that to inspect the dark areas that look like bookshelves while he hangs up your coat. You squeeze your hands at your sides, because this is happening. You’re in his house. The hardwood floor is cold under your stocking feet.

You jump when he puts his hands on your shoulders from behind you, holding you a mere inch from his body. You bite your lip when his nose bumps into the back of your head.

“Are you sure about this?”

“You already asked me that,” you reply, letting your head fall back on his shoulder. You want so badly to tell him to tell you what to do. That you don’t want to make any decisions. Brain is worn out. That you want to please him, and not think. Oh, to be a freshmen simply sponging up information.

“I know,” he slides his hands to your biceps and turns you around. “I can check in again, can’t I? He cups your face when you nod. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes, please,” you have to stop yourself from saying something incriminating, like mister Pike, or sir, or professor.

You clutch the front of his button down to anchor yourself when his lips brush yours. His mouth is soft. It coaxes you to open so he can dive into you, his tongue swipes your bottom lip, and you respond by pressing into him. You stay pliant under him, letting him lead. Your legs feel on the verge of collapse when you break away. You can’t stand it anymore.

“I want to suck your cock.”

Both of you freeze. For a second you wonder if you’ve given him a heart attack. But you watched his thighs on the car ride back and couldn’t stop thinking about kneeling between them. Your mouth waters. Marcus can’t breathe. He’s straining against his zipper. After your declaration he wants it too.

“Okay, honey,” he breathes. He brushes your ear with his thumb. “If that’s what you want, we’ll do that.”

He tries to draw you backward toward his room where he can turn on a lamp and properly pay tribute to your body, but you pull him back. You tug him to his mid-century armchair - he has the twin to it in his office. His mouth goes dry. You have to know. He looks into your face, and from the way you’ve averted your eyes, you know.

“Please?” you say. It sounds like a sob.

From this close you can smell the vanilla and bergamot of his soap. He sits, waiting for you. When you don’t move he holds his hand out for you to take.

“Come here, honey,” he draws you close. The top of your dress swings a little and he groans when he sees the break of your dress to what he thought were tights. Marcus studies your face in the second hand street light - your mouth parted, your eyes blown wide. Your hand in his is hot. “Hey, if this is overwhelming, or not what you want-”

“It is,” you correct him.

“Tell me what’s wrong then,” he requests. You feel pained. If you don’t say it now you never will.

“Tell me what to do.” Your head aches from the stress of carrying it for so long. “I’ve had to make my own decisions for months, and I don’t want to anymore. Just - for five minutes-” you bring your hands to your cheeks and press them against your hot skin. You watch as he realizes what you want. He nods in slow motion.

“Okay,” he says. “Kneel for me.” He gets even harder when you sink to your knees. Your hands rest in your lap. Waiting. He can’t believe this is happening. Thank goodness he’s going back to the Bureau in three months. He couldn’t face the other faculty - fuck, your advisor - after this. Leaning forward he cups your chin and kisses you. You squeeze your thighs together. He kisses your ear and says lowly, “take my cock out, honey. I want you to suck me off.”

When you take him in your mouth as far as you can, you look into his face. His mouth has fallen open. His ears have turned red from flushing. It’s indescribable. It makes your mouth water further around his hard length. It’s heavy on your tongue. You move up and down his shaft leisurely, trying to savor it. Letting saliva run down onto his skin as your tongue works the spongy head. You reach up to work the base with your hand when he tells you ‘no’.

“Just your mouth.” Fuck. You moan around him as a ripple pulls from deep in your core. The vibrations of you moaning make him jolt and heave. For a few moments he apologies while you breathe deeply, then resume. You take a mouthful of him. It’s feasting. It’s mindless.

His fingers brush the side of your face, and tenderly cups the back of your head. You want to make him understand this is what you want. So you slide down as far as you can comfortably, and wait. Swallowing thickly around his length

“Fuck, honey,” he groans. He gets it, taking both hands and moving your head the pace he wants. You can tell he hasn’t been asked for this often. Maybe ever. You close your eyes and just feel. His cock filling your mouth. Aches forming around your jaw. Tears leaking out of your eyes from your concentration. Your pussy wetting through your underwear. Marcus pulling your hair. You swallow hard, then he stops. And pushes you off.

You whine in protest.

“I hear you, honey,” he says softly. His voice is hoarse. “Another time. I want you to unwind right now.” Your pussy clenches.

He takes you back to his bedroom and helps you undress. He lifts your dress over your head, and kneels to help you out of your thigh highs. One day, if you’ll let him, he’ll fuck you with them on, but he likes to see all of a woman the first time he does anything to her. He kisses the bit of skin above the waistband of your panties before standing to kiss your lips. Your help him push them down your hips until they fall to your ankles. The soft gasp he lets out at the sight of your underwear and bare body is nothing short of gluttonous.

“Lay down.”

He strips while you watch. He does it without taking his eyes off of you. There’s hunger in them. This man has an appetite, you know it. The fabric rustles pleasantly between the sound of both of you breathing. Far away, ambulance sirens blare in another neighborhood, but here in his apartment the wet sound of cars passing in the rainy street are the closest accompaniment.

“I want to touch you here,” he tells you, palming your sex and making you squeak. It’s so forward.

“Do it,” you breathe, and part your legs further for him. He leans in and kisses your temple, murmuring ‘good girl’ and you swear you could black out.

You’re already so wet when his fingers part your folds to greet the new territory. “Did sucking my cock get you wet?” He sounds amazed. He tastes one fingertip before putting it back to tease your folds. “I wonder how wet you would be just holding it in your mouth while you read.”

“Oh-” a ripple works down your spine. He smirks. The tip of his finger brushes just inside your lips to tease your entrance.

“I’m going to put my fingers in you. You,” he pauses to kiss your cheek, “relax. You earned it.” He rubs his nose up and down yours, and you nudge him back just as he slips one long finger into you. You’re glad he’s being sweet like this. It’s the perfect blend of firmness and care. You want him to dominate you one someday, maybe, but right here and now, the combination of his low voice and steady fingers is ideal. Marcus kisses your cheek and mouth as he works his finger in and out of you. It’s thick and reaches further than you ever could. You spread your legs even further to tell him, more.

Without removing his hand he moves down your body to lick your clit. He sucks and flicks it as he coaxes more wetness out of your leaking cunt. Carefully he pulls the finger out and presses his wet hand to the inside of your thigh to keep you open. He laps into you, covering the muscles with lubricant because you’re going to need it. You see his face just as he decides you’re ready; it’s contemplative, like he’s concentrating. Then he slides two fingers deep into you.

“Oh, fuck, that’s so fucking good,” your voice crescendos. You reach for his shoulder as he comes up to lie beside you. His skin is warm under your palm. You buck your hips looking for something else, seeking, wanting-

“Stay still.” You still immediately. “Just feel it, baby. I want you to be ready for me.” You know what he means. His cock is thick and smearing against your hip. He was big in your mouth, he’s going to be big while pushing into you. His fingers keep moving while he kisses the tips of your nipples. When he takes one between his teeth and tugs you break. Your mouth opens, and your legs clamp reflexively around his wrist. Your pussy gushes around his fingers - you can feel it. You can feel how his movements change from a drag as a slide. He keeps pumping. He doesn’t give up until he’s sure you’ve felt every aftershock. He’d love to take his time and work a third in one day - if he can - but tonight, he wants to move on. After you swallowed his cock in his sitting room chair he’s been thinking of rewarding you.

You feel him slip his fingers out, and roll away to the nightstand. He looks back at you, and his eyes soften a little before he asks, “do you want me to use a condom?”

“No,” you say and reach for his bicep to pull him back toward you. He comes willingly. “I have an IUD. And I’m clean.” He smiles, flinging the packet over his shoulder. It makes you giggle, but it sounds hysterical to your ears. You watch him reach down and pump his cock with the hand that was just inside you. You close your eyes and take a deep breath.

“Look at me,” he orders. Your eyes snap open. Marcus crashes his lips on yours. The hand not dripping from your cunt cups the back of your head. “I want to see your eyes while I fuck you.”

His blunt head breaks into you, you lose all thought. He sinks further in, until you’re squirming on his length because he’s stretching you. You suck air in and will your body will stay still like he suggested for his fingers. You look into Marcus’s eyes the whole time, trying to tell him how good he feels. You can’t make the words leave your throat. He pulls your head to him, kisses your mouth until you compose yourself and lie still. Then he gets to work. The breadth of him stills you anew. For the first time in months you fully relax, hardly making a sound as he thrusts steadily. You stare into Marcus’s eyes while your mouth falls open as he slides into you, and listen to the wet sounds of your pussy and the bed frame creaking.

Then he starts talking.

“Do you know how good you look in those blue trousers? I want to grab your ass every time you wear them,” he rumbles. His pace picks up a hair, and he feels harder in you somehow. He drops to his forearm. “I love watching it when you walk out of my office.” You knew it. “And that damn cardigan you never wear a shirt under? Those buttons slip right open, don’t they?” He punctuates it with a deep thrust that makes you squeak. “Answer me.”

“Yes.”

“Wear it over for dinner. I’ll bite your tits through it.”

He fucks into you harder, sending shivers up your spine with every thrust. It moves you up the bed until you have to reach a hand up and press back against the headboard. You clutch him with the other, looping around his shoulder to feel the muscles in his arms pull and tug as he moves in you, working you up to another release Soon enough, the coil in your belly tightens and he reaches to worry your clit with deft fingers. His eyes never leave you. You think this man could make the hardest fuck feel like making love.

“I need more,” you tell him. You’re too embarrassed to ask for what you want. A tear leaks out of your eye because his thickness is so good, but you want something else too. You always underestimate him. He grins because he knows - he’s a detective. He figured it out. He leans down to rest his forehead on your temple.

“You’re doing so well,” he says. You arch up into him, your breasts brush his chest. “Your wet pussy is so sweet. It’s taking me so well. Are you gonna be respectful? Gonna listen?” You have to hold your breath as your hips tense. “Be good and come on my cock.” Oh fuck. “Say it.”

Your voice is wet with joy. “Yes, sir.”

“Such a good girl.”

Sparks lick up your back and through your cunt, forcing Marcus deeper into when you lift your lips. He slows to let you enjoy all your release. He kisses your neck, your jaw, your lips. Then when he hears your content sigh, he buries his face in your neck and chases his own release. He comes with an accompanying rumble from deep in his chest. You moan in return and lift your lips to catch him as he slumps, barely holding his weight off of you.

Water runs in the washroom as you tug the sheets back. The light clicks off, and Marcus appears with a washcloth. His dimple appears when you lean back and let him clean your tender flesh. He sits on the edge of the bed next to your hips, running his knuckles on the soft side of your breast.

“Stay the night,” says. “I’ll cook you breakfast.”

“Hm,” you say, mock contemplative. You run your fingers down his chest. He preens under the affection. “I will. I feel really good.” Your cheeks tingle at the admission. He smiles wide and bright.

He comes back from putting the cloth in the hamper. You roll so he can run his hands the length of your side

“Thank you,” you murmur. He lifts his face from where he’s been peppering your waist with kisses. His brow is furrowed in amused confusion. “For being good to me. For caring about what happened to me.” You’ll tell him the horror stories your friends have from their college another time.

He sighs and cups your cheek. “I like doing it. You’re bright. Supporting you is a privilege. Especially when I know that brain is going to put us all to shame one day.” You could cry.

“I’ve liked you since the body farm,” you admit. He wrinkles his nose. “I know. Not very romantic.”

“I liked you since you thought my campus ID was more official than my FBI badge.”

“I didn’t think that!”

“Get some sleep,” he says. A wicked glint comes to his eye. “I am going to wear you out before lunch.” You wiggle to get comfortable in the sheets and he curls over your back to hold you to his chest.

Orange light peeks through the gap in his blackout drapes. You eye him over your shoulder then settle into the pillow. All the tension in your shoulders is gone.

part 2

[rehkkuma]

she's all yours | okuyasu x reader

summary: unlike his partner in crime, Okuyasu lacked experience in the dating field. Once he believes that he may have a chance with his crush, his best friend begins to get in the way.

words: 1.8k

disclaimers/tags: fem pronouns, modern AU (basically just phones being involved), tiny bit of angst, fluff, and cursing.

He was staring again. The poor 16-year-old boy couldn't help but notice every single detail about her: the slight tilt in her walk whenever she went up the stairs, how she would tie her shoes, and the unfortunate glint of light in her eyes whenever she spoke with his best friend.

Y/n L/n was someone extremely special to him (whether she knew it or not). She could read his expressions so clearly, sometimes knowing more about Okuyasu than Okuyasu did himself. The emotions he couldn't quite put his finger on, she always had an answer to. At times, he felt undeserving of the friendship he had with her. After coming to terms with his developing feelings for the girl, of course she began to get closer with his best friend.

He was painfully aware of the difference in treatment he received compared to Josuke. While Josuke could be referenced as Morioh's pretty-boy delinquent, Okuyasu was more like the intimidating ruffian that stood by his side. Obviously, Y/n did not think of Okuyasu in that way, but her perception of him didn't matter if he was considered nothing more than a friend.

"Hey," Josuke called out, concerned for his friend.

"Y-Yeah?" Okuyasu stuttered, trying to regain his thoughts.

"Whatcha lookin' at?"

Okuyasu silently thanked Y/n for standing in a crowd with other students. If she stood any further from the school's front entrance, it would've been easy for Josuke to pinpoint who he was eyeing.

"Nothing, really. Just thought I saw a cute girl."

Josuke shrugged his shoulders, repositioning himself so his back laid more comfortably against the tree. "Well, if you do see one, ask 'em out or somethin'. I wanna see you have your first kiss before we graduate," he chuckled.

"Mhm, yup," Okuyasu responded, eyes now glued to the grass he was sitting on. He was about to spew out a self-deprecating joke but stopped himself once he noticed Y/n approaching the two of them. Immediately, he recognized Josuke's energy shift from disinterest to eagerness.

"Y/n!" Josuke cheerfully said, waving at the girl.

"Hi, you two!" she waved back. Once coming close enough, she sat down along with the boys, her knees lacing together in a criss-cross position. Because of the short distance between her and Okuyasu, the boy could smell the flowery essence emitting off of her body. He wasn't too fond of fragrances, but the one Y/n had was light and sweet-- perfectly suiting her personality.

Before he knew it, Okuyasu was staring again. The only thing that got him to snap back into reality was the cry of laughter Y/n let out after Josuke made a funny remark.

"Did you hear that Okuyasu?" Y/n choked out, leaning back with both hands on her stomach.

"Y-Yeah." Okuyasu fake laughed, really having no clue what the hell was going on.

"God," Y/n sighed as she wiped off the faint tears forming in her eyes. "I wish I could hang out with you guys a bit longer, but I just wanted to drop by and say hi. I gotta help out with some chores tonight."

"It's all good," Josuke smiled. "But only if you promise to call me tonight."

The girl rolled her eyes while getting up from the ground. "We'll have to see about that, Jojo!" She then stuck her tongue out before scurrying off to her house.

Josuke chuckled, slowly placing his chin on the palm of his hand. "She's pretty cute, isn't she?" he said, eyes glued to the girl's figure in the distance.

"Yeah, she sure is."

* * *

Okuyasu could remember the first time he met her as clear as day: his hands were tucked deep into his pockets, feet dragging along the sidewalk while he was on his way to school. Unlike his regular routine, Josuke was unable to walk with him due to an argument breaking out between him and his mother. It seemed like a bummer at the moment, but maybe it was actually a blessing in disguise.

"Fuck!"

In front of Okuyasu's feet laid a girl. Her uniform was stained with a bright red juice and its can rolled next to her. He didn't recall exactly what happened, but he did feel someone's face hit his chest before hearing a thud.

"I didn't get any on you, did I?" the girl asked with panic.

Okuyasu, hands still in his pockets, shook his head. "Mnn. Don't think you did."

"Okay, thank God. These stains are so hard to get rid of."

That was one of the first things that Okuyasu remembered from Y/n. Her casual way of talking was enough to make any stranger feel like a good friend. Something about this girl piqued his interest.

"Guess it's not your first time, huh?" he hummed.

"You'd think I'd learn my lesson after the third time."

After the small accident, Okuyasu took the girl to the laundromat. Classes would begin in any minute, but neither one of the pair minded skipping it.

"Oi, what're you gonna be wearin' in the meantime? Don'tcha think the teacher's gonna kick your ass for showing up like that?" Okuyasu pointed at the revealing tank top she wore.

"Yeah, definitely. That's why you should totally let me borrow your top," she winked.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself. I don't even have a clue on what your name is."

"L/n." she replied crassly. "It's Y/n L/n."

That was several months ago. Since then, their relationship started to significantly grow. From sending short texts to sharing a few inside jokes, to hanging out every other day after school. In Okuyasu's eyes, it was inevitable for him to fall for a girl like her.

Right before he could spill about his crush to his best friend, Josuke had already introduced himself to her. It crushed Okuyasu to see the girl he loves slowly start to move on from him-- to his own best friend nevertheless.

All of his frustrations were best to be kept to himself. No way could he express his jealousy to Josuke or Y/n. Out of all the girls that fawned over Josuke, why did she have to be one of them?

**Brring**

Okuyasu rolled his body to the other side of his bed. On a nightstand was his phone that rang. The alarm was just loud enough to break through the pessimistic thoughts roaring through his brain.

"Who's this?" he asked, too lazy to check the contact number.

"It's me, Okuyasu! Why, is it that hard to use a second of your time to check the contact name?"

He recognized that voice anywhere. It was her.

"Aw, look. I was in bed, alright?" he smiled, feeling his mood change immediately after speaking with her.

A small giggle echoed from the other end of the phone. "Alright! I wasn't here to nag you all night anyways." The girl then cleared her throat with a cough before soon speaking again. "I was thinking we should hang out tomorrow. For ice cream, maybe. Just us."

Small butterflies began to form in his stomach from hearing the last sentence. "Just us" had never sounded better.

"Sounds good to me."

"Great!" she nearly interrupted. "A-Ah, sorry! I just got excited. It feels like we've been parting ways the past couple of weeks, but I promise tomorrow's gonna make up for it!"

"It's alright," Okuyasu sighed. "See you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow!" she repeated.

* * *

Was it just Okuyasu or did she look way cuter today? The makeup she wore differed from the one she usually had on, her accessories managed to compliment her eyes even more, and she even put an effort into customizing her uniform like Josuke and Okuyasu despite expressing her laziness multiple times. She looked like an absolute doll.

"Hmph." She huffed. "You've been doing that a lot lately," she said flatly.

"Doing what?"

"Staring at me like I'm some crazy person."

Okuyasu internally panicked for a few seconds but composed himself. "You just look pretty lately, that's all."

He expected a cheeky comeback in return but was left with a bashful smile from her instead.

"Let's just hurry up and get ice cream..." she said, eyes faced to the ground.

Okuyasu nodded at her suggestion and began to walk, making sure his pace wasn't too fast for Y/n. He'd occasionally give a glance at her direction to know if he was walking at a comfortable speed for her.

Several minutes of walking and a few casual conversations later, the duo made it to the ice cream shop. Y/n ordered a mix of her two favourite flavours while Okuyasu ordered two scoops of mocha almond fudge. Feeling a bit more gentleman-like today, Okuyasu insisted on paying for the both of them.

"Thanks for the ice cream!" the girl said, taking a small lick of the cone. "I feel like the more I hang out with you, the more things I owe you back," she chuckled as the two left the shop.

"Don't sweat it. Hangin' out with you's enough for me." Okuyasu smiled.

"Ah, really?" she blushed. "That's... really sweet of you."

There she did it again. No witty comeback. Just a flustered reply.

"Somethin' up with you? Eat something bad today?" he asked.

"Hm?"

"You're just actin' a bit different, that's all. Not sayin' it's bad though. I kinda like it." Okuyasu continued to walk on the sidewalk but stopped once he realized Y/n was frozen still. "Hey, you comin'?"

Y/n began to slowly jog her way to Okuyasu. When she caught up with him, she paused once more, now looking into the young boy's eyes. "I feel like you don't hear yourself talk sometimes," she said. "I can't tell if you're flirting or you're just naturally this oblivious."

He didn't know how to respond. He was starting to get nervous from how close their faces were. If he wanted to, he could practically count each beauty mark on her face.

"Well?" she said.

"Well..." Okuyasu tried to come up with something but found himself paying more attention to the girl's lips. They looked plush and soft with a slight glossy coat from the ice cream.

Eventually, the girl noticed where he was looking at. Slowly, she closed the already small gap between the two.

"Okuyasu," she breathed out with a gentle tone. "I really like you."

"I-" he stuttered. "Not Josuke?"

"Josuke?" She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and chuckled. "I don't know what you think is going on between us, but it's not that. He's not exactly my type either."

Okuyasu couldn't believe what he was hearing. Before he could say anything back, he felt her lips against his right cheek. It was a delicate kiss. Maybe a bit sticky, but it made his heart do several backflips nevertheless.

Once her lips left his skin, she stood awkwardly in front of him. The way she looked up at his eyes with that lovestruck gaze made Okuyasu realize something he didn't before: he wouldn't need to jealous of other guys. It was clear that Y/n L/n was all his.

[hangovercurse]

Blind Date

After being single for three months, your friends decide to set you and Colson up on a blind date.

Request: Hey!! Could you do one about the reader and Colson meeting by a blind date? Let your creativity go wild ❤️

Colson x Reader

Warnings: Cursing

A/N: This is a little bit different from how I normally write, so let’s see how this goes.

Word Count: 1916

It’s funny how the universe makes things happen. While some people are having their first kiss, others are taking their last breath. Every moment in time is so intricately woven together, it sometimes seems ironic how things happen.

Like tonight, on two sides of California, two very different people were having the same conversation.

“I’m not sure about this.”

“What if she thinks my tattoos are too much?”

“What if he thinks I’m too weird?”

“What if she hates music?”

“What if he hates art?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

“I don’t think I can do this.”

Your best friend stared at you from your bed as you paced around the room. “Y/N, you’re going to be fine. You said it yourself, you need to get back out there. Baze says he’s a good guy, and I trust Baze.”

Baze was in a similar situation, laying on the couch as Colson paced around the house. “Colson, dude. It’s gonna be good, she’s gonna like you.”

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I’ve never been on a first fuckin date before. I used to do this shit every night.” He sighed, sitting down.

You let out a frustrated groan, “I know. I just feel like after everything in the past few years I feel like I’ve forgotten how to do first dates.”

“You’re gonna be great, just be yourself. And remember, it’s a blind date, so if you guys don’t hit it off or something goes horribly wrong, you never have to see him again.” She smiled as you threw her a playful glare.

“Colson, I love you man, but you have to do this. I don’t think you’ve even looked at a woman who isn’t Ashleigh in like three months.”

The light-haired man sent his friend a glare, “I’m sorry that I was recovering from the worst heartbreak of my life.”

You finally sat down, pulling on your shoes. “Maybe it’s too soon. Maybe I’m not as ready as I thought I was.”

Your friend sighed, sitting up and placing her arms around your shoulders, “It’s been three months since you and T broke up. You grieved, and now you need to move on. You deserve this.”

“Dude, you said you were over her. You are over her. Now you get to find someone else and try to be happy. You deserve this.”

“Maybe don’t bring up your disastrous ex, Y/N.”

“But please, for the love of god, bro, don’t bring up Megan.”

 You entered the small, classy restaurant, your hands shaking slightly. The entire place was dimly lit, with candles scattered around any surface available. You walked to the hostess stand, “Baker for two.” You told her, a small smile gracing your features.

She nodded, leading you through the floor. “He got here not 30 seconds before you did.” She laughed and you blushed a little bit.

You were grateful he wasn’t late, but you were also grateful he wasn’t extremely early , or else you would have felt awful for making him wait.

You were finally brought to a small table in the back of the restaurant to find one of the prettiest men you have ever laid your eyes on. When his eyes met yours, he stood up immediately, a smile on his face. “Y/N?” He asked.

“Colson.” You responded. He pulled your chair out for you, and you felt heat rushing to your cheeks at the kind gesture. None of the guys you had ever dated pulled your chair out for you, especially not your most recent ex.

“Baze told me you were pretty but this is…” He trailed off, seeming a bit lost for words. “You are absolutely gorgeous.”

He was good at this, good at making you nervous, making you blush like a teenager. “Thank you.” You whispered, “I think you are one of the prettiest people I have ever met.” You returned his compliment with one of your own.

The redness in his cheeks made you smile, a bit of pride rising in your chest. “Baze truthfully didn’t tell me much about you.” He started, “so, what do you do?” He was kicking himself for the lame question, but his mind was half occupied with the color of your eyes and he couldn’t form a coherent thought.

“I’m an artist.” You probably didn’t realize it, but Colson could see the slightest bit of a light in your eyes as you spoke about your passion. “I do graphic designing for websites, making logos and designs and such. That’s my day job, at least. I do some painting and sketching on the side, though. Eventually I’d like to be able to make that my whole job, but it is a hard industry.”

Colson nodded in understanding, his eyes holding the same weight as yours when you spoke of your flailing dreams. You wondered how he knew exactly what you were talking about.

Seemingly reading your mind, he answered. “I get that so much. I’m a musician, so I’ve been there. Luckily, I did make it my full-time job, but I remember before I made it, all the stress and struggles. It gets better.”

You smiled, “easy for you to say, aren’t you like, a big Rockstar?”

He chuckled, looking down, “yeah, sort of. But I wasn’t, you know? Like before all this I was dirt poor and the picture of a starving artist. I mean I’m still not like, winning Grammys or shit now, but I’m not there anymore either.”

You nodded, studying him. “I was lucky, I had support through art school and got a job as soon as I graduated. I’ve never had to struggle in that sense. I don’t think I’d be happy staying where I’m at for the rest of my life, but I am definitely in a stable place right now.”

He seemed so interested in what you were saying. Soon the conversation moved into the type of music he made, and then to your art styles. You flowed together easily, never becoming awkward or uncomfortable. As the night went on, your nerves fell away, as did his.

You were talking about your favorite movies when your food arrived, but even then, your conversation continued. At one point, he paused mid-second. “You’ve got something, “ he pointed to his face. “Fuck it, this is gonna be so cheesy.” He grabbed his napkin and wiped the bit of sauce you had on your cheek off.

You blushed in embarrassment, “thanks.” He was right, the moment was very cheesy. His hand pulled away slowly, lingering near your skin a bit longer than necessary. You didn’t mind though.

As much as you hated to admit it, especially since you had only known him for one night, you could be really into him. And that scared the fuck out of you.

Colson was, too, scared shitless. Why the fuck was his heart fluttering every time you giggled. He’d just met you. But already he could tell you were something special.

 He paid for dinner, like a gentleman, even though you protested. “It’s our first date, I am paying.”

You liked the way that he said, “first date,” implying there may be more. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to pay next time.” You said, smugly.

His eyebrow raised in question, a small smirk on his face. “We’ll see about that. I might just give them my card ahead of time.”

“Then I’ll just have to get there before you.”

You two laughed at your small competition as he led you to the parking lot, his hand in yours. “Did you drive?” He asked and you shook your head no.

“I called an uber. Speaking of…” You reached for your phone before he stopped you.

“Let me drive you home. If that’s okay?”

You let him lead you to his car, hand still tightly in his. He pulled the door open for you, guiding you in. Everything with him seemed like a new experience, his gentleman gestures catching you off guard.

“You should play me some of your music.” You told him when he got in. He smiled at that, pulling his phone out and opening his library.

“I don’t know if you’ll like the type of music I make.” He blushed, scrolling through to find a song he thought you might like.

You rolled your eyes, “well I like you so I think, by proxy, I’ll like your music.”

He bit his lip to hide the way his face lit up at your subtle confession. “Just don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”

You heard a somewhat familiar rhythm, something you had probably heard on the radio. “Wait, this is you? I swear I’ve heard this before.”

He smiled, glancing over at you before turning his attention back to the road. “Yeah, me and my friend Matt dropped this right before my last album release.”

You let the music play, listening to his voice as he sang. “You know, this somehow sounds exactly like you and nothing like you at the same time. Like if you hadn’t told me I don’t think I would’ve known this was you. But I do know so I can hear it.”

He chuckled but didn’t say anything, occasionally looking at you as you nodded your head to the music. A few more of his songs played from Tickets to My Downfall and you seemed to enjoy it. “You’re really good.” You commented. Your voice was truthful, you weren’t trying to flatter him, you were just saying what you thought. Your words were genuine.

He didn’t know why but hearing that from you meant so much more to him than he expected it to. He finally parked in front of your house, getting out and opening your door for you. Like a true gentleman, he walked you to your door, pausing before you unlocked it.

You turned to face him, looking up into his bright eyes. “I had a really good time tonight.” He said softly. “Probably the best night I’ve had in a while, honestly.”

You smiled widely, “I did too, Colson.” You grabbed his hands in yours, swinging them slightly. “I’m really glad we did this.”

He nodded, leaning closer to you, “would you, maybe, wanna do this again?” He asked, his voice falling closer to a whisper.

“I was hoping I had made that obvious when I said I’d pay next time.” You giggled, leaning up closer to him.

He rolled his eyes playfully, “just wanna make sure you didn’t change your mind.”

“Trust me, I didn’t.” You whispered, before leaning up and connecting your lips with his.

The kiss was short and sweet, but it seemed like everything you had ever wanted. When your lips left his, you both stayed very close to each other, hands still clasped. His face was still only inches from yours, eyes studying your every feature.

Eventually he let out a small sigh and leaned back up. “Well, uh, goodnight, Y/N.” He smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck as he took steps backwards towards his car. You smiled at him, waving a small goodbye before turning to unlock your door.

Your hand touched the handle before you turned around, finding Colson in the same situation at his car door, still looking at you. “Do you maybe wanna… come in?” You asked, biting your lip. His face lit up, a smirk highlighting his features.

“I would love that.”