#and then it's just another thursday for them like they promised someone else something.

[kimmkitsuragi]

if i dont see my friends tomorrow i will literally die

[wonwoonlight]

;) / choi seungcheol

➝ Seungcheol x Reader

➝ idol!au // est relationship // nothing but fluff // reader is an idol too // takes place in this universe

➝ word count: 1.8k

a/n: happy birthday, cheol! just smth short that i wrote for his bday <3 enjoy💕 not proofread lmao

“Hi.” Seungcheol waves at the camera, waiting for more people to tune in. It’s a random Thursday when he suddenly feels like doing a live, and after confirming with the company that he’ll just be doing a short one, they simply tell him to be careful. He’s long enough in his career to be doing lives on his own in his place, and with him being a leader and all, if there’s any member that they can be sure wouldn’t make a mistake during a live unsupervised, it’d be him.

Or if he makes any, well, it wouldn’t be anything like Mingyu did last month. After all, Seungcheol is currently in a publicly revealed relationship with another idol and that automatically means he’s more careful than anyone.

“I’m at home.” He leans forward to see the comments better, resting his chin on his palm. “Just suddenly felt like turning on the live because I wasn’t doing anything.”

“Huh? ‘Why is the live title different?’ What do you–ah.” He taps on his phone seeing that he accidentally titled his live ‘;)’ instead of the usual smiley face. “I must’ve made a typo.”

He continues to communicate like that, smiling to himself at the sweet questions they ask about you even though he doesn’t answer them as much as he wants to. Yeah, it’s been a year since he went public with his relationship, but the both of you have been keeping it low regardless. He would’ve shown you off everywhere if he could, but you’re more private than he is and he agrees to follow your lead because he’s fine with whatever you’re comfortable with.

At least most of the fans react positively to the news, which is thankfully still the case seeing as how he only sees so little hate comments when it comes to you. He wishes there isn’t any, but with this industry… he can only be thankful that only a very small part of people who claim to be his fans are against his relationship.

He’s just happy he has you by his side.

“It’s my day off today. I don’t have any schedules after this because I did my work out in the morning. Have you guys had dinner? I’m thinking of–” He pauses in the middle of his sentence at the sound of his door opening, eyes turning frantic at the sight of you who don’t seem to realize that he’s currently live.

“Hi! I came early becau–” You press your lips together when you finally notice the phone propped up in front of him, and if that’s not enough, his panicked eyes tell you enough that he’s doing a live.

You’ve promised to drop by later tonight, but because your lesson ends early, you decide to just drive to his place because you want to see him already. Giddy at the prospect of surprising him, you forgot to consider that this is very possible to happen, something that you actually have discussed with Seungcheol before. 

Seungcheol glances at the comment section, heart light with relief at how fans are freaking out: asking if it’s you and they’re all asking him if you can join the live even for a bit. 

“I’m doing a live.” He says for the sake of it, his eyes sorry despite the giddiness in his heart for some reason. You know what he’s asking you though–do you want to join me? Do you want to wait outside? Should I pretend that you’re someone else?

You also know that Seungcheol has been wanting to just… be with you in public. It’s not something he says out loud, but you know him and you know it’s something that he’s always desired. He just wants to love out loud, wants to share what–who–makes him happy with his fans.

Should I say hi? You mouth at him, in which your answer comes in the form of his frantic face melting into a big, giddy smile in a matter of seconds.

“Hi.” You shyly wave at the camera as Seungcheol moves to give you space. “Sorry I disturbed your live. I didn’t know Seungcheol was doing one.”

“They’ve been asking about you anyway.” Seungcheol jokes, nudging you a little. “It’s like they come here to see you.”

You scrunch your nose in embarrassment, still not sure how to act with your boyfriend in front of the camera. You’re used to having him to yourself–not like this, but you can’t help but admit that it does make you giddy to be able to do this with him.

“There’s no way. Anyway, I can just wait outside so don’t feel pressured to end this quickly, okay?”

Noooo, stay with us!!

Don’t go!!! We’re happy to have you here🥺

Do you really have to go?

“See? They all want you here.” Seungcheol grins, getting more and more comfortable the more he sees positive comments about you. He laughs when he catches a funny one, points it at you and reads it to everyone. “Look at this ‘You’re so pretty. Do you need a girlfriend? Dump Seungcheol and come to me?’. I can’t believe you guys are already trying to steal her from me.”

You laugh incredulously, cheeks already hurt from smiling too much.

“Maybe if you make a better ramyeon than him.” You play along. “Seungcheol makes a very good ramyeon, you know?”

“Ah, good to know my cooking ability is a dealbreaker for you.” He nods in satisfaction before proceeding to tell his fans about a recipe he recently tried to make. “Invite her on Coups Coups? Heh, she doesn’t know how to cook.”

“Hey!”

“What? It’s true!”

“Yeah, but still…” You pout, and Seungcheol has to physically restrain himself from kissing the pout off your lips.

“She knows how to bake, though.” He turns back to the camera. “Perhaps we can do a baking episode someday. We’ll see.”

You stay there for another three minutes before excusing yourself, telling him once again that you’re fine waiting so he doesn’t need to end the live quickly for your sake. Waving at the camera and thanking the fans for being kind, you plop down on the sofa in the living room and allow yourself to be giddy for a few moments before texting your manager to let him know about what has just transpired.

It’s almost fifty minutes later that Seungcheol steps out of his room, his grin widens when he sees you playing with your phone. His heart also blooms in size, as much as he’s seen fans supporting you two on the internet, it’s entirely different to be with you on camera and see firsthand how his fans interact with you. He’s glad the experience seems to be pleasant for the both of you, and suddenly wonders if it can be a thing now that this has started.

“Oh, you’re done?” You look up before putting your phone to the table, immediately melt into his side when Seungcheol sits beside you. He doesn’t answer you though, simply cups your cheeks and dives into your lips like he’s been wanting to do since earlier. You smile into the kiss, fingers grasping his shoulder to balance yourself. You feel him smile also, and it’s then that you pull away and share a giggle with each other. “Don’t you look happy.”

“Mmhm.  I was finally able to show you off and my fans love you, this day can’t get any better.” He admits before kissing you on the forehead and pulls away.

“Finally, huh?” You scrunch your nose in embarrassment, though he can tell that you share the sentiment. “Have you talked to your manager about it?”

“Yeah. It’s fine, we didn’t do anything wrong and presumably didn’t say anything wrong. They’re monitoring it immediately, though, just in case.”

“Unlike Mingyu?”

You laugh at his unimpressed expression, only now finding the whole situation funny because Seungcheol, being the leader and all, was quite stressed about it at first.

“Did your manager say anything?”

“No. They… my management has actually been saying that it’s really up to me if I want to appear in public with you.” Seungcheol finds his heart fluttering at how shy you seem to be, the usual telltale of your nervousness showing itself as you play with your fingers.

“Yeah?” He wraps his arms around your shoulder, pulling you closer. “And what did you say?”

“I say I’ll talk about it with you.” You look at him, abashed. “Do you… want to? You know we’ve been getting invitations to appear on shows together, right?”

“I want whatever you want, baby.” He buries his nose into your hair, hopes that his voice doesn’t sound too hopeful as not to pressure you. He’d love to take you with him everywhere, but he knows you still find it bothersome and you like to be careful, which he respects. He understands where you’re coming from, and while he agrees that it’s important to be careful, having dated you for years even prior to the public revelation, he also thinks it would be fun to be able to appear in public with you. “You know I don’t mind anything as long as I’m with you.”

You’re silent for a bit, thinking about how you’ve actually also been wanting to do shows with him. It’s surely going to be different from the short live earlier, but the positive interactions with his fans make you somewhat hopeful and you admit that it’s making you crave for more interactions in the future.

“Perhaps we can start with our self-produced contents first?” You suggest and Seungcheol squeezes your shoulder a little too tight out of excitement. “Baking, you said earlier? And we’ll see after.”

“You’re serious?”

Shrugging, your smile extends into a grin at how happy Seungcheol seems to be. If this is how he looks at the idea of it, you can’t help but imagine how happy he’d be once the idea actually comes to life. “I don’t see why not.”

You yelp when he suddenly pulls you into his lap, hugging you so tight that you can’t help but laugh. You’re pretty sure the loud heartbeat you’re hearing is his, though you won’t be surprised too if it turns out to be yours either way.

“You know, one of the fans asked if I can just name the live with the emoji I used today if you’re ever going to come again in the future.”

“Oh? You used a different smiley face today?”

“By mistake. What do you say? Are you up to more lives with me in the future?”

You pretend to think about it, consider telling him no as a joke but decided against it when you see just how much his eyes are shining in expectation, probably already thinking of a hundred schedules that he can do with you by his side.

“I want whatever you want.” You repeat his words, heart fluttering about what the future might have in store for you and him. And when you see him smile, one of the happiest you’ve ever seen on his face, you know that things are going to be okay as long as you get to keep that smile on his face.

[wandamaximoo]

You Don't Have to Pretend 3

Paring: Dark!Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Warnings: Established Kidnapping, Attempted Suicide, Dark!Wanda, Mind Manipulation, Mind Control

Summary: An escape attempt failed, Wandas plan being set into motion

Word Count: 1.5k

Part 1 and Part 2

Y/n's Pov

Wanda was sat beside me with a small smirk as I ate her delicious paprikash. It tasted just like I remembered from years ago.. Before the blip before she went insane.. before when we were friends and I had a crush on her..

"You're such a good girl, aren't you? You'll be my good girl from now on right y/n?" Wanda mumbled into my ear before she started stroking my thigh

I swallowed another bite before I hesitantly opened my mouth. "...why did you do this, Wanda?" I asked, setting the spoon down, Wanda sighed, clearly disappointed by the question, and her hand stilled

"Because I love you y/n, the world doesn't deserve your pure soul.." She smiled at me and picked up the spoon opting to feed me herself "Eat up please, I don't want you to die my love" She told me and I slowly opened my mouth to let her feed me, I felt a little drowsy no doubt Wanda's doing either she's used her powers on me again or the paprikash is drugged.

"What was her name?" I asked quietly after swallowing the food she had fed me, Wanda frowned and took my hand, holding it up enough so I saw the ring she had created

"See this ring, baby? It's the ring I gave you. You are mine. Not hers. Or anyone else's, Mine." Wanda said lowly, all because I asked what her name was. but I knew I was someone's girlfriend… was I? My mind felt fogged up and mushy.

"I'm sorry wanda…" I apologised looking down at my lap

"I know, sweet, it's okay. I forgive you!" She smiled and then got up from the table. "You eat up, okay? I'm gonna go check something, be good baby," She told me, then walked out of the cabin, I pushed the bowl away and got up from the table

Trying to escape would surely be futile, Wanda has no doubt taken me somewhere only she'd be able to find so if I can't escape I'd escape a different way, killing myself. I've had enough anyway, in the past 5 years I've tried to kill myself only once, I was stopped by…. Kathy? No no… her name was something different.. but she saved me and promised if I lived to the next Thursday we'd go out and watch any movie I wanted, and that's how she saved me. We ended up dating and then founded an animal shelter together… I think

I walked into the kitchen and went through the drawers until I found a large knife, I took it and went to the bathroom where I locked the door, and I sat by the bathtub.

I started off by cutting my wrists, then along my arms, and then I shakily pulled the knife away and stabbed it into my abdomen, I muffled my scream with the hoodie I was wearing.

I slumped down against the bath letting the knife stick out for a moment before I wrapped my hand around it and pulled it out drawing another scream from myself, there was a small pool of blood starting to form on the floor and I smiled to myself letting my head lull to the side, then I heard wanda enter the house

"Y/n?" she called out, I didn't Answer, the longer it takes her to find me, the less time she has to attempt to save me. "Y/n!" I heard her hurried footsteps go around the small cabin until she tried the bathroom door "y/n, open the door" her voice was calm but even if I wanted to, which I don't. I couldn't open the door.

"No.." I slurred slightly, my eyes felt heavier

"Fine." Wanda grumbled before the door handle went red, and the door opened to reveal Wanda. When she saw what I had done, she looked horrified "y/n...Oh my god- what did you do?!" She asked fanatically

"What I should have done a long, long time ago," I mumbled, letting my tired and heavy eyes meet hers. She had tears in her eyes

"No." She shook her head and placed her hands on my abdomen, letting them glow red. Within seconds, my wound was nonexistent. "You aren't dying y/n." She shook her head and lifted her hands to my arms. "I won't let you." She breathed out, and just like my stomach, my arms were healed, not even a scar was left

Wanda pulled me into her arms and hugged me tightly. "I've lost too much y/n, promise you won't ever do that again!!" She begged, and I felt her tears wet my shoulder

"I- ….I promise Wanda," I whispered and hugged her back. Then I felt her heads come up to my temples, and before I could pull away, my mind was invaded with magic.

"Come on, let's go watch some sitcoms," I suggested, pulling Wanda up off the floor. I don't know why my wife was crying on the bathroom floor, but I know sitcoms and cuddles always cheer her up.

"Y/n.." Wanda said a little hesitantly as she tugged my hand, preventing me from leaving the bathroom,

"Yes, love?" I looked back at her with a soft smile

"I love you, y/n," she smiled and kissed me, and I giggled a little

"I love you too wands, let's go cuddle and watch your favourite episode of dick van dyke before I start making us dinner" I said after we pulled apart, wanda seemed content with that because she let me take her to our bedroom

I got into bed then held my arms open for her, but she got in and pulled me into her. "I just need to hold you, to be sure this is real.." she murmured into my ear, and I turned my head to face her a little

"Of course, this is real wands. We are married, love." I laughed a little, and she smiled

"...I know…." She whispered then turned on the TV and put on Dick Van Dyke

Wanda's Pov

Everything was finally in place. y/n was safe and sound in my arms while she slept and nobody could bother us, I hated having to use my magic on her like I did but she went as far as attempting to kill herself, I couldn't let her do that and I certainly won't let her die.

I felt her shift, then turn to face me. "Shall we go make dinner?" She asked in an adorable sleep filled voice

"Can we scrap dinner and go straight to dessert?" I murmured into her ear. She grinned and shook her head

"Later" She told me while playfully slapping my arm before she got up, I sighed and she laughed "stay in bed if you want wands, I'll go make dinner for us it's okay" She said softly kissing my forehead but my gut twisted when my mind casted back to her laying on the bathroom floor, pale and almost dead with that kitchen knife I had been so stupid to lave accessible.

"No, I'll get up" I told her as I got up and quickly walked after her, she shrugged and pulled out some carrots and a knife "I'll do that, you cook the pasta?" I said, using my powers to take the knife from her hand

"Okay, you silly goose!" She agreed and I was thankful, I watched her place the pasta into boiling water and I felt calmer then I started chopping up the carrots, the mice was already cooked thankfully so I made the sauce and y/n kept watching the pasta

"Pasta is ready," She told me, taking it off the hob and draining the water and pasta into a strainer

Y/n took put the plates and put the pasta in it while I mixed the mice with the tomato sauce and carrots, when I turned around y/n put a little bit of tomato purèe on my nose

"Pffttt." She put a hand over her mouth as she laughed, and I shook my head and laughed along with her as I added our mice to our spaghetti. Y/n then took the plates and sat them at the table. She waited for me to sit down, and then she slid into my lap happily, "Best seat in the world." She whispered into my ear before she started to eat

As we ate dinner I couldn't help but feel excited, we'd finally start our family tonight, and with the boys I know she'd never leave even if she did get out of the mind control, but all I did was make her see that I love her.

Main Masterlist

Wanda Maximoff Masterlist

[collecting-stories]

Hey, idk if you're still writing for JJ, but I thought maybe seeing The Joker and The Queen by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift would be really cool for him!! ❤️

The Joker and the Queen - JJ Maybank

Summary: Reader and JJ spend the afternoon together.

A/N: Sorry this took so long to get out...also this is pretty short, I kind of just wanted to capture like, the chill acoustic vibe of the song with JJ and the reader just like spending time together.

TS Anthology Series

✰ you see the best in me, the joker and the queen ✰

The sun coming in through the open window felt warm against JJ's face and sunburned shoulders. He'd been out longer than he planned to be the day before, surfing with Kie and Pope and not bothering with sunscreen despite the many reminders Kie provided. In a couple more days, when the coconut oil and apple cider vinegar had healed the angry red skin on his shoulders and back he'd have a few more freckles to mark his body. There was a spattering on them on the left shoulder, peeking over his collar, somewhat obscured by the sunburn but you were meticulous in your detailing. 

When you looked up from the canvas you were working on you realized JJ had closed his eyes, chin resting against his hand and his face turned just enough that the sun was shining on it. His hair looked blonder than it had been two months ago but then you'd been FaceTiming him and looking through a phone screen would never do JJ the same justice as sitting across from him. 

"JJ," you called his name gently, watching him nod in confused half-wakefulness before sitting up a little more and opening his eyes, "we can stop." You offered.

The request to paint him for a synchronous art class that you were taking over the summer wasn't all that unusual. Half your portfolio was portraits of your boyfriend. Sleeping, surfing, partying, you'd even drawn him eating cereal once when you were trying to practice sketching in motion. You had already sketched out the painting on your canvas, posing wasn't necessary (or possible because you knew JJ to have little patience for sitting still) but you'd asked him to sit just long enough that you could work on coloring. You wanted to get everything just right. You had hundreds of sketches of JJ (or at least that's what it felt like) but you couldn't seem to get any of them perfect. There was always something missing.

"I'm good," he promised, tired eyes blinking slowly as he spoke. The sun felt so warm, he knew he was dozing off but he was trying desperately not to. He wanted to sit still and do this for you. Every time you asked to sketch him, he barely lasted ten minutes before he was fidgeting. And he knew it was irritating because everyone always said so (not you, but Kie and Pope and Sarah and John B and Cleo...everyone). You were so talented and sometimes when he saw your art he couldn't believe that you were wasting your time on someone like him. It was a self-deprecating thought but he had plenty of them all the time. 

"We can take a break?" You offered, dipping your brush into the pinkish beige that you'd mixed for his sunburn shoulders. 

"No it's okay," he yawned around the word okay, meeting your eyes when he heard you laugh in response, "I'm just kinda tired."

"We can do something else?" 

He shook his head and then brushed his hair out of his face, "isn't this due thursday night?" He knew it was, or at least part of it. He'd been in the room on Monday night during your last zoom class and had listened to the professor give out the homework for Tuesday through Thursday. You'd been laying on the couch with him, camera off and mic muted, and he'd been tired and close to sleep then but he was sure he'd heard your professor say that part of this was due Thursday. 

"I've got another day," you promised, leaving your painting to come over to JJ. The sun felt warm on your back and shoulders as you stood in front of JJ's chair, leaning down and taking his face in your hands, "we can just chill, if you want?" 

He looked ready to protest but thought better of it, "can we go to the beach?" He asked, tilting his head up to look at you, eyes half-closed. 

"You think you can stay awake that long?" You laughed, kissing him before pulling away. 

"Totally," he promised, though you knew it was doubtful that he would even last through you insisting on putting sunscreen on him. 

[fiveraccoonsinatrenchcoat]

Romeo And Juliet (Or Some Other Romantic Shit Like That) Ch. 1

Eddie Munson x f!reader

Series Description: The Saturday night slot at The Hideout is open, and Corroded Coffin thought they were a shoo-in. When it goes to a different band, however, Eddie becomes more than a little distracted by their pretty bassist.

Next Chapter

Chapter Description: The boys find out their Saturday night slot was stolen and go see the band that's just so much better than them.

Warnings: Alcohol, mentions of underage drinking, smoking, cursing

Word Count: 1445

Notes: This is my first multi chapter fic ever!! I have the next two chapters squared away and the whole plot more or less blocked out, so definitely expect more soon! I hope you guys like it because I'm very excited!!!

“What do you mean the slot’s already been filled?!”

“I mean exactly what I said. The slot’s already been filled.” Marty, the promoter of The Hideout, sat across from the very dejected members of Corroded Coffin. “We found somebody else.”

“You said the spot was ours!” 

“I said that the spot was yours if we couldn’t find someone better,” Marty replied, not bothering to look up from the mug of black coffee he was emptying his flask into. “We held auditions, we found someone better.”

“Who is it?” Jeff asked.

“I don’t know, some girl-band,” Marty said as he lit a cigarette. He took a gulp from his coffee and winced slightly. “Honestly, I didn’t bother goin’ to the auditions. Rhonda said they’re good.”

“You’re filling the slot on your busiest night with a band whose name you didn’t even bother to remember?!” Gareth asked.

“Look, guys, I don’t know what to tell ya.” Marty handed a flier with the new weekend lineup off to Gareth. The boys gathered around to find the name of the band that stole their Saturday night spot as Marty got up from his desk and walked to the office door. “I can move you guys to Thursdays?”

The band all glared bullets at Marty as he walked out of the office. Their eyes scanned the page and stopped at the sight of a band they didn’t recognize.

“Seductress? I’ve never heard of them,” Jeff said.

“Yeah, neither have I.” Eddie had been quiet through the interaction. He really didn’t want to blow up on Marty, who in his humble opinion, was the worst promoter on the face of planet earth. They already butted heads as it was, and the last thing he wanted was to make them lose their Tuesday night spot as well. “Gareth?”

“Nope.” Gareth shook his head. 

That was odd. The music scene in Hawkins was not large to say the very least, and everybody knew everybody else. The Saturday night slot at their homebase being filled by someone else stung like a bitch, but that band being one that none of them had even heard of was salt in the wound. The boys walked out from the dingy office and into the bar to leave, angry and dejected. Rhonda, The Hideout’s bartender, shot them a sympathetic look when she noticed their slumped shoulders.

“I take it Marty told you?” she asked from behind the counter as she prepared for the night’s shift. 

“He promised us it was ours!” Jeff lamented. He sat himself onto one of the rickety old barstools and laid his head in his arms on the counter. 

“You should’a learned by now that half of what comes outta Marty’s mouth is bullshit,” Rhonda replied.

Rhonda, who had been the bartender at The Hideout longer than most of the members of Corroded Coffin had been alive, hated Marty just as much as the boys did. She was a tough woman; you had to be if you were working there. Once you got past the rough exterior, though, Rhonda was kind and caring, and she gave the best advice you could ever hear. She had developed something of a soft spot for the boys, Eddie in particular. He reminded her of her own son who had passed away in a motorcycle accident several years back, so she’d taken the ragtag group under her wing. She was the reason they had any spot at The Hideout to begin with. 

The other boys joined Jeff at the counter and hung their heads. The bar wasn’t open yet, it wouldn't be for another couple of hours, so they had plenty of time to sit and stew in their frustration. After a few minutes of sulking, Eddie piped up.

“I mean, we have to go see them,” he stated, some of his sadness having now made way for anger. “See the band that’s just so much better than us, right?” 

“Oh, totally.”

The group went home and Saturday night rolled around quickly. When they arrived, The Hideout was packed.

“Sometimes I forget what this place looks like when it’s actually crowded,” Gareth muttered as the boys walked through the door. The space felt cramped and too hot, as opposed to the almost crushing emptiness they were used to seeing on the nights they performed. The lights were turned down low and the stage against the opposite wall was all set up. The new band, Seductress, was set to start any minute now, and Eddie made his way over to the bar. Rhonda was already giving him a look he knew all too well. 

“I am not giving any of you booze,” she said, sternly.

“Oh, Rhonda, come on,” Eddie said, turning up the charm. “Y’know, I was eighteen when they changed the law, so it’s almost like-”

“They changed the law. You are now underage. I am not giving you any booze,” Rhonda reiterated. “I’ll make you as many Shirley Temples as you want, though.”

Eddie threw his head back and let out a groan as he made his way to the back wall where the other members of Corroded Coffin waited, which made Rhonda give a boisterous laugh.

Before Eddie could say anything else, the spotlights lit up the platform, which resulted in a chorus of cheers and whistles from the crowd. Eddie rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as the members of Seductress made their way on stage. 

A tall, slim woman waltzed up to the microphone at the front of the stage. She had sharp features and long blonde hair that was cut with choppy layers. She looked like she was ready to get into a fistfight with the first man she could see at the drop of a hat. The drummer came out next and took her spot behind the set. She had an olive-toned, athletic build and dark curly hair that sat wildly around her head. The guitarist, who was shorter than the previous two but looked even more angry, had sleek black hair pulled back into a ponytail that swished as she strutted across the stage. The metallic purple makeup around her eyes glimmered under the stage lights. The last to come out was you, the bassist. 

When Eddie saw you, the look of disinterest dropped completely from his face and for a split second he swore his heart stopped in his chest. You were wearing an oversized leather jacket and big, chunky Dr. Marten boots. Your hair had been dyed an artificial cherry red color, and matched the shade of lipstick you had on perfectly. You had sharp black eyeliner around your eyes, and you looked like your gaze alone could drop a man dead. You had your base slung around your shoulders as you stood behind a second microphone and as the music started, blaring from the amps across the front of the stage, Eddie was sure he felt his heart actually fall out.

Rhonda had been right, you guys were good. Really good. You had a little bit more of a punk edge than the boys of Corroded Coffin were used to, but your stage presence alone would’ve been enough to stop them all dead in their tracks. It helped that you were all fantastic with your instruments, too; the sharp vocals paired with the percussion and heavy guitar riffs perfectly, and Eddie could practically feel your basslines in his chest. He found himself fixating on your red lips against the microphone as you sang the backing vocals and had to shake the thoughts he knew were coming out of his head. 

He mentally kicked himself. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, you guys were damn good and he understood why you’d been chosen for the Saturday night lineup. Don’t get him wrong, he was still pissed about the spot being taken away from his band, but as he watched you on stage, he slowly grew more and more entranced by you. 

‘Oh, no,’ Eddie thought to himself as he watched you parade across the platform. You knew what the fuck you were doing up there and Eddie felt a little bit like he’d been punched in the chest. ‘Stop it. Do not do this, do not fall for the enemy!’

It was far too late, though. As he leaned against the dirty wall of The Hideout with his bandmates and watched the rest of your set, he knew. He had that feeling in his chest that he couldn’t mistake. He had fallen for the enemy. Hard.

He had a sinking feeling you were going to be a bit of a problem for him.

[suometar]

WIP Wednesday

I was tagged by @kallisto-k last week and since I always get their tags on Thursday, I decided to jump directly to next Wednesday :D

I've worked on four wips over the last week (out of seven in total lol) but two of them I'm writing with a friend so you'll get snippets of the two of my own!

Also enjoy the rare view into one wip I've worked more on and then another one that's literally just first words on a paper at the moment XD

WIP #1: Shutter love

The preparation routine, close to meditation, was interrupted by someone walking into the studio. Steve raised his gaze from the screen and a smile spread across his face when he saw Billy.

“Hi! Welcome! I’m Robin, we talked on the phone,” Robin greeted Billy, walking to him, and showing where he could leave his coat and his cloth bag to wait for the shoot to begin.

“Happy to be here,” Billy replied with a smile.

Steve took in the sight of Billy and Robin greeting each other. A shaft of sunlight streaming through the high windows caught the edges of Billy’s blond hair, igniting golden halos to dance around his head.

As if feeling Steve’s gaze, Billy looked up and their eyes locked. Time stretched thin, gossamer and fragile between them. The gaze was an electric thread, unspooling from from whatever it had been gathered into the other night, weaving through the space, drawing them together despite the distance.

Steve broke the spell first and walked towards Billy, each step measured and sure, but his pulse thrummed beneath his skin, betraying an excitement he hadn’t felt in years. There was something about this young model, something that beckoned like the promise of an undiscovered country.

“Hi! Nice to see you again,” Steve said, extending his hand and feeling the spark ignited in him in the party a few nights ago rekindling at the touch.

“Yeah, you too,” Billy replied, taking Steve’s hand and shaking it with firm confidence. A handshake of someone who knew their worth but didn’t make too much out of it.

The handshake lingered for a heartbeat longer than necessary and so they stood there, the handshake evolving into a recognition of the energy that was sparking between them.

Then the world rushed back in, and Steve rushed to remind him he knew nothing about Billy and definitely not if he was free or even interested in men.

“It’s an honor to get to work with you, Mr. Harrington,” Billy continued, his lips curving into a smile that reached his eyes. The sincerity in his tone matched the grip of his hand—earnest and eager.

“Please, call me Steve,” Steve said, releasing Billy's hand reluctantly. “And the pleasure is all mine."

::::::::::

WIP #2: Get out of my dreams, get into my car

“Uh…no. I’m not angry about…anything,” Steve replied.

“Good. Because you don’t have to worry about that. Moving away, I mean. I’m not planning on moving in with anyone soon.”

“Oh. Wait. You’re not?”

“Should I be?”

“But…Was the date horrible?”

“No, it wasn’t. It was nice.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“Planning to see them again?” Steve asked quietly after a moment, staring at his coffee mug.

Billy shrugged. “Maybe.”

Steve just nodded.

Billy could feel the tips of his ears burning when he tried to find words for the second thing he wanted to talk about. “Um…That wasn’t all I wanted to talk about.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Uh…” Billy took a deep sigh. Better just to spit it out. “The red panties…” He felt his face burning. “They’re, uh…they’re mine. I, uh…I—I like to wear them. Sometimes. It’s a secret and…no one has known until now. I’m sorry you had to find out that way.”

::::::::::

No pressure tags: @destroya2005 @disdaidal @medusapelagia and everyone else who wants to participate!

[stormoflina]

Hello! It's the talkative anon again, I never seem to catch you when games are going well for Liverpool :/ but anyway looking back at the game yesterday I can say for certain the whole team and klopp greatly underestimated the opponent. I watch a lot of serie a, I like milan a lot along with Liverpool.

So when I saw the lineup and how there wasn't a lot of thought in tactics on the field I knew it was going to be rough. One thing the serie a does well amongst other things is out technical teams as we say yesterday. And when klopp made a joke about only knowing about the food in Italy I cringed, no team at this point should be brushed off and that was clear on the pitch.

I don't know if the magic of klopp's last season wore off but the team looks flat and uninspired and I'm tired of the missed chances. Don't know how many more times I can say that before something clicks. The man u game clearly was not a gut check for this team and someone(s) need to step up and turn things around or no more trophies will be won

I'm really hoping Trent can do something for us but I hate putting everything on one prayer but it's come to that and I know he has that ability

Side note Domi, oh boy. His head is anywhere but in the right place. It's so frustrating to see because he used to be 100% that guy every game and now I'm like well at least he pressed this game and that's not good enough for him. He shouldn't just be a pressing merchant and applauded but that's what it seems like

Anyway long rant over! I hope you have a great day :)

Hii 🫶🏼

Anon, how I wish we could overtalk about more positive things! 😔 But my hope is not lost, I think my headloss about Thursday is officially over - although I'm still sad a bit. Hopefully in a week when we pull another cornertakenquickly or at least just score 3 and keep a clean sheet. 😭 But maybe I'm just being delusional. First they should prove themselves on Sunday, then we can talk about Europa.

You are absolutely right, Atalanta was greatly underestimated and we paid the price for it. I will admit, I'm a bit lost recently what the tactics are supposed to be - we go all out against Sparta when we are already at 5-1, but then we play Kostas who was out for months and this was his first start if I remember correctly. Yes, I know injuries and all, but at this point it's hard not to feel like we are making our own things harder. I didn't watch the pre match interview, and thank god for that, that line is just not it. 😩 It feels so repetitive at this point, acting all cocky and mighty, then faceplanting once the match starts and our opposition actually shows fire and willingness to actually win. We did this against United all this season, hells, even in the Europa earlier.

I'm also so tired that not only do we miss our chances, but recently we have been struggling to adapt when the other teams plays in a different way than previously thought. That's what happened on Thursday, and it was really painful to watch how we could barely even lead a promising attack. And you are 100% right regarding Trent. I fear for him, now everybody is acting like him (and Jota) are singlehandedly going to carry us towards the title. I would love nothing more than that to be true, but it's an awful lot of expectation to put on him after missing months due to injury. Still, if that truly happens, give him the Ballon d'Or next!! And yes, I agree with Domi too. He's just incredibly frustrating to watch at the moment. I have been watching him for a while now - although obviously not this much before - and seeing him play with so little confidence is truly so weird to see. I hope he can pick himself together, he is just as needed for the rest of the season as anyone else. We all need them back, hungry, fired up and ready to do their best.

[poly-thot-one-piece-edition]

Hat Trick

Eustass Kid x cisfem!Reader x Trafalgar Law

CW: Language, violence, sexual themes, crass humor -

Summary: Hat Trick is a purely self-indulgent story. It's more porn than plot (at least at the start), but there's a story in there too.

It's my first multi-love story, and little slow going, but I hope you enjoy it.

18+ as always.

Chapter 4: Lawfully

The rest of the evening with Kid went well enough. He really enjoyed the older version of the movie, and you were able to watch most of it. You did hide into his chest a couple times, and he even told you when the offending scene was over, so you didn’t have to peek at your own risk.

It was really sweet, and not surprising. You had long since known that despite the bravado and attitude, Kid was kind. It was selective to people he cared about, and he could be a feral bastard when it concerned others, but sometimes a feral bastard was what was needed.

He left shortly after, and even in those few hours it had become more comfortable and more natural to touch and kiss one another. The apprehensive nervousness had melted away quickly, likely due to how long you had been friends. Even going into work with your next shift together was comfortable. Eustass laid off his usual levels of teasing and flirting, but he didn’t stop completely, so it didn’t feel weird.

It was a relief to, when Law and his friends came in to work out that nothing had changed between them. Or, if it had, it wasn’t obvious enough for you to pick up on.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday passed with ease, and you wished Eustass and Law well on their date. Law rolled his eyes at your word choice, but Kid laughed, promising to buy him dinner first.

You weren’t going to know how things went, part of the agreement was to not ask about it. It was mostly to keep Kid and Law from competing, but it was also so that no matter what happened no one else was worrying about the others gossiping. The three of you getting together once a month gave you all a chance to talk about what had been going on.

Everyone would be there, and that way no one was saying something secretly, or twisting facts to suit one or the other.

Not that you felt Kid or Law were duplicitous in the slightest. Kid was entirely too blunt to be deceptive, and while Law was strategic, he wouldn’t stoop to something like that. He’s more likely to decimate someone with facts - though you could see him being immeasurably deceitful and cruel if it was necessary to protect his crew. Kid would just burn the city down, but Law would cause the city to fall in on itself and see blame laid at the feet of whomever he wanted blamed for it.

Then there was Luffy. He was more to the point like Kid, but with less anger. Blunt like a hammer, destructive like a wrecking ball, with a fierce sense of personal honor. In the end you were glad all three weren’t your enemies, and relieved to know they were in alliance with one another.

The idea of them fighting one another left you thinking the Metro wouldn’t survive it - and this was a city that had weathered four emperors and seven warlords for decades at this point.

Whatever the case, Friday came, and that evening Law knocked at your door.

You were just as nervous with Law as you had been with Eustass.

He took off his heeled boots as the door closes behind him. A full six inches shorter than Eustass, the six-inch step up from the entrance to the hall wasn’t enough to have you and Law eye to eye, but it was closer.

Law takes his hat off and sets it on your head. “Should I get comfortable on the couch, or somewhere else, (Y/N)-ya?” He asks, his voice even and reassuring.

You take a step back, pulling the hat’s brim down a bit to hide your blushing face. “C-Couch.”

As he walks by, he ruffles the hat a little bit. “We’ll go at your pace, so just breathe.”

“Kid said something similar,” you admit, smiling a bit as you hear him grunt a little. “Are you hungry? I can order something.”

“I could eat,” he answers, sitting down on the couch. “Thai’s fine.”

Your mouth was open, but you snapped it shut, feeling your cheeks go hot. “Okay maybe I do order Thai too much.”

“The place nearby is good,” he admits, patting the couch next to him. “Order in a little bit, come and sit first.”

You smile a little to yourself, deciding to keep it tucked away how similar these two were. The little differences between them were enough to keep them from being clones, but that quiet kindness was the same. For Eustass it was tucked underneath a rough exterior and a loud voice, with Law it was hidden behind a well-practiced look of apathy and a tone that often sounded irritated before things had even started.

Instead of sitting beside him, you point to his lap. “May I?”

Law brings his legs together and opens his arms, a pleased smirk on his face as you straddle his lap the same way you had Kid’s. Your knees sink into the couch this time, Law’s body is lankier than Kid’s as he’s almost half as wide. He’s lithe and dexterous and built for parkour and suspension bondage – Eustass is a tank built to hold people in place while he rigs them into suspension bondage. You shove the thought into the back of your mind, dismissing it as Kid’s fault that you’ve had bondage on your mind since Monday.

Law’s cool hands are on your thighs. His expressions are more subtle than Eustass’, but there’s no mistaking the content look on his face right now.

“May I kiss you, Trafalgar Law?” You ask, cheeks going red and your eyes shifting away from his gaze as those pale yellow eyes threaten to cut you open and expose your soul as easily as breathing.

“As much as you wish,” he replies, his hands moving up your thighs to your lower back as lean forward. One hand on his chest, your other hand tilting back his hat that you’re still wearing, you lean down enough to brush your lips across his lightly. A soft zing of pleasure shivers down from your lips to your chest and you hear the same almost shivering gasp from him as you both catch your breath.

There’s a nearly palpable shift between the two of you. The hat falls to the couch as his hand was in your hair, cradling your head. Your body pressed against his as your lips crashed into one another. It was desperate frenzy as you both needed to be closer, to push into one another. You needed the cool doctor to ignite, you needed the soft taste of fruit and tea to disappear in the haze of pleasure as your tongues stole air from each other’s lungs.

The rush of pleasure and the lack of air has your dizzy and when you finally break the kiss Law needs to steady you as your head spins. Soft kisses from Law fall onto your neck and collarbone as you catch your breath.

“What the hell was that?” You gasp. It’s a purely rhetorical question, but the rush still has your head spinning.

“Attraction.” Law answers flatly.

Something about how he says it has you giggling. The giggle turns into a laugh and you’re looking into his eyes as the laugh turns into a wide smile, one that’s reflected on the somber man’s face as you put your forehead against his. You’ve seen Law smile genuinely maybe a dozen times in all the time you’ve known him, but this smile is somehow more beautiful and precious than any before it.

You tilt your head enough to kiss him again, softly, but persistently. Quiet gentle kisses exchanged between the two of you for a few moments as you sink comfortably against him.

“I’m sorry,” you murmur softly, and feel him tense. “I’m sorry I took so long, I’m sorry I fell for two.” You kiss him again and feel him relax. “I’m sorry we’re doing something so complicated. I’m sorry I couldn’t decide.”

His hands cup your face, holding you back a little and catching your gaze. The expression on his face is almost frustratingly neutral. “You have nothing to apologize for. I knew what I was getting into.” He pulls your face to his, kissing you softly. “I recall specifically telling you not to feel guilty, remember?”

You smile sweetly. “You did, my apologies.” You lean in, kissing him again before leaning back.

“Should I put that food order in? I rented a movie as well,” you explain, turning a bit look at the title again. “It’s called Clue, it’s an older movie, but it has multiple endings. It was that or something cerebral, and I figured it was better to go with something lighter.”

“Keeping things simple the first time?” He muses, and you nod. There’s a flicker on the stoic face and he lets a sigh slip. “It seems I’m a little jealous after all.”

“Hm?”

“You are not more, or less, to whoever is first with you, or who isn’t.” He says, “but it bothers me that he’ll get to hear you first.”

Your face goes red as you realize what he’s talking about. “It’s -.”

“We’re not going to have sex together at the same time,” he interrupts, his arms pulling you close as his low voice slips into your ear. “So someone was going to be first, and someone was going to have to wait. I’m not mad. I’m not complaining,” His tone is comforting, and his hands are moving over your back, sending little shivers through you. “But, if you’re okay with it, I’d like to hear you first.”

“Th-that’s…”

“You don’t need to do anything to me in return, (Y/N)-ya.” He assures you. “I won’t even need to take your clothes off.” His teeth tease your earlobe. “I won’t see anything first; I just want to hear you.”

“It feels like I’d be being unfair to you.” You admit.

“I promise, I’ll get all I want from it.”

You can practically feel the heat radiating off your face. “S-Sure, then.”

“Green?”

You nod. “Green.”

“Turn around, (Y/N)-ya,” he says, helping you shift so your back is to his chest, your legs on either side of his. He leans you back so your head is resting against his shoulder, and his hands slide down the front of you. “Relax, I’m not going to take anything off, I just want to hear you cum.”

His hands, cool to the touch with long fingers, disappear under your shirt and move over the curve of your bra. Dexterous fingers slip under the fabric of your bra and begin to tease your nipples. The soft cool touch sends shivers through you, causing your back to arch a little, and soft gasps to escape you. You can feel Law’s hot breath against your neck as he kisses the crook of it softly, wordlessly beckoning you to stay against him.

The cool sensation of his touch melts into something warm as the heat rises in you. You could feel yourself getting wet as he teases your stiff nipples. It send shivers of pleasure through you, and it was turning you on, but it wasn’t going to be enough. If it was, it was going to take forever to get you there, and the goal wasn’t to tease you for ages.

“Ah-mmm, Law, p-please,” your legs flex and you gasp as he pinches your nipples a little roughly.

“It’s not quite enough, is it?” He asks, his voice stern and almost apologetic.

You shake your head a little, your hands trembling against your shirt, shivering against the hands teasing you from under your shirt. “Hngh – it f-feels good, but, I n-need more, please!”

His left hand continues to tease your breast, his right hand traveling slowly down your stomach. “I promise I won’t go inside you,” he purrs into your ear. “Where do you want me to touch you?”

You make a strangled needy sound, your hand going over your eyes as you can feel your face practically glowing.

“My… um…”

“Be very specific, (Y/N)-ya, I’ll touch you exactly where you say.” He promises, his fingers teasing along the waist band of your pants. “I know my studious little polyglot remembers the proper term.” His lips brush against the flushed sensitive skin of your neck and you weren’t sure for a moment that you knew the proper term for yourself.

“G-glans clitoris… Clitoris glans?” You chuckle nervously, “I don’t remember my name right now.” You admit, tilting your head toward his neck and shifting enough to lick just below his ear. “Please, Law.”

You could hear him suck in a breath just as he spread his legs, opening yours wide as his fingers slipped past your waist band, under your panties and against your clit. His left-hand tenses against your breast, holding you against his chest as you buck against the sudden pleasure, your earlier begging turning into a sweet moan right by his ear.

You squirm against the pleasure, caught and held against his taut body. Skilled fingers tease your clit and relentlessly tease your nipple as you shiver against him. You can feel the cool metal of his rings against your skin, your arms pinned behind his, fingers grasping for the parts of him that they could reach. You weren’t even sure when he had moved to hold you in place like this, but the rising pleasure was intense, and you could only endure it.

A rough kiss, barely restrained, against the rise of your shoulder pushes you over the edge.

“L-Laaa-hhnngh!” His name melts into the sound of your orgasm as your body shudders against him. You let the gasping moans tumble from your lips as his fingers help you ride the wave of pleasure completely. Collapsing against him, twitching as his fingers tease you one last time before leaving you to catch your breath, your legs twitch against his, still trying to close from the pleasure.

You’re vaguely aware of him sucking the tips of his fingers clean as you catch your breath, and the act makes the heat rush back into your face. “That was delicious, (Y/N)-ya.” He says, his voice even and matter-of-fact.

That unshakable calm runs a pleasurable chill down your neck, but also makes you wonder what you could do to shake it. You move to get up and Law’s arms wrap around you. There’s enough resistance to stop you, but not enough to hold you if you decide to keep moving. You lean back and the scruff of his goatee tickles your neck as he nuzzles into the crook of your neck.

“Stay like this,” he requests. “Just for a moment.”

“Sure.” You reply, rubbing your cheek against his softly. “You okay?”

“I am.” He assures you, kissing your check. “However this goes, without worrying about the alliance, you tell me if he hurts you. Accidental or otherwise. No matter what you choose, even if I’ve said I need time, understand?”

“You make it sound like you’ve given up.” You say sadly. You hadn’t meant to make it sound like Eustass was going to be your pick just because you had decided to sleep with him that way first.

Law nips your ear, teasing the tingling flesh between his teeth for a moment and eliciting a soft moan from you. “I haven’t. I just wanted to say as much now. Besides – here, get up for a moment.” He says, letting you go and letting your stand up. He leans back against the couch, draping his arms over the back of it. “I think you haven’t realized you have four choices you can make at the end of this, (Y/N)-ya.”

Your head tilts. “Four?” Law nods, but doesn’t say anything. You start counting on your fingers. “One, the other, neither…” You pause and your brows furrow. “Both?” He gives you an easy smile and you feel your face flush again. “I… I thought that, um, wasn’t… possible. You two don’t really, I mean…”

You sit down on the coffee table, hands on your knees, looking down at the carpet between you and Law. “I don’t know what to think about that.”

“Then for now, don’t think about it.” He says easily. “There’s two full months and change between now and then. You don’t have to decide in the next few minutes, or the next few days.” He puts his hat back on your head. “For now, order some Thai, start the movie, and let me steal another kiss or two before the evening’s done.”

Law reaches out and tilts your chin up, kissing the tip of your nose. “And I promise it will be a good evening for me.”

[hockeylvr59]

Here With Me Part 21 || Taylor Makar

Author’s Note: Taylor heads home for spring break and he and Kelsey hit another bump in the road because of it. FC: Marina Laswick (@marooshk on instagram).

Warnings: cursing, anxiety // Word Count: 4,748

~~~~

Twenty

With Taylor’s season now officially over, Laura and Gary had no reason to stick around in Amherst. But not wanting their goodbye to Kelsey to be a wave during the quick exchange of the room key before Taylor and Kelsey had headed off to class Thursday morning, they invited Kelsey to join them at the arcade at the mall Thursday evening for a bit more casual of a setting since they were taking Taylor shopping Thursday afternoon anyway. 

Though Kelsey couldn’t stick around too long because she had promised to do some alterations for her roommate before they left for spring break, she played a few games with and against Taylor and his parents. She also learned from her boyfriend that he was going to go home to Calgary for spring break since he didn’t have hockey anymore and that he and his roommates were doing something Friday evening for T’s and Mercs’ birthdays. 

In a way, Kelsey was glad she had other plans for the evening because she couldn’t help but be disappointed which she knew would be hard to hide. She’d had so many plans for his birthday in her head but now he wasn’t even going to be here. And not only was he leaving but the one night he was going to be here before then, he was going to spend with his roommates. 

She knew it was selfish and he should see his family and spend time with his friends too but she couldn’t help but feel like he really hadn’t spent much time alone with her lately and she missed it. If his love language was physical touch, hers was quality time and even if they’d had the time part of that, the quality certainly had been missing. 

Instead, she kept her expression neutral until after she had said goodbye to his parents and said goodnight to Taylor and slipped back into her car. It was only then that she let her body language slump because this really kind of sucked. It was definitely a night to pop open a bottle of wine while she sewed her roommates clothes. 

****

Taylor: We’re just going to hang out at the apartment tonight with some people, come over?

Kelsey: Okay. 

****

On one hand, Kelsey was relieved that she’d get to see Taylor before he left for break, but on the other now she was going to have to share him with even more people and she was not looking forward to that at all. 

Arriving at Taylor’s apartment around seven, Kelsey found it full of not just the roommates but a few other friends and teammates. The music wasn’t overly loud but it was clear a get together was happening. 

“T! Kels is here.” Mikey called out upon spotting her. 

Within a moment, Taylor was popping around the corner and pulling her into a hug kissing her softly. 

“There’s my girl.” He declared clearly already having had at least one drink if the shitty taste of beer on his tongue was any indication. 

“Yo T where’d you go!” Someone called and though Taylor hesitated for a moment, Kelsey urged him off with a soft ‘go’ before making her way into the kitchen. 

Watching Taylor play some form of beer pong or whatever it was, Kelsey moved to put drinks in the fridge so they were cold and refilled the bins of snacks before cleaning up the kitchen. 

When the game was over he wandered to drape himself over her again, but she maybe had his attention for five minutes before he was engaged in conversation with someone else and Kelsey dipped out of his grasp to wander around the apartment grabbing empty bottles to put in the trash. 

“Hey Kels…” Mikey stated softly upon her reentry to the kitchen. “You okay?” 

“Fine.” She replied, her fake smile on display. If he noticed her lie, he didn’t say anything and just nodded, grabbing another drink before leaving her in the kitchen to watch as the small party went on around her. 

Honestly she wasn’t sure why Taylor had even invited her. She was literally the only girl here and while she knew his roommates it wasn’t like she was friends with them or any of the other guys on the team. And besides a single kiss and five minutes worth of clinging it was like she wasn’t even there. 

And like she couldn’t fault him for having fun but she definitely wasn’t even if she usually loved parties like this. 

It was probably 8:45 when she slipped into the bathroom to let out a sigh and just have a few minutes of quiet, not leaving until there was a knock on the door with someone wanting to use the bathroom. 

Doing another round of cleaning and restocking, Kelsey ended up sitting on Taylor’s lap for a few minutes until he was dragged into another party game. 

Shortly before eleven, Kelsey decided she’d had enough and moved to find Taylor, wrapping her arms around his shoulders while he played cards. 

“Hey T. I’m gonna go. Happy Birthday. Let me know when you get to Calgary.” She whispered softly in his ear before kissing his cheek and moving to head out. He didn’t stop her, barely even acknowledged hearing her and that told Kelsey everything she needed to know about this week. 

As much as she had thought she was a priority in his life, she wasn’t. 

Driving back to her apartment, Kelsey threw everything she wanted to take home for break into bags and then unceremoniously tossed them into the backseat before making the drive back to her parents house, arriving just after midnight. 

Grateful that they were in Arizona for a long weekend for a conference, she made her way up to her room after locking up and just fell into bed, sobbing into her pillow. 

*****

With Taylor due to get into town in the afternoon, Laura and Gary were finishing their own unpacking and tidying up the house while finally catching up with their older son beyond the brief check ins they’d had throughout the week. 

“You guys were particularly hard to get ahold of this week.” Cale commented. 

“Eh you know, taking Taylor shopping, the game and trip to and from Boston, having dinner with and getting to know Kelsey.” Gary listed while unloading the dishwasher. 

For nearly five minutes, Cale went on a ramble about the Costco they’d go to in Massachusetts vs the one in Denver before he stopped suddenly. 

“Wait. Who the fuck is Kelsey?” He questioned, like he’d never heard the name before in his life. Laura’s eyes went wide but Gary just rolled with it, continuing his conversation with his son.

“She’s Tay’s girlfriend. Crazy smart, sweet, and a firecracker.” Gary declared. 

“T has a girlfriend?!?! Since when???” 

“January or so.” Gary replied before regaling Cale with how Amherst and the surrounding area had changed in the few years since he’d been there. 

****

It wasn’t until Taylor was on his flight to Calgary that he really had time to sit and think. He’d listened to music while waiting for his flight just like normal until a song came on that he’d added after hearing it play in Kelsey’s car. Though he’d had to focus on boarding, now that he was situated he couldn’t get Kelsey out of his mind. 

She’d left last night before it was even really late. She’d dropped a kiss to his cheek, wished him a happy birthday, and then was gone. She didn’t even say I love you. 

And when he’d texted her that he was boarding and that he loves her she’d left him on read. 

Fuck. 

Taylor rubbed his face before starting to replay last night in his mind to figure out how he had fucked things up. 

He’d greeted her when she arrived and then she’d sent him to go finish his game. Admittedly one game had turned into a couple before he’d gone looking for her and it hadn’t been long with her in his arms before Kenny was talking to him about a whole range of things.

Fuck, he’d kind of abandoned and ignored her hadn’t he? 

Opening up the notepad on his phone since he couldn’t send a text right now, Taylor tried to figure out how to apologize to Kelsey for being an idiot. 

Kels. I’m sorry for last night. It was pretty fucking shitty of me to abandon you and not include you more. Can’t say I blame you for leaving. I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.

Mentally cursing himself again, Taylor switched back to his music just trying to distract himself for the rest of his flight. 

When his flight landed, Taylor gathered up his carry-on and made his way through the airport to the gate he was usually picked up at. 

As soon as he turned airplane mode off his phone almost exploded with missed calls, voicemails, and texts from his brother. Eyes going wide he shoved his phone in his pocket again until the buzzing stopped. Then he pulled it out to send off his apology text to Kelsey and notify her he was safe in Calgary before resuming his quest to meet his ride. 

Finding his cousin Lucas’ vehicle didn’t take too long and Taylor tossed his bag into the back before climbing into the passenger seat, thanking him for picking him up. 

As Lucas caught him up on some family gossip, Taylor checked his phone just to see why Cale blew him up. 

Cale: WHAT THE FUCK DUDE

Cale: You have a girlfriend???

Cale: Since January???

Cale: And I found out from dad!

Cale: Because he and mom fucking met her! 

Cale: You gotta be fucking kidding me. 

Cale: Don’t think you’re gonna get to ignore me about this. 

Cale: Even if you are on a cross country flight right now. 

Cale: I can’t believe you have a girlfriend and didn’t tell me for two fucking months. 

Cale: Technically still haven’t told me. Dad did. 

Cale: You fucking suck. 

Cale: But congrats I guess. 

Cale: Mom and dad seemed to like her. 

Cale: Fuck you Taylor. Mark knew?

Cale: Way too pretty for you T. 

Cale: But you’re kinda cute together I guess. 

Taylor was sure that the voicemails contained similar vibes and he closed the thread checking to see if Kelsey had responded to him yet. Nothing. 

Closing his eyes, Taylor tried to focus on the family dinner Lucas was telling him he was being dragged to since he was back in town.

Thankfully it was easy to lose himself in the love of his family and the end of Cale’s game and not think about how his phone was still silent. 

Eventually though it buzzed once and Taylor excused himself from the room for a moment before checking it. 

Kelsey: apology accepted. 

That was it. Kelsey was only a brief texter if she was in a hurry or upset so the fact that she didn’t send more left a sinking feeling in his gut. But again he tried not to dwell and returned to his family centering the conversations on them and not on him. 

By the time he got home with his parents he was torn between not wanting to be alone and just wanting to bury himself under the covers. Deciding for a bit of both he said goodnight to his parents and then headed to his room to call Cale so that his brother wouldn't kill him for ignoring him. 

Thankfully he was able to steer Cale to talk about hockey and things in Denver and not Kelsey and how he had apparently fucked things up. 

By the time he got Cale off the phone Taylor was just jetlagged and exhausted enough that he might be able to get a few hours of fitful sleep. 

Eventually Taylor woke up and went for a long run before he showered and got ready to go hang out with his cousins again. The busier he was the easier it was to not think about Kelsey though he did try to call her midday with no answer leaving him starting to question everything. Again he stalled as long as he could going home before finally resigning himself to crawling into bed alone. 

Around ten o’clock birthday messages started rolling in from people he knew on the east coast where it was already basically his birthday. 

For some reason he wasn’t expecting his phone to light up with a series of texts from Kelsey at 10:01 pm, yet it did. 

Kelsey: It took 21.60273973 revolutions of the sun from when you were born until we met. In that time you became the well-mannered, lighthearted, intelligent, funny, kind, respectful, persevering, passionate, gentle, and loving man that knocked me off my feet and kept me steady all at the same time. You remind me every day that while there are times to be serious, life isn’t worth living without a little fun and laughter too. Though we’ve only known each other for four-tenths a revolution of the sun, I can’t wait to see what the next 21+ will bring. 

Kelsey: All of that to say Happy Birthday T. I wish I were there to celebrate with you in person especially since your present isn’t exactly mailable but I hope you have the best day and I love you.

Kelsey: Hopefully these will suffice in the meantime.

As he read over his girlfriend’s sweet messages his phone buzzed again with a handful of photos. Photos of his girlfriend in a burgundy lace lingerie set. Immediately his dick responded because Kelsey was so fucking beautiful. Scrolling back up to read her texts, Taylor found himself hoping that maybe he had misread her energy the past few days and things really were fine. 

Then he opened one of the photos to take a closer look and his dick immediately softened. 

It wasn’t that she didn’t look gorgeous because she absolutely did. But as Taylor looked closer at her face, it was plain as day that the smile she was wearing didn’t reach her eyes. Despite having clearly done her hair and makeup before taking the photos, her gaze into the camera looked hollow. It looked like taking the photos was the last thing she wanted to do. It was an act. And there was no bigger turn off in the world than that. 

Tossing his phone down on the bed, Taylor threw his pillow across the room before getting up and crossing the hall to the bathroom. Starting up a cold shower, Taylor stripped and stepped under the spray. He didn’t know what to believe because those messages said one thing while the pictures said another. The girl in those pictures…that wasn’t his girlfriend. 

He couldn’t help but wonder if she even wanted to do this anymore. 

As tears of frustration spilled from his eyes Taylor leaned against the shower wall. How had things gotten so messed up when a week ago they had said I love you for the first time. Had meeting his parents been too much for her to handle? Had he fucked up in some other way? Was she still pissed about Friday after saying she accepted his apology? Taylor just didn’t understand. 

When chills finally overtook his body, Taylor wiped at his eyes and climbed out, drying off and redressing before returning to his room to gather the pillow from the floor and crawl under the blankets. 

Knocking his phone, Taylor reached for it before it hit the floor and looked at the lock screen picture of he and Kelsey postgame Wednesday that Merc’s mom had taken and sent him. Sighing he unlocked his phone and opened his text thread with Kelsey. 

Taylor: Thanks Kels. 

Taylor: Are you okay? 

It wasn’t a question he was actually expecting her to answer but he had to ask. Especially right away because he was sure she was asleep. 

Taylor wasn’t sure how long he scrolled through various social media platforms, sighing every time something made him think of Kelsey, before his eyes finally drifted shut causing him to doze lightly. 

Having not really slept, Taylor couldn’t help but groan a little while his mom declared that she was dragging him out shopping after breakfast, insisting that they needed to make sure that he had clothes that fit. 

After shopping, they met up with his dad for lunch and then went to see a movie before having some extended family over for a birthday potluck dinner. By the time everyone left, Taylor felt very loved but also was a little bit exhausted. Yet with all the uncertainties on his mind, Taylor found sleep evading him until the early hours of the morning when his body finally gave in. 

Waking just a few hours later, the second straight morning with no replies from his girlfriend, Taylor had had enough. 

Taylor: Do you even want this…me anymore? 

He wasn’t sure what to expect anymore so when her reply came less than ten minutes later he was actually a little surprised. 

Kelsey: Feels like you’re the one that doesn’t want this. 

Clicking on her contact, Taylor called her, each ring of the phone only making him more annoyed. 

Taylor: Kelsey….answer the phone. 

As soon as he sent the message Taylor was calling her back and though she answered the phone it was with silence. 

“What did I do to make you think I don’t want this?” He asked. 

"Because I can count the number of waking hours we've spent alone together since the snow day on one hand.” 

Taylor racked his brain to think of the days since the snow day. There was the Maine trip and then his parents had been in town plus playoffs and yeah he guessed they really hadn’t spent much time together alone in the last two weeks. There might have been a few missed opportunities like inviting her over before the party or taking her into his room for a bit during the party but he’d basically done the best he could. 

“And I know I’m being a little bit selfish.” Kelsey mumbled, her voice pure sadness. “Of course hockey is important and school is important. And of course you should spend time with your parents when they come to see you and you have every right to want to spend time with friends. And I’ve never once complained about any of those things. But I can’t help but feel like I’m last on the priority list lately if I’m even on there at all.” 

Taylor could hear her starting to cry through the phone and his heart shattered. 

“And I can’t blame you for wanting to go home for break, I really can’t, but I was so looking forward to the thought of spending your birthday with you. Of…assuming you remembered to go get tested even though I haven’t seen results…surprising you with being comfortable forgoing protection for oral and taking that next step since we’ve been exclusive for awhile.” 

Her words knocked the wind out of him and Taylor cursed under his breath. 

“Kels…I’m so sorry.” 

“Don’t be.” Kelsey whispered. “Like I said, I’m being selfish. This is more a me problem than a you problem. And I didn’t want to explode on you like this, which is why I was distant. So I’m gonna go before I ruin your trip home more.” 

“Kels, don’t. Don’t hang up.” Taylor pleaded. 

“Taylor, enjoy your trip home. I’ll see you when you get back.” Kelsey insisted. “And I do love you even if I’m hurting. Don’t doubt that.” 

Before Taylor could say anything else the call had dropped and he stared at his phone, body in shock. Kelsey’s words ran through his head on repeat leaving a deeper and deeper sinking feeling inside of him each time. He wasn’t going to be able to get the sound of her crying out of his head anytime soon. 

Fuck. He’d fucked up so bad even if Kelsey insisted on bearing the blame. And to make things worse he didn’t know how to fix it. 

After about twenty minutes trying to figure out how the fuck to fix it, Taylor wandered out of his room in search of his mom, wrapping his arms around her and burying his head into her neck when he found her. 

“I fucked up mom.” He mumbled, his voice shaky. 

Rubbing his back, Laura guided him to go sit down and instructed him to start from the beginning. After Taylor spilled his guts, recounting exactly what Kelsey had said to him, Laura hugged him softly. 

“Have you heard of love languages Taylor?” She questioned, only to receive a shake of her son’s head. “Love languages are ways we prefer to receive and to give love. And there are five ways: Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, Quality Time, and Physical Touch.” As she listed them she could see Taylor’s ears perk up. 

“I’d bet you could probably guess yours without even thinking about it for more than a second, right?” She asked and Taylor nodded. 

“Physical touch. Kelsey calls me her koala.” Taylor mumbled. 

“So since the snow day has your love language been met?” Laura prompted. 

“I mean yeah….” Taylor replied. “We cuddled when I got back from Maine, hand on thigh at dinner with you guys, the hug and kiss and car snuggles and sleeping beside her after the game, her sitting on my lap at the party.” 

“So to you nothing was wrong.” Laura confirmed. “Based on everything Kelsey just told you, does her love language also seem like physical touch?” Immediately, Taylor shook his head. 

“No. Hers is quality time.” Taylor admitted. “And I didn’t meet her love language at all mom.” Sighing, Taylor rubbed his face. “But how do I meet her love language when sometimes quality time isn’t possible like when I’m on the road?” 

“We don’t have just one love language Tay. It’s not that one applies and none of the others do. It’s more that it’s a ranking. You have a primary love language, it fills your needs fastest. But you also have a secondary love language or combination of other love languages that will meet that need but not as strongly or quickly.” Laura paused to breathe. “Because I’d like to think that as your mom I know you, I’d say that acts of service and words of affirmation are secondary for you and gifts and quality time are at the bottom. So you need to figure out what Kelsey’s secondary love language or combination of love languages are and when quality time isn’t possible, focus on meeting the others. To me it sounds like physical touch is at the bottom of Kelsey’s rankings, it just doesn’t meet her needs at all. But maybe words of affirmation, gifts, or acts of service would in some shape or form.” 

“She does like when I clean her car off from snow.” Taylor admitted. “And I honestly didn’t expect her to wear the hat with my number on it when I gave it to her but she’s worn it at every game since. And I doubt I’ll ever see the hoodie I gave her in my closet again.” 

Quiet for a minute, Taylor sighed. 

“I guess I haven’t met any of those other love languages since the snow day either.” A small pout formed on his face. “No wonder she doesn’t feel like she’s a priority to me and is wondering whether I want her. She’s so much better at this than I am mom.” 

“It sounds like she’s familiar with love languages Taylor, and figured yours out a while ago.” 

Taylor thought of how she always was willing to let him touch her or snuggle, how she would mend his clothes, make him things, and the notes she wrote him for Valentine's day and his birthday in addition to constantly telling him she was proud of him. She was regularly hitting basically every love language in addition to physical touch to make sure that all of his needs were met. 

And yet he couldn’t meet a single one of hers. 

“We both know that you know how to meet every single one of those Taylor. It’s just something that requires a little bit of effort and intentional focus. Relationships aren’t easy Tay. But if you love someone the way I think you love Kelsey, putting in the effort is worth it.” Laura murmured. “Now let me make you some breakfast because you need to eat something.” 

While his mom made breakfast, Taylor moved to wash his face and then returned to his room for his phone. 

Taylor: My mom taught me about love languages and it all makes so much more sense now. I promise I’m going to be better about meeting your needs moving forward. 

Taylor: If you want to talk we can, and if you want to wait until I’m back then I guess that’s okay too. 

****

Kelsey hadn’t replied back and Taylor tried not to let it bother him knowing that she was working on some things herself. Instead he worked on a project of his own making sure it was perfect. It was only when he received the notice that it was ready that he texted her again. 

Taylor: If you’re out and about today you should stop by 100 Charlton Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566, there’s something there for you. 

Kelsey: What are you up to? 

This time it was Taylor that didn’t respond and after finishing her current errand, Kelsey headed to that address to find herself at walmart. 

Kelsey: Why am I at Walmart? 

Taylor: [attaches photo center order information] 

Confused, Kelsey climbed out of her car, locking it, and headed inside, straight back to the photo center. 

“My boyfriend sent me to pick up an order I think.” She declared to the attendant showing them the confirmation number. After just a minute she was handed a shopping bag and told that she was all set and it was already paid for online. 

Heading back to her car, Kelsey opened the bag to reveal a photobook. On the front cover was their kiss in the car on Valentine’s day and Kelsey had to swallow a lump in her throat. Opening the front cover there was a picture of a qr code attached with photo corners and when she used her phone’s camera over it, it directed her to a spotify playlist. 

With her phone connected to her car’s speakers immediately a song started playing and Kelsey quickly recognized Kane Brown’s voice. 

I’m just scared of losing you. 

Kelsey instantly knew that Taylor was bearing his heart to her in the best way he knew how…through music. 

Flipping through the book Kelsey saw the pictures from valentine’s day as she expected, but she was amazed by how many other photos there were. She didn’t realize any of these photos existed. A picture of her sleeping on his chest while he looked at her with the fondest eyes, one of their linked hands in her car while she drove, a couple from the night they’d gone bowling with his roommates, even one that judging by her outfit was from postgame Wednesday night as they just held each other in the bowels of Conte Forum. There was a picture of the fireplace and singer at the restaurant in Deerfield before Christmas, one of the band they saw play in Northampton, one of her just sitting at his desk doing homework and another of her on his floor meditating. He’d even taken one of her making eggs in his apartment kitchen on their snow day. 

How had she never known that all of these moments had been captured? 

Tucked at the very back was a picture that made the tears pooling in her eyes finally fall. A picture of them in the parking lot at Mullins, with Taylor clearly in the middle of spinning her around after she’d told him she loves him too. 

Above it was a photo of a piece of paper with 'All the love songs in the world couldn't encapsulate the ways I love you, Kelsey’ written in Taylor’s neat formal printing. 

He didn’t have to do any of this. Really he didn’t. 

But Kelsey couldn’t deny that she felt so very loved because he had.

[aceghosts]

WIP Thursday

Hey Everybody! I've been tagged by @purplehairsecretlair, @poeti-kat, @clicheantagonist, @thomrainer, @natesofrellis, and @socially-awkward-skeleton to share what I've been working on. It's more Resident Evil stuff, but I promise I'm going to be working on the final edits of Chapter 6 of the Five Years Later AU soon.

Tagging: @sstewyhosseini, @hoesephseed, @marivenah, @allthearchetypes, @bluemojave, @nuclearstorms, @indorilnerevarine, @smithandrogers, @derelictheretic, and anyone else who has anything to share!

Stuff beneath the cut!

This first snippet comes from my RE Longfic, which I continue to chug away at the first draft of. Right now, this sits at chapter 12, which is going to be a lot of Hunter/Wesker hurt/comfort. However, this part of the chapter is more lighthearted:

Tiring of laying in bed, trying to fall asleep to no avail, Hunter climbs out, deciding to find Wesker. As they step out into the hallway, Hunter hears the soft sounds of piano music. They walk down the hallway silently, following the sound of the music. Drawing closer, Hunter recognizes the music: Moonlight Sonata. Jill once played for them at a party, showing off her rusty piano skills. This player is the opposite, quite skilled to Hunter’s untrained ear. Eventually, Hunter finds Wesker at the piano, fingers deftly moving over the keys. They lean against the entryway of the room, not wanting to disturb him. Wesker looks to be in peace as he plays, eyes closed behind his dark shades. Hunter notices he’s even changed his black turtleneck to a black sweater. They feel guilty and embarrassed, knowing they should have had their breakdown in private. Hunter spent so much time shoving those awful tears down that it angers them to know they had so little self-control at that moment. “Are you going to stand there, or would you like to join me?” Wesker asks, opening his eyes as he looks over at Hunter.

Swallowing guilty, Hunter joins him at the piano bench, sitting beside him at the edge of the bench. “Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“You didn’t,” He still continues to play, “And you don’t have to sit so far away either.” Heeding his command, Hunter scoots closer to him, close enough while still giving him room to play. The two sit in silence, Hunter watching Wesker’s fingers. They’re entranced by his movements, never having seen someone so skillful. “Do you know how to play?”

Hunter shakes their head. “No. I wasn’t really the musically inclined one.” It wasn’t the whole truth. Truth was that Hunter didn’t know if they were musically inclined. Their family was too poor to afford something like piano lessons, especially for Hunter, first in line. “My younger sister, Fiona, was the musically gifted one. She used to play the flute.” Another half-truth. Once they could get a job, Hunter’s money went to helping to provide for their siblings. Part of their money went towards Fiona’s flute, allowing her to join the school band. Fiona had been good at it too, but she decided playing professionally wasn’t for her and gave it up after college. “So, how did you learn to play?”

So yeah, just a soft moment between Hunter and Wesker. I swear this makes more sense in the context of the chapter. And, plus there is going to be a little discussion of Wesker's and Hunter's childhoods. (I'm gonna have to do some head canoning on Wesker's end, lol.)

Although, I’m kind of having an issue with this fic, where I can’t decide if I’m straight up gonna make this a canon divergent fic from RE 5. That’s a whole separate issue for a different post.

The second snippet comes from a Hunter/Wesker prompt, involving the BSAA Agent! Hunter AU. It’s going to be a follow-up to a prompt that I wrote here. Here is a small snippet:

Wesker is quiet, strangely somber. “If someone else made you an offer, would you consider it?”

Hunter smirks. “Depends on who’s making the offer. For you, it’s an automatic no,” They tease Wesker, who shakes his head.

“I provide good benefits as an employer.”

“Only if people live long enough to see them.”

Wesker chuckles, smirking at them. “Fair enough.”

I still haven’t finished the first draft of this one, so I don’t want to give away too much.

[chaoswithkaycee]

Hellfire And Honeysuckle, Chapter 4

Synopsis: A new girl has moved to Hawkins after the events of the hospital attack, with her own story and her own secrets. She's passionate about many things - her education, baking, friendship, kindness - and ready to finally make friends after a lifetime of running from place to place.

Warnings: Discussion of groping, slow burn, short discussion of injury and disability, idiot teenagers falling in love

Rating: MINORS DNI, smut in later chapters. Slow burn in this chapter.

Author’s Note: As always, a thank you to @thisishellfire and @writerwannabetree for creating plus sized characters that spurred me to create a disabled plus sized character like myself. Another reminder that Honey is largely based on myself, because I found that was the best place to begin creating a character after not writing for a decade - please be nice to her.

I apologize for the delay once again. Both of my proofreaders have been busy and I am incapable of posting before someone else looks.



Honey

Monday came, then another and another. Her days began to melt into a routine, passing too quickly and too slowly simultaneously. It felt like her classes took lifetimes over and over again as she spent everyday struggling to pay attention, doodling in her notebook or writing short stories. Her life began to revolve around Hellfire - not just the game nights, but the people within. Eddie was, as always, in her first period English class. In fact, she noticed that now he never seemed to skip the class - though he did seem to forget his pencil every day. And his notebook. And his textbook. And what book they’re working on. And his homework. But, he showed up, and she supposed that was already an improvement. 

Every morning, she biked in, usually meeting up with Lucas, Dustin and Mike a few blocks from school and riding their bikes in together. They’re sweet kids, she decides. Maybe a little excitable, but hell, passion is important in life. Dustin talks about his girlfriend, Suzie, and Mike mentions he has a girlfriend in California - El. She assumes El is short for Ellie or Elaine or Elizabeth or something like that, but she doesn't really ask. Mike seems far more reserved than Dustin, who literally could not stop talking even if she’d paid him. Lucas, by comparison, hardly talks about girls at all, but talks about basketball games and teams until she can recite every major team in America- and she doesn't even watch basketball games.

Freak transferred into the same science class as her when the school realized they’d made a mistake in his schedule, and she finds that while he’s quiet, he’s something of a science whiz - in fact, she encourages him to request transfer into an even more advanced class, but he refuses. He prefers to spend his brain and energy on D&D and the band, he says, so he under-challenges himself on purpose. She just nods along, trying not to show that she absolutely does not understand her science courses at all. It’s this interaction that prompts her to suggest the Hellfire club meet every Wednesday as well for a study session together. It’s easy to convince Mike, Dustin, Gareth, and Lucas (though Lucas requests Thursday instead, as he has basketball practice on Wednesdays) - all four are underclassmen and can benefit from the help of their senior clubmates. It’s a little harder to convince Freak, Jeff, and Eddie, but she promises home baked cookies for every session, and suddenly they all agree. Another girl in her science class, Stephanie, even joins the study session, eventually agreeing to give D&D a try too.

And so Honey established a routine. Eddie still joins her for lunch outside, every day, and soon the rest of Hellfire is joining lunch with the two of them. Eddie is always across from her, and she begins to find the smell of apples as comforting as the smell of home. Every Wednesday night, she rushes home to bake fresh cookies for the next day, and Eddie picks her up in his van on Thursday to bring her, and the cookies, to Gareth’s. He says it’s so he can sneak an extra cookie or two from the plate in her lap, and she tries to convince herself that it’s true. Gareth’s mom, sweetheart that she is, usually leaves a plate of fruit on the table for the study sessions as well, but Honey often finds that she’s the only one snacking on the grapes and apple slices.

Days pass, then weeks. Honey becomes comfortable, safe. She begins to share ideas in Hellfire, to laugh at jokes, to let the other club-mates touch her without jerking away, or to share a hug at the end of a session. She giggles on the phone with Stephanie on the weekends, sharing gossip about people she barely knows. She helps the younger boys with their history homework, and encourages Eddie to actually read the assigned books for class. He does, though he grumbles the entire time that he’d rather be reading Lord of the Rings. She rolls her eyes every time, but smiles. She stopped fighting the crush after her birthday - one way or another, it would end eventually when she was rejected, so she decided to just let it play out until then. She often found herself watching Eddie, noticing the way he would view the world from the corner of his eyes, the way he would slide his hand over to her when she was anxious so she could fidget with his rings, looking away as though he didn’t even realize he’d done so. She watched the way he’d tap the steering wheel when he was driving her home every Thursday and Friday night, the way he’d practice guitar chords in the air, and found herself making excuses to stay around him a little longer everyday. She’d linger with him after class, ask him to stay after school and tell her about his band (though the style of music wasn’t really something she listened to), show up to Hellfire as soon as the bell rang - often even beating him to the room.

She noticed the way he always seemed to wait for someone else to smile before he’d let his own lips curl, so she started smiling every time she saw him - and always got that lopsided, toothy grin in exchange. It became her favorite form of currency, and she tried to earn it with every interaction. When he stole a cookie from her lunch, she’d steal his apple slices from his lunch tray, and be rewarded with a smile. When Ms. O’Donnell went off on a tangent and other students were fidgeting uncomfortably, she’d rest her chin in her hand and stick her tongue out at Eddie, earning a flash of his pearly teeth in return. When he seemed uncomfortable, lost in thought, she’d tap his wrist and beam at him, watching his lips curl in response. That dopey, lopsided grin, those dimples, those sharp little canines, those laugh lines, the way his eyes crinkled. It was warm, gentle, and comforting. That smile alone was enough to pull her in. It came when he got a new song down, when he finished writing a campaign, when he stole cookies on the way to the study sessions. 

It’s during one of these study sessions that she found herself daydreaming. She was laying on her stomach on the rug of Gareth’s living room, her notebook in front of her and textbook to the side. Eddie was laying across the couch a couple of feet away, feet hanging off the arm as he tried to push himself through The Count of Monte Cristo. She couldn’t blame him, because she’d been struggling through it too. It is, by far, one of the worst books she’s ever read - and she’s read many. Stephanie lay perpendicular to her, using the dip between Honey’s bottom and Honey’s lower back as a pillow for her head as she tried to work through math formulas, occasionally passing Honey an apple slice off the coffee table. Dustin, Lucas and Mike sit on the other side of the coffee table, cross-legged, muttering between each other, while Jeff was helping Freak with a math problem, both sitting against a wall behind the freshmen. Gareth  lay upside down in his dad’s recliner, fluffy brown hair almost brushing the floor, as he read his own literature assignment - Frankenstein. 

Honey had been sitting with her chin in her hand, staring out the window behind Eddie, when she became aware that someone was talking to her. “Honey. Honey. Hoooooooneyyyyyyy, Earth to Honey!” Dustin was snapping his fingers, trying to get her attention. She turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “Dustin, I’m not an animal. You can’t snap at me, it’s rude.” Dustin rolled his eyes as Stephanie snickered behind her notebook. “Okay, well, we need history help and you’re the resident history geek - and you weren’t answering.” Honey sighed. He was right, she’d been daydreaming about the sun outside, wishing it was a little warmer, wishing she could go swimming. Water felt so good on her joints. Mama kept promising to get a hot tub, something that would provide much needed relief during episodes, but money was tight and that was a luxury that just couldn’t be afforded right now. Hopefully Dustin didn’t need her to get up. “Okay, what do you need help with?” She turned slightly, and Stephanie shifted so that her head was now resting on Honey’s hip. She was the only person in the group that Honey allowed to be this close to her - probably just a perk of girl-to-girl friendships. The boys were allowed hugs and high fives, and Eddie was allowed slightly longer hugs - but Stephanie was allowed to lay on Honey’s lap, touch her hair, link their pinkies. Best friends did those things, Stephanie told Honey. Honey followed along, grateful for a best friend. 

“What’s the Schlieffen Plan?” Mike piped up, and Honey cocked her head. “That was World War I, it was Germany’s plan for victory. Named after its creator. They planned to advance into France, then Russia, but they failed.” She scowled a little, not at them but in confusion. “It should be in your book.” She added, looking between the three boys. Lucas shook his head. “No, it’s not. Our worksheet asks about it though.”

“Well why in the hell would they ask about somethin’ that’s not even in the book? Did your teacher cover it in class? Let me see your notes. Steph, move, I need to get up.” She heard a thud from Eddie’s direction and looked over to see he had moved from laying on the couch on his back to laying on the floor on his stomach, his shoulder now two feet from her head. He gave Honey a goofy grin and turned back to his book, and Honey sat up as Stephanie shifted, propping herself up on her elbows behind Honey.

“We don’t have notes.” Mike answered shyly, and all three boys had the grace to look ashamed.

“And why don’t you got notes?” Honey replied, putting her elbows on the table to lean towards them.

“We didn’t take them.” Lucas stated simply, a sheepish and nervous smile on his face. Honey sighed. Children.

“I’ll help you this time, but y’all have got to take notes. The textbook holds information, but the lectures give you context. History requires understandin’, not just memorizin’ information.” She heard Stephanie giggle behind her and turned to see Stephanie holding her lips together, trying not to laugh again, and Eddie’s upper half turned to face her, though his eyes were pointed at Honey. Both of them were smiling at Honey, and she narrowed her eyes. They were laughing at her while her back was turned? That wasn’t a good sign. “What?”

“Nothing, Teacher.” Eddie gave her another shit-eating grin. “We’re just feeling bad for your pupils over there.” He jerked his head to point at the freshmen. 

“I’m helpin’ them, ain’t I?” Honey answered, turning back to the boys. Eddie shrugged and rolled back over, and Stephanie laid back down on the rug while Honey spent the remainder of the afternoon walking the boys through their history homework. She tried to pretend she couldn’t hear whispers from Stephanie and Eddie behind her as she worked with the younger classmates. Dustin’s brain was well suited to science and engineering, but history was his weakest point. He struggled the most, and she felt bad for the kid. Everyone was smart in their own way, but society expected uniform intelligence and it was hard for these kids. 

Time moved on, and by 7pm, Eddie was done trying to pretend he was reading the book. Honey knew he was pretending, because he hadn’t turned a single page in the three hours that they’d all been studying. As Honey was packing up her backpack, Eddie squatted next to her and pushed the book, now sporting two separate bookmarks to mark both her place and his in the same book, into her hands. She gave him a look of both humor and exasperation. This was the second time he’d ‘forgotten’ the book he needed for study time, and she was starting to wonder if he even owned a copy of the book at this point. “What were you and Stephanie gigglin’ about?” Honey whispered, hoping the question sounded curious, rather than hurt. It had been almost two months since they’d met now and the crush she’d tried to squash down had only become worse. Honey recalled her conversation with Stephanie a few weeks before, over the phone. Giggling, Stephanie had asked if Honey had a crush on anyone. Honey had said no, a bold lie. Stephanie had pressed further, whispering “Not even Eddie?”. Honey had felt her cheeks lose color and had been glad the discussion was over the phone where Stephanie couldn’t see her. She’d confirmed, though, that she definitely didn’t have a crush on anyone- not even Eddie. Honey realized now, Stephanie had been making sure it was okay for her to pursue him. Honey wanted happiness for her friends, really. Stephanie was pretty, and she was sweet, and Honey loved her friendship with her; but the thought of Eddie with anyone, even Stephanie - especially Stephanie - was almost too much.

“Why do you want to know?” He whispered back, a smile wrinkling his eyes. He was toying with Honey, playing, flirting almost. He did this often now and she tried to pretend it didn’t hurt. If he was going to flirt and date women, he didn’t need to rub it in her face too. But it wasn’t like he knew - she sure wasn’t telling him. Honey forced a smile. “No reason, just wanted to be in on the joke. Especially if I’m the butt of it.” His face seemed to fall as she stood, saying her goodbyes to the group and heading outside to wait for him. He was her ride home, though she was almost tempted to walk at this point just to be spared the uncomfortable conversation she felt brewing. She had almost actually started walking when he trotted out behind her, swinging his keys and opening the passenger door for her before she could reach it.

“We were just, y’know, making stupid faces at each other while you were talking to the boys.” He tried to explain as he drove her home. “I’m sure you were.” She answered, looking out the window. “Honey, I promise, we weren’t making fun of you.” There was something in his voice, something that sounded painful and strained, but she wouldn’t look at him. “I believe you.” Her voice was just as strained, holding back tears. She was being silly. He was allowed to have friends other than Honey, and he was her friend. Of course he wasn’t making fun of her; she knew that. He was just flirting with Stephanie, and that was fine - but it still hurt. 

She could feel his eyes on her, but she kept staring out the window. The rest of the car ride passed in silence, and she tried to keep her breath even to stop the building tears. When he stopped in front of her house, she was all too quick to leap from the car, muttering a “Thank you for the ride,” and speed walking to her door, unsure if she wanted him to follow or not. She fiddled with the keys, pushing inside the door as she heard him drive away. She couldn’t stop the flow of hot tears then, and slid to the floor against the cold metal door. He was allowed to flirt with Stephanie. He didn’t belong to Honey. He was allowed to play and have fun without her. She tried to talk herself down, laying on the hardwood floor. It took a good hour, but finally, she did. She sat up, wiping her face and feeling silly. She’d apologize to him tomorrow - bake him some cookies with extra chocolate chips tonight, and beg him to forgive her for being so difficult. 

She stood, mind made up, and made her way to the kitchen, dropping her backpack to the side of the doorway with the intent to put it away later. Humming, wiping her face, she set about to pulling out ingredients. Before long, she’d finished a batch of apology cookies - now a quick shower while they cooled, and she could put them in a baggie for him and get herself in bed before 10pm. Walking to the bathroom, she grabbed her backpack and tossed it in her room before turning the hot water on. The shower felt amazing, washing away the leftover tear streaks, the little bit of gel in her hair, the dirt of the day, the smell of teenage boys, the silliness of her emotions. She washed her hair, scrubbed her body, intent on getting this shower knocked out in less than fifteen minutes - she was tired and ready for bed. Cleaning tasks accomplished, she turned off the shower and threw the curtain back, grabbing her towel and wrapping it around herself. 

And then she did something really, really stupid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eddie

Eddie cursed, hitting the steering wheel as he sat outside his uncle’s trailer. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He didn’t know her mind would go where it did. “Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!” He exclaimed, bouncing his head off the back of the seat in punctuation of each word. He’d been laying on that couch for an hour, watching Honey from the corner of his eye. He’d noticed how she was wearing that same little blue top from the first time he’d given her a ride to school; how it was too tight on her chest, and it looked like her breasts would pop out every time she took a deep breath. He’d noticed how the necklace he’d given her hung right between them, swaying as she looked between textbook and notebook. How she’d stared out the window longingly, those beautiful red-blonde curls falling over her face and shoulders. He wanted to wrap his fingers in her curls, tug them to get her attention. He’d tried to convince himself she was staring at him, but her gaze was just a little too high. And he’d watched as Stephanie, the pretty little brunette she’d invited into the group, had laid her head down right against Honey’s ass. And then Honey turned, oh my god, to talk to the boys; the necklace had fallen right into the gap of her breasts, Stephanie’s face was right next to Honey’s sex - and Eddie couldn’t decide which place he wanted to be in more. He’d had to roll himself onto his stomach and drop to the floor to hide his arousal. 

And, as if she had no idea of her effect on him, she’d bent over the table to talk to the freshmen. While Eddie missed the view from the front, he couldn’t complain about the view from the back. The little black skirt she was wearing rode up so high that her ass was only barely covered, and God, what an ass. Her legs looked so soft, and smooth, and he was sure her ass would be soft and squishy and amazing in his hand. Honey was an arm’s length away - he couldn’t help himself. He’d reached out, forgetting everything in the room except the curves covered in black that sat in front of him. He’d been only an inch from touching her when Stephanie had noticed - Goddamn Stephanie!- and giggled. He’d only just had time to jerk his hand back when Honey turned around to look at him and Stephanie, and he fully expected Stephanie to rat him out. She didn’t, but apparently Honey’s mind was already made up. When she’d asked why he and Stephanie were giggling later, he’d tried to flirt with her, to make it easier when he’d eventually admit he was trying to grope her. But her mind had gone to a terrible place and nothing he said brought it back. Stephanie had shifted closer then, whispering to him. 

“I asked her if she had a crush on anyone in our school.” Stephanie’s voice had been soft, barely audible from right next to his ear. He’d asked her to speak with Honey, figuring she’d get a real answer.

“What did she say?” He’d tried to hide the hope in his own whisper, bringing his head closer to Stephanie’s.

Stephanie had shaken her head. “No one. Not me, not you, not a single man or woman in our school. I don’t think she’s even capable of those kinds of feelings.” She’d muttered back, as he felt his face fall. That settled it.

Dropping her off, watching Honey walk back to her house, knowing she was seconds from crying, he’d wanted to chase her. Wanted to run up, grab her, kiss her, promise her again and again that he’d never, ever, make fun of her the way her mind said he would. But he couldn’t move. He couldn’t make his legs move, and then she was pushing her door open and he couldn’t help it - he ran. He turned the wheel, slammed on the gas, and ran. And now he was sitting outside the trailer, trying to decide between turning around, speeding back to Honey’s house, and kneeling at her feet; or going to bed and hoping he’d wake up to find this was all a dream.

Eventually, knowing she went to bed early, he decided not to go back. Not that he didn’t want to, but it would be a lot worse to wake her up than to simply beg her forgiveness tomorrow. He carried himself to bed, trying hard not to think of the image of her laying on Gareth’s floor again - and failing. It took hours to fall asleep, and when his alarm went off, he almost didn’t get up. The only thing that dragged him out of bed was knowing that it was Hellfire day - and even then, he decided to skip. Eddie didn’t come to school until the final bell had rung, specifically for Hellfire. He was almost done setting up for the evening’s campaign when the door pushed open. He knew it was Honey, because the smell of vanilla and something sweet came into the room with her. He wasn’t even surprised anymore when his chest tightened with the realization that he’d missed her all day. He almost cursed out loud at himself for skipping; knowing he’d left her alone during their first period class. He turned, intending to apologize, and stopped when he saw her.

“Honey,” He started, looking her up and down, “Why, on God’s green Earth, is your foot in a cast?”

[lynmars79]

Pretty sure I've mused on this before, but when Laudna and Imogen had their conversation the night before the Solstice...I still get no romantic vibes from them. Like they love each other plainly, but I don't feel like they're in love. I don't think that's an accident by their players, either.

Their relationship feels more found family to me still; that Laudna saw this girl with so much potential and promise and power--like Laudna herself before her life ended and then she continued on anyway--that she felt a fierce sort of protection and need to guide and care and nurture.

Imogen never knew her mother, and perhaps unconsciously seeks a similar feeling, and here's Laudna filling that maternal/older sister niche in a way Imogen has never had and yearned for, for someone close to understand and care about her in this way that differed from her father (who she pushed away in her own love and fears for him).

"I love you" doesn't have to be romantic. Cuddling together for warmth and comfort the night before an expected event doesn't have to be romantic. And I just...don't feel it is. Another friend watching with me said he got some ace vibes from Imogen. Maybe some of that is how closed off she is in general so there's no consideration/ability for romance yet.

I dunno; I haven't been keeping up 4SD lately, or much else outside the actual eps and whatever posts float across my dash, but that is the Vibe for me from this pair, watching them interact during the game itself.

In general, potential romantic relationships have been harder to pin down and the BH overall feel more platonic right now than romantic. There's possibilities there, I see them and the flirtations, they could all be neat, but they're not as much of a parallel current of development as has been in the past, like Vaxleth and Perc'ahlia, or Fjorester and Beauyasha. And goodness knows fandom will put on shipper goggles and draw battle lines from day 1 of a new campaign, but heck that's what fanfiction and fanart is for regardless of canon.

When C3 started I was initially like "oh, are they girlfriends? A pre-made romantic relationship? We haven't seen that between PCs yet!" but the longer the campaign goes, that's just not the vibe their relationship gives me, there do seem to be the possibilities of other interests (Laudna and Ashton, as friends OR a romance, is fascinating), and while the potential may still be there, it doesn't feel like a current part of their interactions.

Further muddied perhaps by how much the cast themselves loves and trusts one another as such a long time and tight knit friend group. But the spark between characters has usually been strong enough to make those connections in character viable beyond the players' natural platonic affections; Vex and Percy, or Beau and Yasha, coming to mind with how the character chemistry came together, sometimes despite their player's initial intentions (such as Taliesin's original thoughts as to how Percy's story would go).

Again, I dunno. I'm just another Critter watching along on Thursday nights. But watching along and while folks in various spaces were excited for the girls to say/do something romantic, it felt to me closer in some ways to the twin conversations from C1, than two people in romantic love.

Though knowing these players, and these characters, they could still surprise and prove me wrong...eventually. When the characters' stories get there, if ever.

[saintchrollo]

office hours. blah blah blah. tmj. this is happy. no angst. promise. calendar.

“...I know there’s a copy of the textbook on the classroom page, so go ahead and use that. You’re going to want chapters eighteen and twenty-two, and that should help you with the paper. Just have it in to me by Thursday at noon, so I don’t have to come to campus on Friday,” You say, already turning away from the student at your desk to make a note of their new due date on the computer. 

The student scrambled their thanks as they got their things together. 

“Just send whoever is next in after you,” You call after them, the door already creaking open as they leave. 

There’s no greeting of another student coming in, and you can’t hear any creaking of the wood. So you swivel around in your chair to the stack of folders behind you and begin rifling through them, searching for the packets that you could have sworn you printed out yesterday. 

“Are you busy?” 

You aren’t proud of the yelp that leaves your lips and you quickly swivel around in your chair to meet the familiar sound. 

“What are you doing here?” You ask, genuinely shocked that Kuroro was standing here, in your office. There hadn’t even been a plan to meet. You’d only just learned where he lived. You had no idea how he knew where your office was. Maybe he had asked. Oh, Deidra down the hall was going to have so many questions for you. Questions that you were definitely not ready to answer. 

“I was in the area,” Kuroro says, and sets a coffee down on your desk, “I just wanted to drop this off.” 

“Oh,” You say, reaching over to accept the drink. “You didn’t cut anyone in line out there, did you?” 

“I waited for them all to finish,” Kuroro responded with a small smile. “Do you always have such a crowd?” 

“It depends,” You say, and watch as Kuroro begins to take his eyes around the organized mess of your office. You aren’t surprised to watch him fall into place before the bookshelf, hands clasped behind him like an old man. “I assigned an essay three weeks ago that’s due tomorrow.” 

Kuroro chuckles. “Ah. I see.” 

You pause for a moment. “How long have you been waiting?” 

“There was only one student. The one who just left.” 

You squeeze your eyes shut and take a deep breath. “We aren’t dating.” 

“No, but you seem to keep me around despite continuously stating that,” Kuroro says. “How much more work do you have?” 

“As much as I want to make for myself,” You say. “I have things to scan and prints to make and response questions to grade.” 

“Do you?” Kuroro asks. He’s obviously unconvinced.

“Always,” You respond, take a sip of your drink. It’s exactly how you order it and it makes you want to scream. 

He flicks his wrist to gently push the cuff of his shirt back enough to read his watch. “I have tickets to the new Degas exhibit tonight. Two, in fact.” 

“My office hours are over at five,” You say. 

“It’s five-oh-two,” Kuroro says. “Do you want a ride to your place to get changed?” 

“I stay fifteen minutes after because Edgar always lets his class out late,” You continue, gently setting the drink down and turning back around to continue your search.

Kuroro’s lips twitch up in amusement. “Well, should I wait for you?” 

“I can take the metro home,” You reply, then take a deep breath. “You can wait, but if someone comes in looking for me, you’ll have to step out.” 

You can hear the smile in his voice. “Excellent. Are you looking for something, or are you trying to ignore the fact that I’m here?” 

“Can I not do both?” You ask, having to get out of your chair to squat down and look through a lower file cabinet. “But I’m genuinely looking for something. I made copies earlier today and I can’t seem to—”

You’re cut off by a knock on your door frame and immediately stand up, without the copies in your hands. And how you wish there was anyone else standing there but the one person you knew was going to ask questions. 

“Oh! I didn’t realize you were busy,” Deidra said, glancing between you and Kuroro. Her gaze lingered on the man for a moment before looking back at you. “I was just going to tell you that Monique and I were thinking about getting post-work drinks, and you’re invited.”

“If you’d come five moments earlier, I could have said yes,” You respond. 

“No worries! Is this the boy?” She asks, demeanor immediately changing as she takes a few steps into your office. 

You sigh, and let go of the secretiveness of your personal life. “Yes. Deidra, this is Kuroro, Kuroro, this is my coworker, Deidra.” 

If anything, Kuroro seems more than happy to meet your coworker. He happily shakes her hand, pleased as pie with his, “It’s wonderful to meet you. You’ve heard of me?” 

You cut Deidra a nasty look, one begging for her silence. 

Deidra, however, does not pick up on signs well. “Yes! Whenever we go out for drinks after work she’s been dipping early and has mentioned a man recently. It’s good to know you’re real and it's not just a silly excuse! Wouldn't be the first time [Ophie] has tried something like that.”

“Oh?” Kuroro seems genuinely interested in the facts, which only makes your heart sink further into your stomach. “Well, I’m most definitely real.” 

Deidra has the audacity to giggle before glancing over at you, then back to Kuroro. “Well, it was nice meeting you! And [Ophie], we’ll just have to catch you some other time! Okay, toodeloo!” 

And just as soon as she had arrived, Deidra had left. 

Kuroro cleared his throat, a teasing smile peaking on his face. “You talk about me?” 

“Do you still want someone to come with you to that art opening?” You counter. 

“Would you rather go get drinks with your friends?” Kuroro asks. 

No. You both know the answer. 

“It’s fine-fifteen, by the way,” Kuroro says. “Am I overstepping if I say I might have a dress for you to wear?” 

“It depends on if I like the dress or not,” You say, sighing as you begin to pack up your things. There isn’t much. Just a few essays. Kuroro doesn’t let you carry your work bag as you walk to his car. 

It’s as you’re walking there do you realize how nice it would be to hold his hand. 

[hospitalterrorizer]

diary230

5/2-3/2024

thursday - friday

work 2morrow.

the palestine thing went well. i learned some things. a lot of things i knew were said again, convictions repeated in different ways, different vantages on the destruction of what surrounds us, america's colonial force, the racism and classism of the west. what a 'free palestine' might actually mean, in the heart of a poem that, i guess speaking honestly, i did not think was 'good' (is that a stupid notion to have in my head as i am somewhere to hopefully learn of mobilizing, escalating, to something else?), it ended with a powerful turn, a declaration of the fact that a freed palestine is tethered to, an example of, the greatest fear of the colonial forces of the world. that people really become capable of liberating themselves. perhaps to make me think this, the poem is good, just not the kind of writing which moves me. which is fine, there was another poem which did, a man begging for the night to go on a little longer so his execution may grow more distant, more time in live.

the night ended with the mention of the various occupations and struggles across the country, and that the students here are currently waiting for a meeting with the president. this is the thing preventing that from taking place, that he relented to speak to them at some point. if he does, and it works out that they disclose and divest, without bringing the student body (of which i am not a part, though i would involve myself however possible. this is a promise i make to myself. i have to, i really believe that, is that strange? i don't know. i feel very bad about myself. am i a bad person? it's always on my mind in various ways and in some sense, this horrific moralism inside me, it is a bourgeois mind virus, this moralism is not political action, not material, it is not what i believe. it is something else.), to pain/suffering in any excess, it would probably be good.

to talk of guilt and then say:

here are selfies from yesterday:

is ridiculous, but here i am. is my vanity evil? i don't know. i don't know. my gf says i am not a bad person, and that the fact i care, that i try and that i have given means something, but does it. but i don't know. sincerely, it hurts my insides.

but here are my selfies from yesterday. i am thinking about geririsuto again, i must go there. i must be that. a pig came to the poetry thing, someone set an emergency alert off. how baffling. anyhow:

anyways that's me in a shirt and with my bangs that i don't hate as much right now. that is nice, to not be so dysphoric and stuff. i like that shirt, it says something funny which is "wish i was not a girl" on it which is funny for all kinds of reasons that are easy to read into in all kinds of directions.

talking to a friend i haven't spoken to in a while, it's nice to speak to people you may have not spoken to for a long time.

anyway, i need to sleep to work (in all sense of the word) and stuff + my laptop is being backed up to this external hd i got so i can put all this stuff onto the new one... so

byebye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[casspurrjoybellbittner]

Wreckless - People Can't Drive

*Warning Adult Content*

Finnegan

I'm not sure where the weekend went, honestly.

Why do those two days always fly by and Wednesdays seem to last about a month?

That's okay, today is Thursday so I am over the hump.

Another weekend is approaching and Emmett doesn't have to work Saturday.

The plan is to go over and visit Tristan again which sounds great.

Hopefully we can do a bunch of house hunting too.

I found two that look good but I'm not getting my hopes up until I see them in person.

I stopped by and bought muffins and offer one to Megan when I walk in.

"You're a lifesaver Mr... Finnegan. Sorry."

"Hey, points for trying. Did we hear back from Marianne?"

She's going to be my new head of accounting.

Hopefully.

"Not yet but I just got in. I'll skim your emails."

"Thank you."

I got a new bookshelf for my office and have been filling it up this week.

I have a cool metal puzzle that you have to unlock, an antique fire truck because that makes it seem more adult and most importantly two cool baskets that hold actual toys.

My favorite new one is a small bouncy ball that I can toss around and catch.

It's fun when I'm stuck on the phone although rather distracting.

I almost hit poor Megan in the head the other day when she opened the door but I've been more careful since then.

Even better than my ball is my new lunchbox.

It's not new, it's probably from the 80's or 90's but it's a metal batman lunchbox with a thermos.

Emmy packs my lunch every evening, just something light, so that I have no excuse to go hungry.

I can literally munch while I'm at my desk.

He mentioned making chicken salad with the leftovers from dinner last night and I'm looking forward to it.

Getting my lunchbox was my second favorite thing on Saturday.

My first favorite thing was Saturday night.

Damn if he didn't work me over.

My intercom beeps and Megan says the email from Marianne is flagged and ready to read.

Awesome.

I open it and it's a yes.

I finally, finally have a new head of accounting and let me tell you, I desperately need one.

Yesterday, two of the three DoD bids I submitted got returned due to technicalities that I do not understand.

Marianne can not start soon enough.

I'm hoping for Monday.

My cell-phone rings and it's Tristan.

Not a great time to talk about this weekend.

"Hey."

"Finnegan? Are you alone?"

Why would he ask that?

Other than for phone sex of course and we've never done that and certainly aren't about to start now.

"Yes but I'm dressed, you silly boy. What's up?"

"Finnegan... he's okay. I promise he's okay."

Wait, what? Who? "Emmett?" 

Who else would he call me about?

"Yeah. He wrecked his car or well there was an accident. They took him to the hospital."

I am already standing up and grabbing my bag.

"Which one?"

"Union but he's okay, he called Peter and told him he'd be late and he can't be that hurt if he called and said that, right? So don't panic."

I don't panic, ever, I just flip into 'get shit done' mode.

"I'm not. Thanks, I'll call you later."

Okay, I need Megan.

"Reschedule today."

"Yes Mister... Wait. What about your ten o'clock appointment?"

Shit. SHIT. I glance at my watch.

"I'll be back."

That's almost two hours from now.

I'll go to the hospital, check on Emmett and be back in plenty of time.

I decide to call while I'm in the elevator.

If he says he's being discharged and going to work, there's no reason for me to go over there.

No answer.

I leave him a voicemail to call me and head out.

I have to google the hospital and get directions and it doesn't take me long to get there but it takes another twenty minutes to find the stupid parking garage and then to get into the right wing of the hospital.

It's like one tiny hospital has eaten fourteen others and they've formed the hospital centipede.

I have to go through security.

Really?

Who comes to hospitals when they don't have to?

After what feels like an eternity I find a desk and someone who knows where Emmett is.

It's nowhere near here but after getting lost twice and passing the cafeteria about five times, I find him.

His head is wrapped in gauze, the whole left side looks like something out of a movie.He's squinting but makes a lame attempt at smiling at me.

"Darling," he croaks.

"Dear Lord. Are you okay?"

I send up a quick prayer and make the sign of the cross.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm tough. Just my head but that's empty anyway. Do you have any water?"

I don't but I will get some for him.

Yes I will.

"Be right back."

I find the cafeteria before the nurses station and buy a bottle from the vending machine.

"Sure you're allowed to have this?" I ask.

"Think so, they're just doing x-rays or something. Stupid, I'm fine."

"Or your spleen could be ruptured and you could be dying. Let them run the damn tests, Emmett."

"You sound like me and your check up."

He's right but I choose to ignore that part.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, people can't drive. Hit the passenger side and my head hit the window. Sure I'll be hurting tomorrow but I just wanna go the hell home."

At least he's given up on going back to work.

"You're taking the day off, and tomorrow too, please? Want me to call Peter?"

He's thinking about it, actually considering trying to work.

I have NO patience for this and I can't even smack him if he makes this difficult.

"Yeah, go ahead. Thanks."

"Emmett? I have a meeting, I'm sorry. I..."

"Go, Finnegan."

"I will be back right after, okay? I'll take you home. Meet me in the cafeteria if they discharge you."

At least that I'll be able to find.

"I'll get a taxi..."

"No. Please? I'll be back soon. I promise."

"Okay, Darling. If that's what you want."

I squeeze his hand.

"It is. I love you, Emmett."

He just smiles and I can tell this short conversation has been hard on him.

"I'll be back soon."

[redwineconversation]

Olympique Lyonnais Le Progrès Article (September 28, 2022)

TL:dr version: everyone is dead. You thought I was being sarcastic when I talked about the upcoming translations but no!! I was being literal!

So many questions. Is Lyon going to beat Bayern's record of only having two subs in a Champions League game? Does van de Donk's contract involve a clause regarding Lyon paying for a hot tub if she has to carry the No. 10 position on her back with no reassuring breathing room until January? Does Lyon believe in resurrections or do they think some things are better left buried? More importantly, does Lyon, the author of so many love stories, still believe that love can be absolute if someone loves something other than them?

Jokes aside when you know Lyon well enough you realize what they aren't saying is sometimes as relevant as what they are. Love a team, too, whose definition of love is pure but also complex. I'm telling you. You can search as much as you want. You won't find another team like you. They're a once in a lifetime kind of locking eyes with a stranger during your wedding reception and thinking "ah, shit." So, like, by all means. Get involved with another team. Watch someone else! But on a cold and rainy day, when you're putting off doing laundry or cleaning your apartment or whatever, sit down and watch a team who only writes love stories because they desperately want someone to see them for who they are. Just... watch them. They can be really good for you, I promise.

Unrelated: if anyone has any good pumpkin pie recipes (from scratch) to recommend, please do shoot them my way.

Already exhausted, OL women is getting ready to confront a rough month of October.

Crippled by injuries at the beginning of the 2022-2023 after a draining summer, Sonia Bompastor's OL will once again be strongly solicited in October, with the return of the Champions League.

Back in training this Wednesday morning in Décines [physical location of Lyon's training group], after four days off for the international players following the Montpellier game, the Lyon players worked on ball control for the third open session to the public. This involved about 50 supporters, who suffered through the rain to wish a happy 33rd birthday to Amandine Henry.

"The players got to recharge with their families, it did them a lot of good. The core players only got about 10 days vacations following the Euros and other international competitions, which was a really short period in terms of optimal recovery considering the exhaustion on a mental and physical level. We timed it so they would get the weekend off while the beached were still open. We're handling this start of the season as if it were the end of a season," Sonia Bompastor pointed out.

Sara Dabritz and Ada Hegerberg absent

Out of the group of 24 players, there were two notable absences besides the longterm injuries of M'Bock, Carpenter, Macaario, Marozsan and Majri. Sara Dabritz, who received an ankle injury last Thursday in training, has not rejoined the group. The German midfielder, who had an MRI this Wednesday afternoon, will soon know how long she will be out for.

Another player missing during roll-call: Ada Hegerberg. The Norwegian forward, who received a huge knock on the left leg with the national team at the beginning of September, returned to Lyon Tuesday night after having spent three weeks in Sweden with her husband. "We'll see each other for the first time this week, and then another time next week and we will make a decision together about how to set in place a protocol for her," the OL head coach elaborated.

Vanessa Gilles expected mid-November

Sonia Bompastor will however recuperate Eugenie Le Sommer, who participated in modified training this Wednesday after having received "a hell of a knock on the thigh in Montpellier," back in training with the group this Thursday to prepare for the final stretch.

Suffering from a quad injury and rehabbing since her arrival at the club some ten days ago, Canadian defender Vanessa Gilles will not participate in group training before mid-November. "We'll try and cope until then, knowing that's the optimistic version," Bompastor added, thrilled to have let her players "catch their breath a little" before the final push. Before taking on a packed month of October**, "with a grueling schedule of one match every three games, between the Champions League and the [French] league."

** This is excluding the international break, so Lyon is going to be truly gassed.