#and these for lunch. and this for dinner. and these are some reasonable and achievable exercise goals and routines for you

[joyridingmp3]

wish I had money to see a nutritionist or someone who has information about food

[sevsgiirl]

— the altar is my hips, even if it’s a false god.

sevika week 2025: body worship, day 1.

synopsis: in which your plans to go to a dinner date goes south because you can’t fit into the dress you want, and sevika has to rectify the situation.

word count: 2.4k

tags: mirror sex, top!sevika, bottom!reader, strap-on referred to as cock, body insecurities.

note: helloo y’all , I know it’s been a while since I last posted something but I wanted to come back mainly because it’s sevika week! if you’re unaware the lovely sevika nation community on twitter are hosting this event from june 2-8 celebrating sevika with prompts for each day! and this is my submission for day one and I hope you guys like it <3

also!! warning ahead but this fic mentions weight gain and body image so if those topics are sensitive for you please proceed with caution.

you were never the type to keep track of what you ate and quite frankly, you never had any insecurities about the way you looked.

living in zaun, it was practically a luxury being able to eat at least three meals a day, once was already enough.

but after sevika got the opportunity to work for the council, your income finally sufficed to make up not just for the cost of living but for groceries as well.

not to mention the dinners.

sevika loved taking you out to dinner whenever she got the chance. she knows you don’t like being spoilt with material things and just because you finally lived in high society, doesn’t mean you were going to blend in with the rest of the piltovians by being stuck up and shallow.

that’s one of the many things she loved about you, however, she had to find a way to pamper you regardless.

so she took you out to lavish dinner and lunch dates during her days off work. luckily, with enough persuading you learned to cave in and just have her drag you along to whatever new restaurant she discovered in topside and let you indulge yourself to your heart’s desire.

it wasn’t until months had passed and sevika told you the day prior you were going out on another date that you found yourself running into a dilemma.

it was already evening by the time you got ready and you were thirty minutes away from your reservation, but still you couldn’t seem to find a dress that fit you any longer.

you’ve already seen the signs long before but didn’t pay them any mind. you never had a reason to be self conscious because again, you always viewed weight gain as a privilege especially with how you were brought up in the under city.

but ever since you and sevika moved to piltover, you’d be lying if you said the piltovian mindset didn’t rub off on you. at least just a little - and by that you mean their superficial mindset managed to snake its way into the back of your mind.

despite all the access to good clothes and food, piltovians like to maintain a certain aesthetic where being fit was the norm.

that’s why at some of the restaurants you’ve visited in the past you’ve noticed they liked to serve meals with such tiny portions, something you even laughed at because the prices would be so expensive but the platter wouldn’t even be the same size as your palm.

you’d see countless of women roaming the streets wearing corsets that practically suffocated their rib cage just to achieve a petite built where their waist was so cinched, the wind could’ve taken them away if it blew past hard enough.

you’ve even eavesdropped in conversations regarding their dietary plans and you rolled your eyes thinking what was the point of making a fuss over something so trivial.

it wasn’t until you stood in front of your body length mirror however, that those same exact moments flashed through your mind like a montage and you couldn’t help it as you inspected your body from head to toe.

your tummy had gotten rounder, your hips much fuller, and the fat in your cheeks became more prominent unlike before where they were basically hollow.

back then, you would’ve viewed these changes as an improvement because it meant that your body was finally getting the sustenance it needed. but for some reason, that’s not how you felt now.

instead, the words of every piltovian woman you passed by in the markets came to mind - whether it was when they read the label of every canned goods they bought, calculating the amount of calories it contained before putting it back in the shelves.

‘ugh too much fat. I wouldn’t want to gain a pound especially since summer is nearing’

‘you better put those chips back unless you still want to fit in that gown you reserved for the upcoming gala this week.’

“baby?”

you snapped out of your trance as sevika softly knocked on the door of your shared bedroom, the buttons of her dress shirt popped open at the top, exposing a slither of brown skin as she stepped inside the room and scanned the mess around you - bundles of dresses scattered across the room - before her gaze fell on you, still clad in your underwear.

“our reservation is twenty minutes away. just throw on whatever you have. you’ll look beautiful either way,” she said as she walked past you and pressed a chaste kiss at the top of your head, striding inside the bathroom as your eyes lingered at her broad shoulders and defined legs that were confined in her black dress pants.

you felt a heaviness in your chest as you realized that while you were here over indulging yourself at home, sevika still managed to look after herself and maintained her wonderful physique. which you weren’t surprised by, she was always a woman of great discipline.

so it begs the question of why you hadn’t been able to do the same?

“better hurry, you know how those hostesses are when you’re even five minutes late. that red dress you wore last time would be-“

“it’s not…” you cut her off as sevika turned to you “about the dress, sev.”

she raised an eyebrow, rolling her sleeves up to her forearms “then what is it?”

you bit your lower lip, trying hard not to get emotional as you refused to spare another glance at the mirror.

“I mean, it is about the dress but it’s also me,” your throat was tight as you wiped a stray tear on your cheek “I can’t fucking fit in it. in any of it. I’ve gained so much weight and I should’ve taken better care of myself but now I feel huge and…”

you shook your head, not wanting to meet sevika’s eye as she stayed silent amidst your meltdown “can we please just cancel the date if it’s okay? I don’t wanna go out looking like this.”

there was a beat of silence and for a moment you wondered if sevika was even there or if she had left the room due to your dramatics.

but when you looked up, you were simply greeted by her clenched jaw and intense eyes as they raked over your form, making you squirm as she started walking towards you.

you sighed “sev, look, I’m sorry okay? let’s just reschedul-“

you squealed when out of nowhere sevika suddenly took you by the hips and turned you around so your entire front was facing the mirror, bracing your arms around the edges as her warm breath fanned against the side of your neck and you shuddered when her lips met the shell of your ear.

her voice low and dangerous as she squeezed the meat of your love handles.

“you know, I don’t work day and night to provide for you and make sure you’re well taken care of just so you can stand here and tell me you look awful for gaining weight when that’s all I’ve ever wanted when we spent years eating scraps back in zaun,” she scolded and you couldn’t even get a word out before she suddenly lifted her hand, and swatted a harsh slap against your ass.

making you gasp, gripping the sides of the mirror tightly as you heard sevika fiddling with the buckles of her belt behind you.

“tell me,” she said gruffly as she pushed your hips back “what exactly is the problem now that you’ve gained weight, hm?”

you swallowed nervously “I-uh… I can’t f-fit in any of my clothes, sev-“

“then we’ll just buy bigger ones,” she stated “what else? let’s reschedule the date sure, and buy shit that fits you better. problem solved.”

you huffed out a tired breath “sev, that’s not the point-“

“then what is it so I can understand?”

you pondered over your answer for a minute, debating whether or not you should tell her “I know you’re taking care of me but I need to lose weight. it’s one thing that I can’t fit in my clothes anymore but I just look horribl-“

you let out another yelp when her large palm landed across the skin of your ass, no doubt leaving a mark and you stared at sevika from the mirror just to see her eyes were dilated, focused solely on your backside and how it jiggled every time she swatted it.

she lets out a scoff, squeezing the handfuls of flesh from your waist and you began to feel your legs shake at the way she started pawing at you.

“you’re so fucking ridiculous. you got a body this fucking great yet you’re out here complaining that you can’t fit into a dress and because of that, you think you’re any less beautiful than you actually are,”

her fingers pulled at the strings of your thong and your eyes widened when she started slipping them down until it pooled at the ends of your feet.

“look at the mirror,”

your cheeks reddened because all this time your attention stayed solely on her, not once did you look at your body which apparently didn’t go unnoticed by sevika.

and she wasn’t having any of it “don’t make me repeat myself. look at the mirror,”

squeezing your eyelids shut one last time, you cracked them open and faced the sight you were too embarrassed to confront - at how your boobs nearly spilled over the cups of your bra, and how your hips became noticeably wider. if it weren’t for the improbability you would’ve assumed you were pregnant at this point.

“tell me what you see,”

you gulped, shaking your head “sev, just stop-“

“tell. me. what. you. see.”

feeling self conscious, you wanted to curl up into a ball but sevika wasn’t having any of it as she held you in place “I gained weight-“

“yes,”

“and I’ve gotten fat-“

“yes, and?”

you pondered over your next words because you knew your answer had varying outcomes.

“this is silly. sev, let’s just cancel the dinner and-“

you weren’t able to finish because she didn’t even let you, because one moment she was staring you down like you were prey and the next, she’s kneeling behind you and licking a fat stripe up your cunt, making your knees buckle as you yelled her name.

“oh my god, sev-“

she pulled back and snarled at the sight of your throbbing folds and brought her lips back to your clit, sucking it between her lips as you let out a broken cry.

her hand finding its way to unzip her pants and when you looked down, you couldn’t help the way your mouth fell agape at the sight of her stroking her strap from the confines of her boxers.

“this was supposed to be a surprise, you know? but then you decided to be fucking ridiculous thinking you’re too thick to go out,” she shook her head, her tongue prodding at your hole “but you wanna know what I think?”

you whimpered when she kneaded the supple skin of your rear, the flesh folding in her palm as she lets out a curse.

“I think you’re out of your goddamn mind if you could see the way your body looks right now and think that you’re anything else if not fucking perfect,”

with that, her tongue plunged inside your cunt and started rubbing against your tight walls, making your eyes roll at the back of your head as you backed up against her face, to which she encouraged as she lets out an almost animalistic growl at the way your ass bounced deliciously.

all the while she sunk a finger in at the same time her mouth devoured you like you were the dinner planned for tonight, and you couldn’t stop the way your body seized before falling apart entirely at her hands.

your breathing labored while you held yourself up using the mirror, meanwhile sevika was already standing up and pulling her pants down to take her cock out.

she aligned herself in between your folds and reached forward so she could pull the cups of your bra down, your breasts spilling out as she took one in her hand and used the other to inch her way inside you.

“f-fuck baby,” her voice was raspy as she ogled at the sight you of swallowing her, your cunt fluttering at the sheer size of her cock as you tried your best to adjust “I can’t believe you get to look at yourself every single day and not see what I see…”

with that, she began to do deep, slow strokes into your cunt before she began a punishing pace, one that made you throw your head back as it rested against her shoulder. meanwhile, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the way your ass rippled with every harsh thrust she made. it was damn near like ecstasy, the way you and your body responded to her.

her hips pounded against yours relentlessly and you sensed the build up of your climax nearing.

she kissed the side of your neck and groped your tits as she fucked you “I never wanna hear you say a single bad fucking thing about the way you look, you got me?”

you nodded, tears brimming at the corners of your eyes “y-yes. fuck, I’m gonna cum. please, please, oh my g-god.”

it didn’t take long before your body started convulsing and your pussy coated her cock to the hilt, all thick and warm and sevika gave it a couple more strokes until she pulled out.

letting out a whistle as she watched the way your cum dripped out of you, at how your thick thighs shook while trying to hold yourself up but failing miserably.

she took you into her strong arms, turned you around and held you close, tongue slipping into your mouth and you couldn’t stop the contented hum that slipped past your lips as you tasted yourself on her tongue.

“you good now?” she asked, her tone much softer compared to earlier as you blushed “or do we have to go for another round so I can get it through your head that you look gre-“

“n-no,” you couldn’t help but laugh as your hands flattened against her chest “I’m okay now… you were right, I was being irrational.”

“talk about an understatement,” she lets out a tsk “tomorrow we’re heading out and buying new clothes that fit you. and I don’t wanna hear another word from you complaining about the way you look again. got it?”

you couldn’t the smile that teased at the corners of your lips as you nodded “okay, I promise.”

she smirked, pecking you one last time “good.”

[cherryxbooo]

I've got you ... always

Summary: Working as a Mercedes engineer has always been challenging, but with men constantly looking down on you, it becomes unbearable. Lewis is quick to put a stop to it, and fight for justice.

Note: First of all, I want to thank all of you for the love you've shown me so far. I really appreciate it! 🤍 The reason I chose this storyline is to address the issue of sexism and misogyny in workplaces. Unfortunately, this still happens far too often, and with this fic, I hope to bring much-needed attention to this subject. Just know you're not alone 🫶

Reader x Lewis Hamilton

Warning: misogyny and sexism

It had been nearly six years since I first joined Mercedes as an engineer.

Six years of intense work, late nights, early mornings, and a relentless pursuit of perfection in the world of Formula 1.

It was my dream job, one I had worked tirelessly to achieve.

But those six years also marked the time I’d spent with Lewis, six years of love, laughter, and challenges with the man who had become my everything.

I could still remember the day we met as if it were yesterday.

A bit of backstory:

I was the newest member of the Mercedes team, fresh out of a competitive hiring process, and I was determined to make an impression.

The first time I stepped into the paddock, I felt like an imposter among the sea of seasoned professionals.

My hands clutched my tablet like a lifeline as I walked into a strategy meeting, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in my chest.

Lewis was already there, sitting at the far end of the room. He looked relaxed, dressed casually in his signature streetwear style, yet exuding an unmistakable aura of confidence.

As I took a seat near the back, his eyes flicked toward me.

I was sure he wouldn’t even notice me, why would he?

I was just another new face among dozens of team members.

But then, he smiled.

It wasn’t one of those polite, obligatory smiles.

It was warm and genuine, as if he could sense my nerves and wanted to reassure me.

That smile was like a silent message:

You belong here.

Over the next few weeks, our paths crossed more frequently.

At first, it was just in passing, a quick hello in the garage, a casual “How’s it going?” during lunch breaks.

But it didn’t take long for us to start talking. Really talking.

It was during a particularly chaotic race weekend in Silverstone that our friendship began to solidify.

A last-minute weather change had thrown everyone into a frenzy, and I found myself staying late in the garage to run some last-minute simulations.

The paddock was nearly empty when Lewis walked in, still in his racing suit, and caught me muttering to myself as I tried to make sense of the data.

“Long night?” he asked, leaning against the workbench with a lopsided grin.

“You have no idea,” I replied with a tired laugh, glancing up from my screen.

He stayed and talked with me for over an hour, even offering a few insights that helped me crack the issue I was stuck on.

By the time he left, I realized that the nervousness I’d felt around him was gone.

He wasn’t just Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion.

He was kind, funny, and incredibly easy to talk to.

From that moment on, our friendship grew effortlessly.

Whether it was over post-race debriefs, team dinners, or stolen moments between the chaos of race weekends, we found ourselves drawn to each other.

We bonded over a shared love for what we did, but also over our differences, his world of high-speed fame and my quieter, behind-the-scenes role.

It wasn’t long before I realized my feelings for him had shifted.

I hadn’t planned on falling for him, but Lewis had a way of breaking down walls without even trying.

He made me laugh when I was stressed, listened intently when I rambled about work, and made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

One evening, after a long day at the factory, he invited me out for dinner.

It wasn’t anything fancy, just a cozy little restaurant tucked away.

Over plates of pasta and glasses of wine, we talked about everything from our childhoods to our dreams for the future.

By the end of the night, when he walked me to my car, he hesitated for just a moment before leaning in to kiss me.

That was the beginning of us.

For a long time, we kept our relationship private. We both wanted to protect what we had, to keep it ours without the scrutiny of the public eye.

But as the months turned into years, it became harder to hide.

Fans started noticing the subtle signs, the way Lewis would glance at me during interviews, or how I always seemed to be nearby during race weekends.

When we finally decided to go public, it wasn’t a grand announcement or a carefully curated statement.

It was a simple photo posted on Lewis’s Instagram.

We were in Monaco, sitting on a terrace overlooking the harbor, the golden light of sunset washing over us.

I didn’t even know he’d taken the picture until he showed it to me later that night.

“Should I post it?” he asked, his voice tentative.

I hesitated, thinking of the attention it would bring, but then I looked at him, at the way his eyes softened as he waited for my answer.

“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “Let’s do it.”

The response back then was overwhelming.

Fans flooded the comments with messages of support, and the media couldn’t stop speculating about us.

But through it all, Lewis and I stayed grounded, reminding each other that our relationship wasn’t for anyone else.

It was for us.

One of the things that made our relationship so strong was our ability to communicate.

From the very beginning, we had promised to tell each other everything, our fears, our frustrations, our dreams.

No topic was off-limits.

Whether it was a rough qualifying session for him or a challenging project for me, we leaned on each other without hesitation.

At least, that’s how it used to be.

Lately, I hadn’t been able to keep my promise to Lewis, to tell him everything, to lean on him like I always had.

The reason? Mark, Alan, and Greg.

They were three senior engineers on the team, men who had been with Mercedes long before I joined.

Older, more experienced, and as I had quickly discovered, painfully set in their ways.

From the very beginning, they had made it clear that they didn’t think I belonged.

I still remember the first time I overheard them.

It was during my second week on the job, and I was running a simulation late at night.

They didn’t realize I was in the corner of the garage, headphones off, sorting through notes.

“Hiring for diversity quotas,” Mark had muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Yeah, they want to tick a box, so they bring in the fresh-faced rookie,” Alan had added with a chuckle.

Greg, ever the opportunist, chimed in,

“Let’s see how long she lasts when the pressure’s on.”

"She's better off making us a sandwich."

Their words had stung, sharp and bitter, but I had swallowed my pride.

I told myself that proving them wrong would be the best revenge.

I worked harder than I ever had in my life, triple-checking my calculations, volunteering for extra tasks, staying long hours to ensure that my work was flawless.

And for a while, I thought it had paid off.

At first, the snide remarks tapered off.

They didn’t engage with me much, but at least they stopped openly questioning my abilities.

I had even started to think that maybe, just maybe, I had earned their respect.

But lately, the comments had returned, and they were worse than ever.

It started subtly, dismissive sighs during meetings when I spoke, or whispered conversations that stopped the moment I entered the room.

Childish right?

Then the snark escalated, cutting through my carefully built confidence like a knife.

“Did you even double-check this?”

Alan had sneered last week after a team briefing, gesturing at the simulation results I’d spent days perfecting.

Greg, never one to miss a chance to pile on, smirked as he added,

“Leave the big decisions to people who actually know what they’re doing.”

Then Mark's voice was heard,

"Yeah, go do the laundry or something, whatever you women are good in."

It was always wrapped in the guise of banter, thinly veiled behind forced smiles and casual tones.

But I wasn’t naïve.

There was a sharpness to their words, a deliberate attempt to undermine me that cut deeper each time.

Even Mark, the one who usually played the “neutral” party, had started joining in.

During a debrief on a race strategy I’d helped design, he had scoffed and muttered,

“Well, I guess every team needs its token young genius.”

It was relentless.

Every day, there was something, a comment, a glance, a dismissive laugh that made my blood boil.

But I kept it all to myself.

I told myself that it wasn’t worth causing a scene, especially now.

Lewis had enough on his plate.

His move to Ferrari had been the talk of the motorsport world, and while he was excited for the new challenge, the transition was anything but easy.

There were endless negotiations, media commitments, and the emotional weight of leaving the team that had been his family for over a decade.

I couldn’t bring this to him, not now.

Not when he was already stretched thin.

So, I stayed quiet.

I bit my tongue when Alan questioned my calculations, ignored Greg’s condescending remarks, and pretended not to hear Mark’s muttered jokes.

Each time, I told myself it was just words, that I could handle it.

But deep down, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could.

Lewis was busy.

I kept telling myself that over and over, like a mantra.

Between announcing his move to Ferrari, dealing with the media frenzy, juggling sponsorship demands, and the seemingly endless meetings, he had so much on his plate.

The last thing he needed was me adding my problems to the mix.

But today was different.

The garage was buzzing with activity as we prepped for the upcoming race weekend.

The sound of drills, clinking tools, and the hum of engines filled the air, a symphony of chaos I had grown to love over the years.

I was stationed at my usual spot, hunched over a set of data sheets, meticulously double-checking the aerodynamics report for any inconsistencies.

I was deep in concentration, my pen scratching against the paper, when their voices drifted over.

Mark’s gruff tone was unmistakable.

“What’s the point of her even being here? Probably just a pretty face for the team photos.”

I froze, my hand pausing mid-note.

My heart sank, but I willed myself to stay calm, telling myself to ignore it like always.

Alan, never one to pass up an opportunity, snorted.

“Yeah, but even that’s debatable.”

Their laughter was casual, almost conversational, but the sting of their words hit me like a whip.

Then Greg joined in, his tone dripping with mockery.

“She’s only here because she’s shagging the driver or maybe even the boss. Imagine thinking she got this job on her own merit.”

Mark laughed before adding,

"Maybe we can all ask her for a turn as well, if it's that easy to shag the boss, we might have a chance too."

"At the end of the day, that's all they're good at. Women don't belong in the motorsport world."

The room was filled with their laughter.

That was it.

My pen slipped from my fingers, clattering onto the table as my hands began to shake.

I stared at the numbers on the page, but they were a blur, overshadowed by the burning heat of humiliation rising in my chest.

For years, I had endured their passive-aggressive comments, their dismissive attitudes, their constant undermining of my capabilities.

I had told myself it didn’t matter, that their opinions didn’t define me.

But hearing them reduce everything I had worked for, the late nights, the sweat, the tears, the sacrifices, to nothing more than being Lewis Hamilton’s girlfriend?

It was too much.

I clenched my fists under the table, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to hold it together.

But their laughter, light and cruel, echoed in my ears, shredding the last of my composure.

I pushed back my chair abruptly, the screech of metal against the concrete floor silencing the room for a brief moment.

My vision blurred with unshed tears as I grabbed my tablet and notes, clutching them to my chest like armor.

I didn’t dare look at them, I couldn’t.

My breath hitched, and my chest felt tight, like the walls were closing in.

I needed to get out. Now.

Without a word, I turned and stormed out of the garage, my footsteps heavy and uneven.

I didn’t care where I was going; I just needed space, air, something to stop the lump in my throat from turning into a sob.

As I walked away, their laughter faded into the background, but the words lingered, etched into my mind like a scar.

I didn’t know where I was going.

My feet carried me blindly, weaving through the maze of garages and team trailers until I found myself at the paddock’s edge.

It was quieter here, away from the relentless hum of activity, the chatter of crew members, and the ever-present cameras.

I sank onto a bench beneath the shade of a tree, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

Burying my face in my hands, I let out a shaky sigh.

My mind replayed their words like a broken record, each snide comment cutting deeper than the last.

"What’s the point of her being here?"

"Probably just a pretty face for the team photos."

"She’s only here because she’s shagging the driver."

The worst part was that they’d managed to plant a seed of doubt.

I had worked so hard to get here, put in countless hours, and sacrificed so much to prove myself in this male-dominated field.

And yet, in this moment, I felt like a fraud, like I didn’t belong.

“Y/n?”

The sound of Lewis’s voice cut through the fog in my mind.

I looked up sharply, my breath catching when I saw him standing a few feet away, his brow furrowed in concern.

He must have followed me.

My stomach twisted in a mix of guilt and relief.

The last thing I wanted was for him to see me like this, vulnerable, crumbling under the weight of my emotions.

“What’s wrong my love?” he asked, stepping closer and crouching down in front of me.

His warm, dark eyes searched mine, his hands gently resting on my knees.

The concern etched into his face made my heart ache.

“Nothing,” I lied, quickly wiping at my face.

Lewis raised an eyebrow, his expression soft but skeptical.

“Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out.”

I hesitated, my resolve cracking under his steady gaze.

His presence was grounding, but I didn’t want to pull him into my mess.

“It’s nothing, really,” I tried again, forcing a weak smile.

“I just… I’m tired.”

“Y/n.”

His voice was low and firm, but there was a tenderness to it that made my throat tighten.

“Please. Talk to me.”

That was all it took.

The dam broke, and the words spilled out in a rush.

I told him everything, the comments, the dismissive attitudes, the years of enduring their quiet but cutting condescension.

My voice wavered as I explained how it had worsened recently, how their snide remarks had crossed the line into outright insults.

“I didn’t want to tell you,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You’ve been under so much pressure with everything, Ferrari, the media, the season. I didn’t want to be another problem for you to deal with.”

Lewis listened intently, his face unreadable as I spoke.

But the slight tightening of his jaw and the way his hands gripped mine told me he was anything but indifferent.

When I finished, there was a long silence.

I stared down at my hands, afraid to meet his eyes.

“They’ve been doing this for years?”

he finally asked, his voice low and tightly controlled.

I nodded, biting my lip. “It wasn’t always this bad, but yeah.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t want to add to your stress,” I said softly.

“You’ve been dealing with so much already.”

Lewis let out a slow, measured breath, his grip on my hands tightening.

“Y/n, nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important to me than you.”

His voice softened, but there was a fierce protectiveness beneath his words.

“You should’ve told me. They don’t get to treat you like this. Ever. No woman deserves this kind of treatment.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Lewis was already standing.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, his expression dark with determination.

“Lewis, what are you doing?” I asked, standing as well.

He glanced at me, his jaw set.

“I’m making sure this doesn’t happen again.”

I reached out, touching his arm.

“Lewis, please-”

“Y/n.” He turned to face me fully, his eyes locking onto mine.

“You’ve put up with this for far too long. I’m not letting it slide, and neither should you. This is your workplace, your passion. You shouldn’t have to deal with people who try to tear you down.”

His words hit me hard, a mix of anger and love wrapped in every syllable.

I nodded slowly, my throat tight with emotion.

“Good,” he said, his voice softening as he pulled me into a hug.

His arms wrapped around me tightly, and for a moment, I let myself melt into his warmth.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured into my hair. “Always.”

By mid-afternoon, the entire paddock was filled with noice.

Meetings with Toto were rarely casual, and the tension in the air was palpable.

I stayed out of sight, nerves twisting in my stomach.

When Lewis had assured me earlier that he wouldn’t let this go, I’d believed him.

But seeing the immediate repercussions unfold was a different kind of catharsis.

The walk to Toto’s office felt longer than it should have, every step heavy with anticipation.

Lewis had his hand firmly on the small of my back, guiding me through the bustling paddock.

His touch was grounding, but my nerves still prickled under my skin.

“Relax,” he said softly, leaning closer.

“We’re handling this together.”

I nodded, though my stomach was a tangled mess of knots.

The last thing I wanted was to cause drama, but after years of enduring Mark, Alan, and Greg’s behavior, I couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

When we arrived at Toto’s office, Lewis didn’t bother knocking lightly.

He rapped his knuckles on the door with purpose.

“Come in,” came the familiar voice from inside.

Toto was seated behind his desk, a stack of papers neatly arranged to one side.

His brows lifted in mild surprise when he saw the two of us enter together, but he quickly gestured for us to take a seat.

“This seems serious,” Toto remarked, his sharp eyes flicking between us.

"What’s going on?”

Lewis glanced at me, silently asking if I wanted to start.

I hesitated, my fingers twisting in my lap.

Noticing my reluctance, Lewis leaned forward.

“It’s about some of the team dynamics,” he began, his voice calm but tinged with an unmistakable edge.

“Specifically, the way Mark, Alan, and Greg have been treating Y/n.”

Toto’s expression shifted, his posture straightening.

“Go on.”

I took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak.

“For years now, they’ve made comments, snide remarks about my qualifications, my presence here. It started when I joined, but I brushed it off because I was new, and I thought I had to prove myself. But lately…”

My voice wavered, and I swallowed hard to steady it.

“Lately, it’s escalated. They’ve been openly dismissive of my work, undermining me during meetings, and even questioning my position on the team. Today, they went too far.”

Toto’s jaw tightened, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

“What happened today?”

Lewis’s hand found mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze as I recounted the incident.

“They implied I’m only here because I’m dating Lewis and that I used my body to get my position,”

I said quietly, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.

“And that I didn’t earn my role.”

Toto exhaled sharply, his expression darkening.

“That’s not all,” Lewis added, his tone hardening.

“This has been going on for years, Toto. Years. Y/n didn’t tell me sooner because she didn’t want to cause problems, but that’s no excuse. Those three have created a toxic environment, and it stops now.”

Toto’s gaze shifted to me, his stern demeanor softening slightly.

“Why didn’t you come to me earlier, Y/L/N? This isn’t the kind of behavior we tolerate here.”

I shrugged, feeling small under his scrutiny.

“I didn’t want to be seen as a troublemaker. They’ve been here longer than I have, and I didn’t think anyone would take my word over theirs. Plus, I didn’t want to add more stress to an already intense environment.”

Toto shook his head, his voice firm but understanding.

“You should never have to tolerate that. Not here, not anywhere. The Mercedes team prides itself on being a family. What you’ve described is unacceptable, and I take full responsibility for not noticing it sooner.”

Lewis leaned back in his chair, his jaw still tight.

“What’s the plan, Toto? Because I’m not letting this slide.”

Toto nodded, already making notes on a pad in front of him.

“First, I’ll be speaking to Mark, Alan, and Greg individually. They’ll be given the chance to explain themselves, not that there’s much room for justification here. If their behavior aligns with what you’ve described, they won’t be part of this team by the end of the day.”

A weight lifted off my chest at his words, but the tension in the room remained palpable.

“I want to be there,” Lewis said firmly.

Toto raised an eyebrow.

“Lewis-”

“No,” Lewis interrupted.

“This is personal. They didn’t just disrespect Y/n, they disrespected the team, the values we stand for, and me by extension. I need to make it clear that this behavior won’t be tolerated. From anyone.”

Toto regarded him for a moment before nodding.

“Fine. But let me handle the disciplinary side. You can say your piece, but I’ll deliver the consequences.”

Lewis nodded, satisfied.

“That works for me.”

Toto turned back to me, his expression softening once more.

“Y/n, I’m sorry you’ve had to endure this. If there’s anything else you need, support, time off, anything, let me know. I’ll make sure you feel safe and valued here.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion.

Lewis stood, pulling me up with him.

“We appreciate it, Toto. Let us know when the meeting is.”

“You’ll hear from me shortly,”

Toto promised, standing to shake Lewis’s hand before giving me a reassuring nod.

As we left the office, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

For the first time in years, I didn’t feel alone in this fight.

Lewis wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we walked down the corridor.

“We’ve got this,” he said softly, his voice full of conviction.

I leaned into him, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“Yeah, we do.”

Toto wasn’t one to waste time.

Within the hour, Mark, Alan, and Greg were called into his office one by one.

The first to arrive was Mark.

When he stepped in, he wore his usual smug expression, likely thinking this was just another routine meeting.

But Toto’s steely gaze and the presence of Lewis, standing tall with his arms crossed by the window, quickly shattered that notion.

“Have a seat, Mark,”

Toto said curtly, gesturing to the chair across from his desk.

Mark sat, shifting uncomfortably as he glanced between Toto and Lewis.

“What’s this about?”

Toto wasted no time.

“It’s about your behavior toward Y/L/N,” he said, his voice sharp and unwavering.

“I’ve been informed of your repeated condescension, disrespect, and comments that have no place in this team, or any professional setting.”

Mark blinked, caught off guard.

“What? That’s not true. I-”

“Don’t bother lying,” Lewis cut in, his voice cold and firm.

He stepped closer, his dark eyes fixed on Mark.

“We’ve both heard enough from Y/n and other team members. You’ve been targeting her for years, haven’t you? Questioning her qualifications, making snide remarks about her role here, and today, outright implying she only got her position because of me.”

Mark’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

“I… Look, it was just banter. No harm meant.”

“Banter?” Toto echoed, his tone dripping with disbelief.

“You call undermining one of the most talented engineers on this team banter? You call questioning her abilities and belittling her contributions banter?”

Mark leaned forward, desperation creeping into his voice.

“Toto, I didn’t mean anything by it! I was just-”

“Enough,” Toto interrupted, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.

“I won’t tolerate excuses. You’ve created a hostile environment for one of your colleagues, and that is unacceptable. You’ve not only disrespected Y/L/N but also the principles this team stands for. I don’t care how long you’ve been here, Mark. Your behavior is grounds for immediate dismissal.”

Mark paled, his smugness vanishing entirely.

“Dismissal? Wait, Toto, please. I’ve been with this team for years. You can’t just-”

“I can, and I will,” Toto said, his voice resolute.

“Pack your things. Security will escort you out by the end of the day.”

Mark turned to Lewis, desperation in his eyes.

“Lewis, you can’t agree with this. We’re teammates, for God’s sake!”

Lewis’s expression didn’t waver.

“You stopped being my teammate the moment you disrespected Y/n. Pack your things, Mark.”

Mark’s shoulders slumped, and he left the office in silence.

Next was Alan.

He walked in with a similar air of confidence, though it quickly dissipated when he noticed the tense atmosphere.

“Toto,” Alan began, sitting down and glancing uneasily at Lewis.

“What’s going on?”

Toto leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk.

“What’s going on, Alan, is that your behavior toward Y/L/N has come to light. Years of dismissive comments, snide remarks, and today, a blatant attack on her credibility. Care to explain yourself?”

Alan frowned, leaning back in his chair.

“Look, I might’ve been a little hard on her, but it’s nothing personal. She’s young and still learning. I thought she could use a bit of tough love.”

Lewis scoffed from his spot by the window.

“Tough love? Is that what you call undermining her at every turn and insulting her in front of the team?”

Alan shifted uncomfortably.

“She’s good at her job, I’ll give her that. But come on, Lewis, you can’t deny people have wondered if her connection to you played a part in her being hired. It’s not like I said anything everyone wasn’t already thinking.”

Lewis took a step forward, his fists clenching at his sides.

“The only reason anyone would think that is because people like you spread that garbage around."

"Y/n earned her place on this team through her hard work and talent, not because of me."

We didn't even know each other when she joined. And even if, she didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, the way you’ve treated her is disgusting.”

Toto’s expression darkened further.

“Alan, you’ve been with Mercedes long enough to know we value respect and inclusivity above all else. What you’ve done isn’t just a breach of trust, it’s a breach of the very foundation of this team. Your actions have consequences. You’re fired, effective immediately.”

Alan stood abruptly, his face red with anger.

“You’re seriously going to throw away years of experience over a few jokes?”

“Yes,” Toto said bluntly.

“And I suggest you leave now before you embarrass yourself further.”

Alan glared at both of them before storming out, muttering under his breath.

Finally, it was Greg’s turn.

Unlike the others, Greg walked in looking visibly nervous.

He barely met Toto’s eyes as he sat down, fidgeting with his hands.

“Greg,” Toto began, his voice steady but firm.

“You know why you’re here.”

Greg nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah… yeah, I figured.”

“Then you know the kind of behavior we’re addressing,” Toto continued.

“You’ve contributed to a toxic work environment for Y/L/N and others. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Greg hesitated, glancing at Lewis, who was staring at him with barely concealed anger.

“I- I don’t have an excuse. I guess… I thought it was harmless, but it clearly wasn’t. I crossed a line, and I’m sorry.”

Toto’s brow furrowed.

“You thought it was harmless? You’ve made Y/n feel unwelcome and disrespected in her own workplace. That’s not harmless, it’s damaging. Apologizing now doesn’t erase what you’ve done.”

“I know,” Greg said quickly, his voice trembling.

“I know I messed up, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right.”

“It’s too late for that,” Lewis interjected, his voice low but full of authority.

“You had years to change your behavior, and you didn’t. You don’t get to stay on this team after what you’ve done.”

Toto nodded in agreement.

“Greg, I appreciate that you’re taking responsibility, but the damage has been done. You’re no longer part of this team. Security will escort you out shortly.”

Greg’s shoulders sagged, and he nodded, standing to leave.

“My deepest apologies,” he said quietly before walking out.

By the end of the day, the three men were gone, and the Mercedes team felt lighter.

Word of the firings spread quickly, and several team members quietly expressed their relief and support for you.

Back in the garage, Lewis pulled me into a quiet corner.

“It’s done,” he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

I nodded, a weight lifting off my chest.

“Thank you, Lew. For standing by me.”

“Always sweetheart,” he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“No one messes with my girl.”

To all the women facing sexism at work, school, home or online: You are strong, capable, and deserving of respect. Don’t let anyone diminish your worth. Your voice matters, and you are making a difference just by being you. Keep pushing forward.

The end

[thargelalia]

Love at first shot - pt. 1

jason todd x fem!reader

adulting is hard, especially when you need to deal with Gotham's misadventures and its crazy ass vigilantes

or alternatively, this is how you meet Red Hood for the first time

-> +5k words

-> slight dark content, mild angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, strangers to lovers

-> warnings: violence; guns; blood; lots of swearing; mentions of drug dealing, and organized crime; poor attempt at humor; reader is unhinged, don't mess with her; jason looks like could kill you, and he could, but he's also a cinnamon roll <3

The hospital’s fluorescent lights contrast sharply with the dim orange glow of Gotham’s street lamps as you step outside. The cold autumn air nips at your face, a welcome break from the stuffy, sterile environment of the hospital. You’re exhausted but find a small sense of accomplishment as you reflect on your day. 

Dr. Joshi had pulled you aside earlier to express her satisfaction with your work performance so far, and you couldn’t be happier. She did warn you, though, to ‘take it easy’ because professor Chinwe apparently had a chat with her about your tendency to forgo any sense of self-care in order to achieve perfect results. 

Or whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.

There was no sleeping on a scholarship before, and there’s certainly no sleeping on a residency now. No time for slacking off. You’re not going back to counting pennies to buy subway tickets again. Or choosing between having lunch or dinner because you can only afford one. Or mending shoes countless times until the soles effectively fall off and there’s nothing else to be done. Sure, you’re still not rich. But you’ve managed to successfully move from the dorms into a small apartment in Burnley. That’s a hell of an accomplishment already.

These are some of the thoughts that accompany you home during the bus ride home.

Desperate for a hot shower and yesterday’s leftovers, you climb the stairs leading to the second floor with what energy is left in your body. A yawn escapes your lips as you trudge through the corridor, feet stopping at the mat saying make yourself at home (but remember you’re not there). 

Much to your horror, the door to your apartment is ajar. 

Light escapes through the crack. 

Muffled sounds of struggle and stuff breaking are coming from the inside. 

Also, another thing.

You live alone. 

Shit.

Now, a reasonable person would probably back away slowly and hide, immediately calling the police. 

A reasonable person would be desperate and frightened to the core. 

But you’re not exactly a reasonable person. 

You’re a first year medical resident that spent the day busting your ass off only to come home and find… your cousin fighting – or better, trying to survive – the Red Hood in the middle of your living room.

“What the fuck is going on here?!” You eye the mess of broken vases, dirt spread on the floor, chairs thrown across the room, fallen paintings and shards of glass everywhere, until it stops on both figures at the center of the chaos. Red Hood’s hulking frame is hunched over your cousin, grasping his collar. His other hand freezes mid punch in the air. “Ezra???”

Ezra, your cousin, muttered a weak response akin to your name and a plea for help. Black eye swollen shut and multiple contusions of equal color all over his slender body. You’re surprised he’s not passed out yet. He’s close, though. 

Red Hood drops your cousin to the floor, straightening his posture. He looks twice as big now – if that’s even possible. Dark suit, accents of red on his chest and helmet, looms over you. You’d certainly be intimidated had it not been for the fact that you were fuming. 

These motherfuckers thrashed your entire place.

“This fucking dirtbag is dealing stolen meds and guns through my turf. To kids. He’s lucky I’m not dumping him in the harbor.” A deep modulated voice speaks menacingly.

Oh, yeah. Right. Your family’s aware of Ezra’s illicit activities. Just not the true extent of it. As it’s well known, whoever looks for trouble in Gotham, finds it fast. Or even if you don’t go looking. Like you at the moment. In any case, everyone had already tried to put some sense into Ezra’s head several times, but ultimately he’s a grown man. Dropped out of high school, told everyone to fuck off and said he was now going to do his own thing. 

Sometimes you felt guilty for not trying harder but over the years you realized it’s impossible to help someone who doesn’t want help.

“I can’t even—” you try to process his words, only for your lips to draw back in a snarl. “And what the hell makes you think you’re entitled to kick his ass at my place?!”

“I only followed his tracks here.” Red Hood has the audacity to shrug. “Got the drop on him before he could steal your shit. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Not much to steal now, huh? Is this your way of stopping house robbery?” you’re seething, gesturing wildly around like a madwoman. “Can’t steal what’s broken into pieces, jackass!”

“Your boyfriend told you that?”

“Go to hell!”

“Already did.”

A moan of pain snags your attention to the floor. Damn. You’d forgotten about Ezra. Red Hood approaches him again, seemingly wanting to finish the job.

“Wait!” You hold your hands out to stop him. “Don’t do this. Let me handle him.”

“Nobody fucks with me and lives to tell the story, doc.”

You choose to believe he knows your profession only because he’s seen the graduation pics before getting into action with Ezra. And not because he already had intel on you. Or had stalked you before due to Ezra’s stupidity. 

“Oh, yeah? And how about me? You fucked with me!” Whole face is now burning as you practically yell. “You’ve no idea how long it took me to finally be able to rent a place and buy my own shit! You self-righteous vigilantes need to get off your fucking high horses and actually see the amount of damage you cause under the excuse of ‘helping’! So do me a fucking favor and fuck off!”

You’re out of breath by the end of your outburst. There’s a beat of silence before Ezra starts contorting himself on the floor while coughing out blood. Red Hood looks between you and him, seemingly contemplating his next move.

“As you wish, then. He’s your fucking problem now. But if this son of a bitch shows his weasel face near my turf again, I’ll get him clipped.” You crouch down next to Ezra as the vigilante backs away and swings one leg over the windowsill. “One more thing, doc.”

You snap your head to him. “Play it smart with your words next time. Not everyone will be nice like me.”

Unfortunately, he’s out the window before you have a chance to flip him the middle finger.

“Shit. What am I gonna do with you now?” You heave a sigh, beginning to assess the damage in your cousin’s body. 

There’s a brief moment in which you consider just leaving him there like that and deal with everything in the morning. After all, you’re exhausted and it’s not your fault he got what he went looking for. 

The only thing left to do is to patch Ezra up and get him off the floor and onto the couch as he’s completely out now. His heartbeat and breathing are slow but steady despite everything, so he’ll live. Probably going to need a trip to the hospital to check for internal bleeding tomorrow, though. That is if he wants to, which you doubt. And also if you don’t decide to dump him in the river yourself until then. 

Grabbing a broom, a trash bag, disinfectants,  and other products, you clean what you can from the mess strewn across the place, not forgetting to scrub the small pool of blood off the floor. Good news is apparently Red Hood managed to catch him in the living room and kept the destruction there. Sadly, you’ll have to replace your brand new TV, three of your poor plants, an armchair, a few portraits and chairs. 

Tidying everything up as much as possible, you left to go straight into the shower; falling into bed face first afterwards, not even bothering with blankets. 

Walking into the living room the next morning and discovering you hadn’t dreamed at all about last night shattered your inner peace, anger rushing back in tidal waves. You were supposed to be getting ready for work now but instead you’re calling Dr. Joshi, bargaining to work an entire night shift in order to deal with family business this morning.  

After that, you’re dumping a whole bucket of cold water on Ezra for him to “wake the fuck up, bitch”.

You give him several pieces of your mind, threatening to bestow his face with another black eye to match the other one when he dares to intervene. The only reason why you won’t press charges against him is solely to prevent your aunt and uncle from having a heart attack. 

When you’re done, Ezra only provides a half-assed apology about things going out of his control, arguing that Red Hood is a “deranged psycho on steroids”, and that you should be more understanding of the situation as a family. But when he actively calls you selfish, saying you always got it easy as a student and now as a doctor, and thus have no right to be bitching about money, you lose it completely. 

The feral scream that comes from the depths of your soul is enough to make him bolt out the door without looking back, injuries be damned and all, as you let yourself drop into the wet couch cushions with a sniff.

–//–

It’s the middle of the evening on another day off when your apartment is yet again invaded. 

This time by an enforcer claiming that Ezra listed your name as someone who could pay his trafficking debts. Wonderful. He gave this gang both your home and work address. 

The criminal barged in with a kick to the front door. Not even a peep heard from your neighbors. Not then, not now. 

Rather you than me. It’s the Gothamites way of life. 

You had just finished cleansing and moisturizing your face inside the bathroom when you heard the noise of wood splintering. Not fast enough to hide, the enforcer soon found you, pulling roughly on your upper arm and shoving you into the living room with even less care. 

So, yeah, now there’s a gun to your face. 

Despite your heart beating faster than a hummingbird wings, the knees wobbling, and sweat starting to coat your back, you try not to let desperation completely cloud your judgement. 

The criminal was demanding the cash, threatening to shoot in case you don’t hand it to him, stating he knows you got it, so there’d be no way out of this. Meanwhile, your brain tries to come up with a solution. 

Think. Think. Think. Think. 

Skimming through several mental philes in a flash.

Ah. 

Krav Maga. 

This one might work.

If it doesn’t, then… well. 

Let’s just say it was nice sticking around long enough to watch Beyoncé’s Coachella performance.

Through Delilah’s 144p resolution FaceTime call. But still.

“Oh, my God!” Looking past the guy, you exclaim. Mouth wide open. “Batman?!”

Instant terror cascades his features, eyes bulging out of their sockets, as he snaps his head to look behind him.

In a rush of adrenaline, you act quickly to disarm him by twisting the barrel away with one hand while the other simultaneously pushes his wrist down. You slide back swiftly as the criminal cries out in pain — thumb got caught in the trigger, most likely being broken now. Good. 

“You bitch.” Hand cradled to his chest, he glowers at you in fury from a hunched position. “Got the guts to shoot me now, huh? Aren’t you supposed to save lives?” 

“You know what I do but you don’t know me.” Mustering your best sinister smile, you try to keep a steady grip on the weapon, adding another hand to its bottom. “Hands up behind your neck, asshole. Slowly.”

Doing as told, he winces, trying to plead through gritted teeth. “Put down that gun, sweet cheeks. You don’t wanna do this.” 

“Here’s what’s gonna happen,” you start, cocking the pistol. Eyes never leaving him. “You are getting lost. Now. And if you, or any other piece of shit, ever come back, you will pay.” 

“You’ll regret this.” 

“Not as much as you.” A click of another gun. 

Red Hood. 

You’ve no idea how he got here unnoticed but instant relief floods your system. Not that you’ll ever admit it.

Two guns point at the enforcer who’s now positively shaking and sweating buckets. Looking like a helpless sheep cornered by two hungry wolves.  

Oh, how the tables have turned. 

“C’mon, guys… Two against one? Not fair.” A nervous laughter reveals his yellow teeth. “I was just following orders, I swear! Don’t shoot the messenger, as they say.” 

“Just shut the fuck up.” In a swift motion Red Hood swings his gun upward, the solid metal butt striking the enforcer’s forehead, sending him sprawling to the ground. Then he turns. “You okay?”

Unable to come up with words, you simply nod. Lowering trembling hands, trying to take deep breaths as Red Hoods watches on.

“I’ll deal with this bastard outside.” He informs and you nod once again, extending your hand as a silent invitation for him to take the criminal’s glock. 

Tucking it into one of his holsters, he then picks up the unconscious body, throws it over the shoulder like a sack of rice and leaves through the window.

You waste no time in scrambling to the bedroom to find your phone. 

Delilah picks up after a few rings and you feel bad for waking your best friend up as her tired voice sounds through the speaker. 

“Hon, you okay?”

“I-can I..can I crash at your place?”

“Of course… What happened?? You’re scaring me.”

You fill her into all the crazy shit you’ve been dealing with, thanks to your stupid ass cousin, while leaving the details for later. She’s absolutely horrified as expected. Since you’ve both been super busy recently, there hasn’t been a chance to talk about all this. A text seemed inappropriate. 

Delilah asks how you’ll get to her apartment since she’s taken her car in for a revision, and you just tell her not to worry, promising to be there shortly. Ending the call, you hurriedly grab your stuff and throw everything necessary for a couple of days inside a backpack. 

Stepping out onto the sidewalk, you pay no mind to the chilling wind, intending to run as fast as possible to Delilah’s block. 

Out of a sudden, a prickling sensation spreads through your arms, making all the hairs stand up. 

Somebody’s watching you.

As you turn around, you jump when spotting a familiar figure leaning on their shoulder, arms and legs crossed, almost fully concealed by shadows. “The hell you’re still doing here?!” 

“Just tryna scare you. Good to see it worked.” Before you can open your mouth to curse him, his entire bloodline, every vigilante in Gotham city and their predecessors, Red Hood continues on a more serious note, “That son of a bitch won’t be a problem anymore.”

The enforcer. Right. 

“D-did you kill him?” You hate the way your voice wavers. 

“Sure you wanna know?” He leans away from the brick wall and saunters in your direction, causing you to instantly take a step back.

“Seriously, why are you still here?”

He ignores your question, pointing at the backpack strapped on your back. “Where you’re going?”

“Fuck off. That’s none of your business.”

“I just made it my business.”

“I’ll knee you in the groin.” 

At that, his modulated voice makes a weird strangled noise that almost sounds like… 

Wait. Is he laughing at you?

“Tough words for someone wearing a sleeping cap and Snoopy pajamas.” Yep. He’s definitely laughing at you. “There’s more holes in your shirt than in the assholes I...”

You drown out his last sentence, focusing on your lower body. Old white cotton pants and a long sleeved shirt with Snoopy prints adorned your frame. Clearly, in your haste to get away, changing clothes was the furthest thing to mind. 

That means you faced the criminal that broke into your house like this, too.

Placing a hand on your head, you also feel a smooth fabric there.

Immediately, you rip it off.

“I-Fuck. Listen, these actually—” A pause. “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you. Fuck off!”

“Pretty sure you already said that.”

“And I’ll keep saying it until–stop staring!” 

His amused chuckle fills the air.

“How do you know I’m staring?” There’s a 99% chance he’s smiling behind that helmet and you just wish you could slap it off his face.

Instead, you huff and walk away, leaving him standing there. More out of frustration and sheer annoyance than to actually ditch him as this would be impossible. Indeed, he manages to catch up easily with his long legs. 

Then, turning on heels briskly, you brandish the pink satin fabric in front of his face. “By the way, this is called a bonnet.” 

“Duly noted, Snoopy.” He’s closer now. Not too much to make it uncomfortable, but enough to fully enclose a large gloved hand around yours. Somehow, he manages to soften the modulated voice. “I know you’re scared. But lashing out at me isn’t the answer, alright? I’m only here to make sure you get to your friend’s place in one piece.”

“I’m not–Wait. Never told you where I was going.” 

“Mmm, you did.” 

“I didn’t.” A gasp of realization leaves your lips. “You were spying on me!”

“My hearing is just sharp.”  

“Unlike your brain, apparently.” 

“Hilarious.” Judging by the flat tone, he must’ve rolled his eyes. “But seriously, let me walk you there. The streets are dangerous at this hour.”

Much to your dismay, he’s actually right. Being out in Gotham by yourself as a woman in the middle of the night is a terrible business. Best not to take any chances. 

“Fine…” You tug your hand back and start walking again, mumbling sarcastically, “what a gentleman.”

“Nope. Not even close,” he drawls, falling into step behind you. 

You don’t say anything back and neither does he. To his credit, he actually keeps a respectful distance. Even when the cold is too much and you halt to produce a jacket from the bag. Only the sound of your backpack rustling echo in the empty streets. Not a single soul in sight. 

This whole predicament is just so uncanny to you. Only a month ago your only knowledge of vigilantes came from sensationalist news outlets or frequent whispers and gossip at work whenever criminals were admitted to the ICU in a coma. 

Like most people, you’ve also seen the bat-signal reflected in the night sky multiple times.

But you’ve never actually seen one of them right in front of your eyes. Twice now. 

You chance a furtive glance behind. 

Thumbs hooked in his utility belt, Red Hood has his attention to the passing houses, leisurely putting one foot after the other as if he’s taking a stroll at the park. 

One would even think he’s distracted. But you know better.  

Feeling watched, he tilts his head in question, prompting you to immediately avert your eyes to the front. 

At some point, he offers to carry your backpack, but gets impatiently dismissed. 

The rest of the walk to Delilah’s block is silent.

“This is it.” You announce when you reach the familiar beige stone building. He patiently waits as you climb the first two steps of the entrance and turn to him, standing eye to eye. “I appreciate your help tonight but I hope we won’t ever see each other again.”

“Ouch.” He clutches his chest in feigned hurt, wiping an invisible tear off the glowing white eyes. “How will I survive?”

“I don’t trust you, Red Hood.” You narrow your eyes, voice coming out more stern than intended. 

Silence. 

“You’re smart.” His tone is neutral. 

“Of course I am.” 

Again, silence.  

He lifts his fingers. 

And flicks. 

He flicks your forehead, completely catching you off guard.

Aside from your pride, nothing hurts, though. 

Then, he’s gesturing to your worn out pajamas. 

“You know, too bad I don’t have my wallet on me right now or I’d give you twenty bucks to replace those rags. Seriously, not even the homeless in Crime Alley—” 

“YOU—”

“I know, I know. I’ll gladly fuck off this time.” He cuts in, leaving the range of your clenched fists by gracefully sliding back. Hands up in mock surrender.  “Take care, Snoopy.”

–//–

After the entire ordeal of being held at gunpoint, nearly robbed, having your place broken in and thrashed, you decided to move to the other end of the neighborhood. A more busy but still fairly calm street. 

That doesn’t stop you from investing in sturdy locks for the windows and front door. 

No uninvited — and highly dangerous — guests this time.

Delilah let you stay with her for the days necessary to pull everything together. Despite the close ties you share, however, you really don’t like feeling like an intrusion. Not that she’s ever been unkind, quite the contrary actually. She loves having people over. The thing is once you get used to having your own space, it’s hard to live around others again.

Amidst the chaos of packing stuff and moving, you managed to take some time to visit your aunt and uncle. According to them, Ezra’s been arrested for drug trafficking, theft, and extortion. They were obviously crushed but understanding that there was nothing else to be done. You tried to show your support while hiding the relief of having one less problem to worry about. 

It’s a Tuesday night when you decide to get cozy on the sofa after an ordinary shift at the hospital. 

You’re tired, but not entirely exhausted. Just an ache in your bones. 

After a relaxing shower, you make some hot cocoa, pick up a book and dim the lights a little until sleep comes to find you. 

Contrary to your expectations, something else does. 

Trouble. 

In the shape of a black suit with a red bat insignia. 

A frantic knock on the glass window scares you into dropping your book to the floor. Scowling as you identify the source of disturbance. 

“Seriously, dude? What happened to fucking off for good?”

You reluctantly slide the windows open before he manages to crack them with his knuckles. He ducks his head in and drops unceremoniously to the ground, arms spread open.

“How did you even find me??” 

Noticing his chest heaving, you cross your arms and wait for him to catch his breath. 

“Need... a.. minute.” It’s all he manages to get out. 

Huffing in disbelief, you close the window and get comfortable on the couch again. No one’s keeping you from enjoying the little free time you haven’t had in a while. 

There’s a sound of careful footsteps. “I swear to God, if you dirty my house with those boots I’ll—” 

“Shhhh.” He lifts a finger to where his lips are, behind the helmet. “Don’t worry, Snoopy. I’ll leave soon.” 

“Still haven’t told me what you’re doing or how you found me.” 

He looks around and points at your armrest. “Mind if I sit?”

Tsking, you shut your book and drop it on the coffee table. “Go ahead. Not like I can stop you anyway.”

A deep sigh comes out as he flops down onto the soft cushions. He adjusts himself on the seat, legs widely spread, evidencing chunky meaty thighs. That’s definitely not a bad sight. Not that you’ll ever reveal this to him or anybody else whatsoever. 

“I know you’re not happy to see me again. But I actually needed to ditch someone. Some people. If you can actually consider them people.”

You lift an eyebrow as he says the last sentence almost inaudibly. 

“Why not just gun them down?” Your question drips with sarcasm. 

He hesitates. “They’re.. fast.”

At that, you shoot up from the couch. “And you risked bringing them here?? What the fuck?!”  

“What? No. No. Easy.” He tries to sound gentle and not make any sudden moves. As if dealing with a hostile cat. “I made sure they lost my tracks on the other side of town.” 

“How can you be so sure??”

“Trust me. I’d never endanger you like that.” 

You fall back onto the couch. Head stuck between hands. Can’t believe you’re in this mess again.

“As for how I found you,” he goes on, thinking as he says, “uuh.. let’s say I asked around.”

“Asked around?” You eye him suspiciously, getting a vigorous nod in return. “To whom?”

“Mmm, I’ve my sources. The same that also let me know your jackass cousin went to jail.” 

“Yeah, that’s right.” A sigh leaves your lips at the reminder. “But being privy to my life without consent is called stalking, you know?”

“I understand. But, hey, I needed to know if you were alright so I could sleep at night.” You can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or not. “Felt bad for destroying your things the other day.”

“Well, if you really want to compensate for the damage, start by getting me a new TV.” He laughs and stops when he sees you’re not following along. “I’m serious.”

He clears his throat. “Any preferences?”

“No less than a sixty-five inch screen. 4K resolution. Feel free to choose the brand.”

“Got it.” You’re not sure he actually means it. “Does that mean I get an invitation to visit you again?”

“Ha! Unbelievable. Just order it online or have someone else deliver it at my door.” 

“Why do you even need that big of a TV anyway? The previous one you had was fifty inches.” 

That’s shockingly accurate. How does he remember that? Why did he pay enough attention to that when invading your place to whoop your cousin’s ass? So many questions pop up inside your head but you decide to let them go for now. 

“Okay, creep. You don’t get to call the shots here. I’m the one being compensated, remember?” 

“Fine.” He sighs in defeat, dropping the back of his head against the armchair. Then, he’s looking at you, or rather, your clothes. “I see you finally got new pajamas. Snoopy will be missed. RIP.”

Unlike the long sleeved Snoopy one, this set is composed of light blue polka dot shorts and shirt.  

“For your information, that wasn’t my only pair.” A flush creeps up your cheeks as you grab a throw pillow and place it on your lap, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I own a lot of pajamas.”

“So you willingly choose to dress like an apocalypse survivor?” 

“You’re not really in a position to critique my fashion choices.”  

“Hey, what’s wrong with my suit?”  

“The person behind it.”

He tuts, shaking his head in mock disapproval. “You’re a really irascible lady, huh?” 

“You learned that word today?”

“Yesterday, actually.” His attention is drawn to the book you were reading. He grabs it and examines the pages curiously before closing them. Moving on to the cover, he reads the title out loud. “A Scandal of Bohemia. Sherlock Holmes? You like mystery books? Should I call you Scooby Doo instead of Snoopy?”

“I’m surprised you can even read.” Your eyes roll at his foolishness. “And stop calling me cartoon dogs names!”

“Can’t you just play nice for once?” He puts the book down and reclines, arms braced on the armchair. “Yes, for your information, not only can I read as I actually enjoy doing it very much.”

Contemplating his words, you decide to indulge yourself him by asking, “Well, what do you like to read?”

“Finally curious about me?” The smugness in his voice earns him a dirty look. “Careful. One might even think you’re starting to like me.”

Maybe you are, in fact, irascible. 

“I take it back.” 

“I read pretty much anything as long as it’s interesting to me.” He reveals honestly, not wanting to waste the opportunity of having a civilized conversation with you for once. “Most of it is fiction. Classic, Gothic, Horror…” He stops listing on his fingers to make a dramatic pause. “Romance…”

You blink in surprise. “What?”

“What what?” 

“You said Romance.”

“Yeah, I did. Why?” Jutting his chin out, he crosses his strong arms in a playful attempt to intimidate you. “Got a problem?”

“Nope. It’s just… hmm, unexpected?” You offer with a shrug. “I’m not much of a Romance reader myself, to be honest.”

“I can tell.”

Something about the way he says it so earnestly elicits what could be considered a witch cackle from you. Red Hood watches this whole display in stunned silence until you’re wiping a tear off the corner of your eyes. 

“Oh, wow. Didn’t know you were capable of that.” 

“Laughing?”

“Being human.”

Just like that, your expression closes up again. “Ha-ha. Don’t get used to it.” 

“Right. Back to cranky default, I see.” His words are colored with amusement as he cranes his neck to look at the wall clock near the kitchen entrance. A gasp leaves his lips and he’s suddenly up on his feet. “Shit. Didn’t mean to stay this long. I gotta go now.”

“Oh, okay.” You stand up and check the time as well. It’s almost midnight. 

“Thanks for everything, Snoopy. See you around.”

“See you.” A strange feeling of disappointment settles into your chest after his departure. 

You enjoyed his company tonight more than you’re willing to admit. 

—//—

Not even a week later, you arrive home to see him there again. 

Now, installing a new television in your living room. 

Seventy inches screen. 4k and all that. Just like you requested.

“Honestly. I’m not even surprised anymore.” You say while taking off your coat and hanging it on the wall hooks. “Don’t know why I bothered with getting better locks in the first place.” 

Despite the jab, your voice lacks its usual bite. Only a teasing lilt present in them. It’s nice to see he listened to your demands. 

“No, you did the right thing. The locks are actually great.” He comments absentmindedly, engrossed in the task at hand. 

“Not enough to keep you out, obviously.”

You take in the scene in front of you. There’s a cardboard box and some plastic wraps placed in the corner. At the center of the living room, Red Hood is assembling the TV to its mount on the wall, deeply concentrated. It’s a big heavy object that to anyone, would be awkward to lift alone. Not to him, though. He holds it almost like a freaking tablet. 

That also begs the question as to how the hell he managed to climb up to the third floor and pass through your window while carrying a seventy inch television. 

A lighthearted chuckle diverts you from your thoughts. 

“I’ll leave if you want, though. Almost done here.”

“Oh, no, please be my guest.” You wave him off, going into the kitchen for a glass of water. Then, coming back to watch him work. “You know, I’d offer you something to drink but… the helmet, right?”

“Sorry, Snoopy.” He’s fishing for the TV remote inside the box now. “Secret identity and all that shit.” 

“No, yeah. Absolutely. ” The bitterness within your words seems impossible to be contained. “It’s not like you know my home and work address, my occupation, my family and friends relations, my routine…”

“Okay, okay. I get it.” He winces, fiddling with the remote in his hands. It’s the first time he appears awkward standing in your apartment. “For what it's worth, I’m really sorry.”

After making sure the TV is working properly, he makes his way to the window. 

“Thank you.” You say suddenly, causing him to freeze. 

He turns his head slightly and gives a curt nod. 

“Anytime.” 

Then, he’s gone.

A/N: in case anyone's wondering how Jason managed to get the big ass TV through a window on the third floor, he asked Dick for help. No questions asked.

remember to reblog and let me know your thoughts if you like this!

pt. 2 will be posted soon!

thanks for reading <3

divider

[pillow-anime-talk]

their private bodyguard.

request: can i request a scenario with tanjuro, oyakata-sama and kyojuro? where an person lunges towards them (you may decide the reason, it could be a disagreement) but their calm and gentle s/o acts and swiftly and professional pinned down the attacker before they even reached them

# tags: scenario; current relationship or current marriage relationship; light romance; a bit of drama; strong!reader; sfw

includes: gender neutral reader ft. kyojuro rengoku, tanjurou kamado & kagaya ubuyashiki {kny}

— KYOJURO

↘ That day you were exploring the city, looking for fresh vegetables, so that you could later make a delicious dinner for yourself and your partner. As you walked around, you two talked about your recent achievements and missions, as well as victorious battles with demons. This day was unusually calm and full of sunshine; you loved moments like this, especially on your days off.

↘ While picking out the prettiest tomatoes and sweet potatoes, you heard a strange rustle to your right. You also smelled an unusual, very unpleasant smell (comparable to the smell of rot and old mud), and then heard sand rubbing against the soles of someone’s feet. Before you knew it, the body involuntarily moved towards Kyojuro, who was about to touch the fresh, earth-smelling carrots.

↘ With one quick and strong move, you knocked down a young demon in a black cloak, and then you touch his face, which was covered with a long hood. His screams and curses mixed with the sound of his burning skin were unpleasant, but at the same time incredibly calming. You didn’t hear anything suspicious in the vicinity, nor did you sense anything strange. Instead, you stood up and sheathed your katana, looking around carefully.

↘ Your partner thanked you and then apologized to the farmer he wanted to buy some goodies from. Without a word, you began to search every corner of the town, calming down the people you met and the crying children. It was a requirement after defeating the demon – it was necessary to check whether there was another, more dangerous threat.

↘ Your lunch unfortunately had to wait.

— TANJUROU

↘ You and Tanjurou were in the process of negotiating the price for the crops you harvested this year. You had one regular customer when it came to apples and pears. Thanks to them them that one of the inhabitants of the village was making delicious cider, i.e. alcohol based on these two fruits. You wanted to negotiate the most favorable price for yourself per kilogram of juicy goodness. 

↘ The man, however, stubbornly persisted in offering an extremely low (for you) price.

↘ You couldn’t agree to this, especially since you needed money to feed your family and also to save some extra coins for unexpected expenses such as medicine, new clothes and tools. So you asked a middle-aged man to think about your offer. 

↘ Still, he stubbornly stuck to his opinion and decision, cursing under his breath.

↘ So you have decided to give up trading at this point. You sincerely thanked for his precious time and offered other products, but the man suddenly got angry and started cursing your whole family and three generations ahead. Your husband tried to calm him down, but unsuccessfully. The forty-year-old almost immediately turned to your partner with the intention of grabbing him by the collar of his clothes, but you were two... No. You were hree times faster.

↘ You instantly grabbed his wrist and slammed it hard against the wooden table with red and green apples on it. You looked at the farmer angrily, getting him out of your property.

↘ You preferred to have no money and at the same time take care of your family in a different way than let yourself and the beloved man be humiliated for a few silver or gold coins.

— KAGAYA

↘ It was a beautiful night full of stars. You and Kagaya sat in blissful silence. Your eyes were closed and you both savored the taste of freshly brewed green tea.

↘ Words were not needed, you understood each other without them.

↘ From time to time you looked up at the stars and from time to time you closed your shining eyes again to indulge in blissful daydreams and a pleasant vision of the future.

↘ However, at some point, your peace of mind and beautiful sight of tomorrow were destroyed by the rustle of grass, almost inaudible to the human ear. You quickly threw away the steaming drink and covered your beloved man with your body, while noticing a crazy look in the moonlight.

↘ At first, you didn’t recognize the man charging in your direction, but after a moment of thought and knocking the intruder to the ground at the same time, you realized that it was one of the people who did not complete the Hashira training. You couldn’t remember his name exactly, but your perfect eye memory was right.

↘ A week ago, boy named Zenitsu became the Thunder Hashira, not a swordsman lying on the ground.

↘ So he probably saw it as an injustice or a mistake.

↘ Fortunately, your composure, quick reaction and almost superhuman strength defeated the young man who wanted to humiliate the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps in a frenzy. But you would never allow it.

↘ The dark-haired young man was quickly taken from the Ubuyashiki property by three kakushi, and you and your husband could once again enjoy delicious tea and silently think about what awaits your family, friends and charges.

[borderline-clusterfxck]

DBT SKILLS: INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS Part 2/7: Intro to Assertiveness

Part one

Part two

What are the benefits and skills of learning how to be assertive?

Knowing what you want: learning how to identify what you want, your desires and your objectives

Being able to ask for what you want: learning how to put your needs into words that are clear, non-demanding, and how to ask for specific change

Negotiation: learning how to be open to compromise, ensuring that each person involved gets some of what they want and no one feels as though the other is being unreasonable or demanding

Acquiring information: learning how to find out what the other person needs, their fears and hopes for a situation or request, etc. 

Saying no effectively: learning how to say no in a way that feels respectful and reasonable, and in a way that still validates the other persons desires while setting firm boundaries around what you will and wont do

Acting according to your values and boundaries: learning to set positive intentions and goals and acting accordingly to what you wish to achieve

How to figure out what you actually want

Step one: identify the relationship of concern: who are you currently having an issue with or needing something from?

Example: Sebastian realised that something felt off in his relationship with his mom

Step 2: identify what emotion(s) you are feeling towards the person and/or situation

Emotions are not inherently good or bad, rather there are emotions that are comfortable and pleasant to experience and emotions that are uncomfortable and painful to experience. When we are having an issue with someone, when we need or want something we aren't getting, etc, we are usually feeling an uncomfortable emotion. The list below may be able to help you identify what emotion(s) you are feeling

Comfortable emotions:

Satisfaction 

Excitement

Love / affection 

Sexual attraction 

Contentment 

Joy

Pleasant anticipation

Interest 

Satiety 

Uncomfortable emotions:

Anxiety [for the future]

Fear [of something now]

Anger / frustration / annoyed 

Resentment / jealousy / envy

Sadness

Grief / loss

Hurt 

Anger or disgust with oneself

Embarrassment / shame

Guilt 

Yearning / deprivation 

Loneliness / emptiness 

Example: Sebastian, after looking at the above list of emotions, realised that the emotion that seemed closest to what he was feeling was hurt, with a close seconds being resentment

Step 3: identify your objective/what you want or need

What does this emotion make you want to change about the current dynamic of the relationship? More specifically, what behaviour(s) of the other person would you like to see changed?

Do you want them to do more or less of something?

Do you want them to stop doing something all together?

Do you want them to start showing a new behaviour that could make a difference in how you feel? 

Example: Sebastian could tell that his emotions were in some way related to his moms upcoming visit. His mom planned to come to town for ten days with her new spouse, and in that week and a half time period, she had only asked to schedule a single dinner with Sebastian. He realised that he felt hurt and resentful because he felt as though his mom didn't care about him or wanted to see him as often as he wanted to see her. He wished that his mom would reach out more often to plan times to see each other when she came to town

Step 4: Clarify what you want further

When, where, and how often do you want to see this change?

What exactly would this changed behaviour look like? In what way would this behaviour be expressed?

Example: Sebastian came to the conclusion that he would like to see this change the next time his mom comes to town. For every week that his mom is in town, Sebastian would like to be included in activities at least twice, whether that means having lunch or dinner together and visiting or going out to do something in town. This behaviour could come in the form of his mom calling him or sending a text or email to invite him to something, or a phone call discussing possible plans and ideas of things they could do together

Step 5: Put your thoughts, feelings, desires, and expectations into a few simple, clear sentences

Example: Sebastian simplified his desires into the following: “when my mom comes to town, I would like to see her more often and for her to reach out and include me in activities more often, at least twice for every week she is visiting. I would prefer that she call me, but I am also open to receiving invites or scheduling questions by text or email

How to ask for what you want – the skill of making a request is necessary to taking care of yourself

Step 1: offer a brief justification [OPTIONAL]

Offering a short and simple justification for your request can help the other person understand the impact of the request and what the impact of their help with said request might look like

Some examples of justification: “it’s really hot in here”, “these bags are really heavy for me”, “it’s a long way to walk”

Many situations do NOT need justification, and you shouldn't feel obligated to justify every single request you make; when you do offer a reason/justification, keep in short and simple

Step 2: softening statements

A softening statement can help establish you as a reasonable person who is polite and non-demanding. Generally, you are less likely to encounter resistance when using these methods than with a hard-edged demand

Some examples of softening statements: “can you please help me with…”, “would mind if…”, “I’d appreciate it if you would…”, “could I please have…”, “It would be helpful if you could…”

Step 3: have a simple, specific, and direct request or question

Say what you want clearly and exactly – do not tiptoe around the request out of fear of inconveniencing others, and do not make demands. Try your best to use a polite but matter of fact tone

Keep your question or request short, one sentence if possible – generally, the more you elaborate and explain, the more resistance you'll tend to run into

Step 4: If the other person does fulfil your request, make sure to thank them and [optionally] add an appreciation statement

We all know what it feels like to feel as though our efforts are not appreciated, so its always a good idea to express your appreciation when someone does what you've asked of them. 

Appreciation statements help reinforce the other persons behaviour and it makes them feel valued and lets them know you appreciate what they are doing for you

Some examples of appreciation statements: “I really appreciate your help”, “Thank you for your effort”, “This will really help me out”, “This is going to make my life/time a lot easier”, “This will make a real difference”

Know your legitimate rights

A common issue some people face when it comes to being clear and specific about your desires and requests is that it brings up a lot of anxiety and fear. Unfortunately, lots of people grew up in families that invalidated their needs and made them feel less than for having desires. All their lives, they feel scared to ask for anything, as if it makes them bad people for needing or wanting things, as if they are undeserving or selfish, or as if their feelings and pain have no importance.

You have a right to need things from others, and to express those needs to others

You have a right to put yourself first when you need to

You have a right to feel and express your emotions or your pain

You have a right to be the final judge of your beliefs, your feelings, your needs, and your abilities

You have a right to your opinions and beliefs

You have a right your experiences – even if those experiences are different from others

You have a right to feel differently about an experience than other people who have had the same or similar experiences 

You have a right to protest treatment or criticism from others that feels bad to you

You have a right to negotiate for change

You have a right to ask for help, emotional support, or anything else you need (even though you may not always get it)

You have a right to say no – saying no doesn't make you bad or selfish

You have a right to not justify yourself to others

You have a right to not take responsibility for someone else's problems

You have a right to choose not to respond to a situation

You have a right, sometimes, to inconvenience or disappoint others

And the reason you deserve all of these things is that you are a human being who feels, who yearns for things, who hurts, who struggles, who has needs, who is alive. All of this entitles you to being heard and being respected

Disclaimer: I am not a professional, nor am I qualified to give you an official DBT Skills Training Unit. I’m just some guy with BPD who found DBT very helpful and so I want to impart those same skills onto as many of my fellow BPDers as I can. Should go without saying but this blog DOES NOT count as an official Skills Training Unit.

[denaliwrites]

Intrigued and Afraid

Cale Erendreich x GN!Reader

Summary: Cale finds out something you've been trying to hide from him.

Requests: Open!

Warnings: It's Cale Erendreich.

Cale was a man of power and control. Anything he couldn't rule over or make submit was Public Enemy Number One, in his eyes, whether it be a bratty girlfriend or a stray hair on his head.

And then you came along.

He hadn't really needed to control you. Intuitive nearly to a fault, you knew exactly what he wanted or needed and were usually quick to provide it, if it was reasonable or within your power. If not, something about you just... eased him. Just a little. He found himself losing his cool less around you in comparison to without you.

This alone set him on edge, sometimes, because despite not needing to exert control over you, you were still a free agent, prone to doing whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. This was rarely a problem, but on rare occasions, he'd call with dinner plans or something and you'd unexpectedly be in the club, or getting a manicure, or... any of your other random activities.

And then there were the emotions.

He wasn't an overly emotional person, generally (besides anger, he did feel that one a lot), but you... had the full range of human emotion, and you expressed it all openly. He wasn't sure how to handle you when you cried, or when you couldn't stop laughing, or when you were frustrated with something he'd done.

In fact, it was the emotions that were currently getting under his skin.

He knew, generally, when someone had a secret. Certain tells, certain ways they dodged a topic, or hedged around certain people. Despite being knowable, though, they were uncontrollable.

Secrets bothered him.

And you had one.

He could tell by the way you looked at him. There were emotions in those eyes that he didn't understand, couldn't even begin to comprehend, just nameless amalgamations of human experience swimming in a sea of a color that was now, inexplicably, his favorite.

And you were good at skirting around the issue. Whenever he tried to bring it up, you'd laugh, cheeks lightly brushed with the palest and prettiest pink he'd ever seen, and then you'd flitter away in a delicate dance of avoidance. You'd turn the topic to something you could control -- his day, the weather, what the Kardashians were up to, if you were particularly desperate for a subject to change to. Once, you'd even told him about the true story behind Moby Dick -- to this day, he was still trying to piece together how and why.

It was intriguing, watching you do all you could to avoid revealing your secret to him.

And, eventually, he gave up trying to weasel the information out of you. You left him no choice but to admit defeat, for once.

Apparently, that was all you needed.

About a week after he'd stopped asking after whatever it was you were hiding from him, you entered his home unannounced, made a beeline for the kitchen, made yourself some tea, and stood before him.

He had been eating lunch, but he stopped for you, because even he could see that you were about ready to burst with some vital information that you couldn't bear to hold any longer.

"What is i--" he started.

You quickly interjected, in a big emotional rush, "I'm madly in love with you!"

Oh.

Wait.

Oh.

A strange new emotion filled him. One he couldn't quite name but was sure he didn't like.

"... Why do you look so afraid?" your nervous voice cut through it like a hot knife through butter, and he startled and looked at you.

Fear? He was feeling fear? Why would he be feeling fear?

"I... don't know."

Oh, wait. No. He knew.

Well, now he was the one keeping secrets.

"It's nothing," he said after a moment, reassuringly taking your hand and squeezing it. "Anyway. You were saying?"

"... That's... that's it. Just that I'm... you know."

"Right." He hummed for a moment in thought. "What were you hoping to achieve by telling me?"

Shit. You looked hurt. He hadn't meant to hurt you.

"I dunno... guess I just... felt like I needed to get it off my chest. I... it's nothing. I should go."

You pulled out of his grasp and turned to leave. He watched you take a few steps before he got up to follow you. And he was surprised that you were able to make it all the way to the door before he caught up. Quite the legs you had, apparently.

But still, he caught up. A hand wrapped around your wrist to pull you to him, so firmly that in the blink of an eye you suddenly found yourself flush against him. Your eyes were wide as his hands moved to cradle your face, his eyes adoring as they met yours.

He had the control here. All of it. He could make or break you. Hell, he could even kill you if he wanted. And no one would even know. You'd be gone, forever, and though there'd be people who'd miss you, no one would ever be able to find you, and even if they did, they'd never be able to tie your death to him.

"I'm sorry."

Your eyes blinked up at him, confused. "For what?"

"I didn't mean for what I said to be hurtful to you."

"Oh..." You stared in stunned silence.

He had all the control in this situation, could do anything he wanted to you. Yet all he found himself wanting was to let you control the moment.

He'd put the power in your hands, too, with his apology. You decided whether to accept it or not, whether to leave or stay.

He was afraid.

Or, at least he was, until you pulled him into a soft, sweet kiss that left him lightheaded, yet strangely... elated.

Your lips were still brushing against his when you whispered, "you're forgiven."

[ray935sworld]

OH MY GOD, HELLO, MOM, I'M ON TV. I would like to thank everyone who helped me achieve such a great result! I was even given a tag, 😭 I’m crying, God, I’ve already managed to convince myself that it was too intrusive. Thank you for such a detailed answer, it’s so sweet.🌹

«Like "Everything Rossi related = bad = danger" and Luca got unjustified caught up in it.» - I've been desperately trying to formulate something like this, SO YES, I absolutely agree.

Besides, it always seemed to me that in his opposition to Vale, Luca obviously remains without much support. I sincerely love academy boys, but to be honest, from all of them only Peco has the strength and real understanding of this situation, but he doesn't seem ready or doesn't want to argue, maybe he just doesn't like the idea of confrontation with someone. (Especially with Vale, because he is literally considered the heir of Valentino, his disciple, and destroying this illusion of an ideal mentor will destroy his mental state. Although he is obviously aware of the unpleasant truth of this story, he clings to this myth, while carefully trying to avoid a direct clash with Marc, as this obviously contradicts his moral code. An honest player. It's obviously easier for him that way. Can I blame him for that? I don't know, to be honest).

I love Bez, he's a crazy cute little gremlin, but he eats Valentino's words for breakfast lunch and dinner and really thinks Marc is some kind of evil (maybe it's not that bad, he's probably a little confused, there's even a Pecco influence here. But their relationship with Marc is complicated in the the strangest sense of the word. Incredibly interesting to explore. I think that when the dust settles, they can even be friends, it's hard not to love Bez, he's so ridiculously stupid, but sincere and sunny, he and Marc are so similar in this. I also don't rule out that Bez secretly admires Marc, kind of "he's a terrible villain, but soooo damn cool, I hate him").

And there's Cele, my beloved suffering boy, who clearly won't be appreciated, so his word doesn't mean anything at all. I even think that he will have a strong mutual sympathy with Mags after all (I love the idea of his endless little arguments with Vale and the fact that he is the least susceptible to hatred for Marc, because he was too young and direct to understand the reasons for this behavior, I imagine how he even loudly admires Marc at the ranch during training in the presence of Valentino, and Bez and Peссo tell him to be quiet and not to say stupid things. And he's like, oh yeah. The elephant in the room. Why is he here all the time?). So yes, Marc obviously likes the little provocateur right away, I think he will even take care of him a little more, which Cele will greatly appreciate.

Therefore, it seems to me that when Luca tries to talk to Vale somehow (before their serious conversation with Marс), he is obviously brushed off or laughed off or downplayed by the extent of the problem, and since he is in the minority, he has nothing to cover. He remains unheard (although I think Vale NOTICES this, as well as the fact that he fails to deceive Luca in a sense, but so far, it's probably not such a big problem)

Perhaps, by the way, because of the manipulation, Luca also doesn't quite understand what really HUGE damage Marc has done because of all this. The conversation obviously puts everything in place. Highlights dark spots. Arguments in disputes are getting tougher, now the truth is known to everyone. Valentino has to actually hear it and (OH, HORROR) think about it.

OMG MOM! MOM SOMEONE THINKS I'M COOL! MOM LOOK AT THE LOVELY MESSAGE I GOT!

Okay to be fair I don't think the academy boys were actually in a position to disagree. I mean Luca as Vale's brother is/ was probably a lot more free since he knew that Vale would support him even if he privately disagrees with what he did in 2015 and the next years. Like Vale loves Luca. And Idk if it's just a projection of mine but even it isn't as visible I can't imagine them not having a close sibling bond even with the age gap. (Like Vale as a star literally going with his then 5 year old brother to those baby races and him just grinning and smiling when kid Luca was on the garage. Kid Luca had a kids shirt during one of Vale's championship celebration. LIKE COME ON. they are close! I can't be the only one) so obviously Vale would support his baby brother. But a bunch of kids that had only been the academy for a year or even less with no/ not yet/ not a strong emotional bond? It would be pretty easy to kick them out again and cut the support so I can imagine that that is a big reason why none of the academy kids spoke up. Plus they were literal teenager, most around 17-21, not yet in MotoGP so realisticly none of them would speak up to not lose the favor of the famous, magnificent, legendary Valentino Rossi and instead just go along and show their support.

And as soon as you tell certain lies long enough you believe them so I 100% can see Pecco accidentally gaslighting himself in the we hate Marc agenda. Bez is running ahead at that point ngl. He is a crazy fan girl listening to EVERYTHING Vale says. But Bez can't help but admit that Marc is successful. So it's like you said this "He's so cool. I hate him. He's maestro, I wanna kick him off his bike and make it look like an accident" like father like son.

Cele saying stuff like "OMG did you saw that overtake from Marc against Acosta? That was sick! How did he do it?" And Pecco just pushed his elbow in his stomach with the biggest "SHUT THE FUCK UP" look and Cele is like 🤨😐😬 ups.

And Franky has been dealing with Vale too long. Like since the end of 2000s early 2010. So he excatly knows how Vale is doing what and he just wisely deciding to be a neutral party like "Not my monkey not my circus" and since it's Franky, Vale actually let's him.

And oooh I love the idea of a confrontation talk. I thinks it's something like Luca really trying to get to the bottom of this and keep asking Vale questions like "Why do you think he lied about you being his childbood hero? Why do you think he wanted Lorenzo to win? Why do you think he wants to beat your 9 championships? Why is that so bad? Why are you destroying your own legacy with this? Why do you wanna go down in history as an old man unable to adapt to being beaten and instead accept/ prefer to be remembered as the 9 time champions whose conspiracies were more crazy than any overtake?" And Vale just sits there slowly running out if answers cause normally his arguments went in circuls but THIS.

And then Luca leaves him to think about it and slowly everything sinks in. I think Luca is the key element. Like when your little baby brother tells you, your actions are pathetic and points out why, you maybe stop thinking. Because Yeah, Vale is a hero too many. To the academy boys. To most of tbe young riders. And a million anonoums people. But at the end of the day an older brother always wants their little sibling to like and admire them. And I think it's the hurt in Lucas eyes and the clear disappointment about how his older brother went down, that will be the ultimate wake up call for Vale.

Anyway that's just some quick thoughts, hope you liked them

[gyllenhaalstories]

Hi Laurie! 💛

You know what's coming, hehe 👀

I saw this in another fandom and now I'm sending the same question to a bunch of Jake girlies (gn) because it’s so interesting seeing everybody’s answers!

Who are your Top 3 Jake boys and why? Is there a specific piece of art (fic, gif, fan art, etc.) for them that you like a lot?

hiiiiiiiiii!!! 💖 i do know what's coming teehee! i love his characters so much. even if the movie is not up my alley, his character always stands out. i'll watch everything he's in just because i'm obsessed (except spirit untamed, it is against my principle to support this horrible version of spirit the stallion of the cimarron) i just love them like they're just so neat i love them so much. OKAY TIME TO CHOOSE.

Elwood Dalton

i cannot believe that davis was dethroned as my forever ultimate favorite character but he was. dalton is so special to me. i've been obsessed with him since the very beginning when i was looping videos to get his full name and start writing for him immediately. so he's been living in my mind rent from for a LONG and i hope he never leaves. i lost count of how many times i've watched the movie (especially the scenes with laura!!!), it's so good. i'm already seated for the sequel idc what people say i want it and i will love it! also, i love how dalton ressembles billy and lou! the scene where he punches the guy to death and tell him how he will perish was so hot like like welcome back lou bloom you were missed <3 dalton is funny, and suicidal and caring and violent and what more could i ask? yeah okay i could ask to use his titties as pillows to fall asleep on.

my absolute favourite dalton creations are the wonderful gifs that @stephendorff made! i proclaim myself as their biggest fan when it comes to jake's gifs because oh my god the talent!!! i adore the parallel gifsets, so let me link you to a bunch! omg me when + nice hoodie + so bloody yum + i will cover these men with hello kitty bandaids + need both of them at the same time.

Detective Loki

he's an obvious one! jack twist, donnie darko and detective loki must be the most well loved characters in this fandom FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. i love loki. i'm convinced deep in my soul that he would absolutely despise me. i can't shut up, i'm clingy as fuck and we'd spend most of his rare free time watching barbie movies. but it could be nice! i'd pack him his lunch, i'd learn to iron his shirts, i'd follow him to his barber and beg the man to give me the same haircut... like, we'd have a good life! aside from getting eaten alive by the constant fear that loki is in danger but shh. i love loki so much, i love all of the mysterious details about him, i love that jake played such a big part into building this character.

there are SO many amazing fics for detective loki, and rightfully so! he deserves it! in my opinion, @det-loki is the best writer. star captures loki in such an unique way, her writing feels like deleted scenes & extra footage from the movie. i know i always recommend star when it comes to loki fics but if you've ever read what she's posted, you would do the same! @charliehoennam has also posted some amazing det loki fics recently that i cannot recommend enough!!! here are the links: cat n mouse, dinner date & the dinner party (my personal favourite!).

Tommy Cahill

when i watched brothers, i conveniently just... skipped the military scenes. so the movie was all about tommy and i loved it. wow what a sweet romcom. i just love him. he's fun and sweet and he has had it so rough with his family that treats him like a black sheep. his father is acting like tommy is the failure when the only failure i'm seeing is a parent who failed to love his child like he deserved. AND I WOULD GIVE HIM ALL THE LOVE HE NEEDS! endless unconditional love. all he wants is to have a family of his own and be happy and become a better person. i have no doubt that he has what it takes to achieve his goals. he's my beanie baby and i love him to the moon and back.

controversy alert! but... i'm not mad at tommy and grace for kissing (skipping most of sam scenes helps a lot) but like... he was nice to grace for the most part, he helped her with the kitchen, he was so fun with the kids... he can't do anything wrong you know? i have horrible morals, i'm aware. so i'll just link to the video of the kiss scene because i love it and i love watching it and i wish it was me.

my top 3 usually fluctuates, but i'd say that overall, it's the same five characters that are on rotation. dalton, loki, tommy, davis and right now the 5th position is switching between john kinley & jerry brinson. i do want to say that i was pleasantly surprised with how much i liked anthony swofford and brian taylor when i watched their respective movies, i didn't think i'd enjoy their characters much but it might be time to retire my #1 bald!jake hater title. it was so hard to choose though. i feel bad for the ones i left out. i love you danny! and billy! and donnie! and adam! and holden! and okay fine i'll shut up. i know i've told you already, but this was such a sweet initiative to go around and spread some joy!!! thank you for doing this, and for sending it to me as well! 🥰

[withlovebinnie]

KOSTCHEI AND ALBERICH

This one goes out to @yourbravestpigeon! Based on our conversation about Kostchei and Alberich as a ship, cause I feel we need more crackships in this fandom.

Kostchei was quite used to being alone. It wasn’t much of a choice, but he didn’t mind it. It gave him silence and peace, and even in the Library that was something hard to achieve. He had come to enjoy his pensive lunches and dinners, or even the empty study rooms late at night. So why was this kid following him around?

Kostchei couldn’t exactly pinpoint the moment he went from being alone, to being constantly followed by Alberich. One day, he just found out that he was now used to his loud presence. Lunch, dinner, afternoon walks, and even lectures. On one memorable occasion, Alberich had found him during breakfast and stayed by his side for the rest of the day. The boy seemed allergic to silence, and in love with his own voice. 

He was going on and on about the last world he visited, some psychedelic Brazil that instituted a worldwide dictatorship, when Kostchei finally tuned in. 

“Do you ever shut up?” He asked Alberich, and immediately wished he hadn’t. 

Truth was that Kostchei was always alone for a reason. Silence was predictable, safe. Words always came out too fast, without his permission, even the ones he didn’t mean to say. 

But Alberich was different, he laughed brightly. 

“No! I seem to be quite incapable of shutting up.” He said with a smile. 

Kostchei started at him in surprise. Alberich had a childlike posture, challenging, devious. Maybe it was his youth, he reasoned, but Kostchei knew there was something else to him. 

“But I can go if you need some quiet time.” Alberich said with ease.

“No need.” He answered far too quickly.

[the-phantom-author]

can you please write about what hasan would be like giving each love language!!

Quality time

I think Hasan takes the mornings for himself, like the first 2 hours of being awake. It'll wake you up just to let you know that he's getting ready to go and do his training and take Kaya out with him, but he lets you do whatever you want for those two hours before he comes back. When he does come back he always has like a coffee for you, sometimes he brings something that he bought the two of you to eat together other times he's made something.

There is a reason why his bathtub is separate from his shower, in the amount of time it takes for him to take a shower in the morning, to wash his face, and to brush his hair, you still tend to be relaxing in the tub. He takes no problems with this, he loves that you're taking the time for yourself, but he also enjoys being able to be in the same space with you during that time.

For the rest of the morning, while he's reading and researching news stories you tend to be in the same room whether that's in the front room and you're both on the couch, or you're in the office and you're sitting next to him using the table, you spend that time together before you need to go to work/he needs to start stream.

When you get back from work, he'll always take a couple of minutes to be away from stream to welcome you back, telling you where he puts the excess food from his lunch so that you can have a snack if you're hungry, and then he'll let you do whatever you want to relax. If you decide that you want to spend time with him, he makes sure you know that you don't have to be on camera, and that you can be in one of the chairs next I him on your laptop, or reading a book, or whatever it is you do.

What you do after stream depends a lot depending on what day it is. On some days you guys meal plan together, most days you guys cook dinner together, other days whenever neither of you really feel like doing anything your order something to eat and you just in the day watching a movie. You always make sure to ask if you want to join him while he takes Kaya out on her last walk of the day. He also assumes that you'll be going with him whenever there's a streaming event, whether that's something like shitcamp with QT, or some screaming award show.

Words of affirmation

I think Hasan does not think he's good with words of affirmation, but he is.

Like not only is he remembering to you say thank you and to compliment you whenever you do things for him, like when you cook or when you take Kaya out or whenever you clean a room or whatever. But he also tends to give little speeches to you, they seem more like small rants but they're always peppered with like very encouraging words. If you ever tell him how you think you might be mismanaging a work project, he'll go on a tangent about how much you deserve this, about your achievements in your career so far, and about like the steps that you've taken to be given this kind of project to take care of, and about how much he knows you can handle it.

Physical touch

Now I've stayed before his son is someone who cannot get close enough to you, like he almost wants to be inside of your skin. He's always offering for you to sit on his lap when you're at home, both off-stream and on. When you do sit on his lap though he will always have a hand like under your shirt, just touching your stomach. He manhandles you a lot, if he's walking through the house and comes across you just hanging out in a room it is not a rare occurrence for him to pick you up and move you into whatever room he's going into. He also likes to pick you up and have you sit on counters just so that way you terrible eye level. When you're outside he's still likes to be touching you, whether that be holding your hand while you're walking somewhere, or him standing behind you with his arms resting over your shoulders. Also this

Gift giving

Not Hassan is self admittedly very bad at gift giving, so instead he just kind of pays for everything. It's not even something that he's conscious of doing, he just does it. Anytime that you're like going out shopping or to eat he's automatically just putting his card down for it. He also make sure that his card is in your phone, just so that whenever you're buying something online you know that his card is available to you. Ask for actual gift giving, he wants a month goes out to routinely buy you flowers. He also likes to give jewelry during important days, whether that be your birthday or an anniversary or Valentine's Day. When he gets you jewelry it is typically stuff that he gets personally made for you, like he'll design it himself. He he also takes it upon himself to buy things that you mentioned in passing, whether it's a specific designer handbag or just address that he thought you spent a couple seconds too long looking at when you were shopping that you didn't get. He also gets you coffee everyday, after he gets done with his workout whenever he's walking Kaya home he stops by a coffee shop and make sure to get your favorite drink, so that you can wake up to it.

Acts of service

This is a lot of smaller things that you barely notice. He keeps a lot of your favorite snacks stocked in the house. If you like fruits he make sure to always have like a bowl of fresh ones that are sitting out on the counter for you. On a very similar note if you ever bring him something to peel or a jar to open he does it without hesitation. He does his best to kind of hover around the kitchen when you're in it, so that if you ever need something from a shelf that you can't reach he's never too far away to get it for you. If you ever thinks that you're stressed out or that you're too stressed he always makes sure to run you a bath, to put new sheets on the bed, too warm up the blankets on the bed, just to make sure there's a nice ambiance in the house to help you relax. He's making sure that you get to an actual bed at night, if you ever fall asleep while doing work on a chair or reading a book on the couch, he's carrying you to bed to make sure that you don't wake up sleeping on something wrong and hurting yourself.

[rjzimmerman]

Memo to Joe: Fight a Climate Election. (Bill McKibben's Substack post)

It seems entirely possible that the upcoming presidential election will be decided mostly on feelings, or what we now call vibes. In a poll released this week, for instance, almost exactly half of voters said American unemployment was at a fifty-year high, which is odd since it’s actually near a fifty-year low.

Given data like that, I imagine it’s hard for Biden’s team to figure out how to make the case for a second term. So far they’ve focused on abortion rights and on protecting democracy, both of which are not just right but savvy: they focus on places where Trump has weaknesses that most people recognize. (Most people—somehow a fifth of voters blame Biden for the repeal of Roe). If it were up to me, I’d open a third of these fronts: climate change.

There’s three reasons for that. 

One, it’s popular. Something—some combination of fire, flood, and movement-building—has persuaded Americans that climate change is real, and that the government should take action to slow it down. Across surveysthe polling is clear. And voters perceive Democrats as much better on climate: indeed, some new polling indicates it may have played a crucial role in the last election. 

Two, it gets way more popular when you explain it. A new survey of young voters from Data for Progress showed that “approval for Biden’s handling of climate change and the environment improves by 17 percentage points among young voters after respondents hear more about his climate action. Approval of Biden’s handling of climate change and the environment reaches 69% among 18- to 34-year-old voters after respondents read a series of questions about his climate achievements.” Biden put enormous political capital into winning passage of the IRA; he might as well get political gain from all of that.

And three, people hate Trump’s positions on the issue. The highest profile climate action he to in term one was withdrawing America from the Paris accords, and less than a third of voters approved.  And this time around he’s doing everything he can to cement his reputation as the corrupt candidate of fossil fuel. Yesterday, amidst the ruins of the city’s greatest windstorm, he held a fundraising lunch with leading frackers in downtown Houston. As Emily Atkin reminds us in a typically piquant column, the hydrocarbon cartel is already supporting Trump over Biden by a 40-1 margin. He wants more, of course, which is why he held his billion-dollar extortion dinner in DC earlier this month. And what do you know—when they were told about his efforts to shake down fossil fuel executives, two-thirds of likely voters didn’t like it. The oil companies, as a new report from Oil Change International makes clear, continue to lie about climate change, and their efforts to “combat” it. At some visceral level, Americans know that (though it would be good to remind them with a DOJ investigation of those lies, as Jamie Raskin and Sheldon Whitehouse recommended yesterday.)

So I think it’s a strong triple threat to say: Trump will take away your rights. He will take away your democracy. And he will take away the planet you’ve known.

[jerzwriter]

Casey & Jessica Masterlist

Updated 06.24.2024

Most of Casey & Jessica's fics are/will be prequels to OH, as their relationship took place during med school. But since they remained friends, some future fics may take place in canon time and beyond.

I have had Casey & Jessica's story written (in rough form) for some time, and since I've decided to share more of it, I wanted to provide a profile and background information. I hope you find it helpful. Meet My MC: Casey MacTavish - This is her general profile, which is in the Tobias/Casey universe. Information on "Med School" Casey can be found here to shed light on this time in her life. Meet My OC: Jessica Phillips Jessica x Casey At-a-Glance

Jessica x Casey Fics:

☁️ Fluff  ❤️‍🩹Ansty Fluff 🎨 Contains Art 💘 Valentine's Day

Their relationship timeline:

Six Times... (Series) Part 1: Think About It | ☁️ Med School | It's Newly Admitted Student's Day, and Jessica and her friend, Diego, are working the LGBTQPM+ table with seemingly different goals. When Diego notices Jess's interest in a new student, she balks until she walks over.

Trepidation | ❤️‍🩹 Med School | Casey and Jessica have both been in love before, and both have had their hearts broken. That's why they promised each other to take it slow... especially since they're in med school and their futures are uncertain. But things don't always go as planned, and sometimes... that's a sweet surprise. They are moving along happily until Jessica makes a discovery and is forced to face her own thoughts and prejudices. Will their relationship prevail?

A Quick Study | ☁️Med School | Casey's a little hangry during their late-night study session, but Jess isn't letting her off the hook.

No Secret | ❤️‍🩹 Med School/2017 | Casey’s parents are visiting for dinner, and she wants to let them know Jessica is not just her friend.

A Bit Dark | ☁️ Med School/2017 | Jess has noticed a bit of a change in Casey and offers her support when she learns the reason why.

Any Other Day ☁️🎨💘 Med School/2017 | Jessica's not a fan of Valentine's Day, and she's made that pretty clear, but now that the day's up on them, Casey realizes there's more to it than meets the eye. Art by @callmebeem

High Score | ❤️‍🩹Med School/2017 | Casey and her girlfriend Jessica are both busy med school students with conflicting schedules, and they're both eagerly looking forward to sharing lunch at "their" diner. One idiot nearly derails their plans, but the women won't let him win.

I've Got You ☁️🎨| Casey & Jess are taking a little break until there is a turn of events - then it's Jess to the rescue. Art by @rosefuckinggenius

Positive Reaction ☁️02.24 | When the couple step out to celebrate Jessica's achievement, Casey gives her a gift that money could never buy.

Post-relationship timeline:

Text from an ex: Did we make a mistake? ❤️‍🩹

Jessica x Casey Fanart 🎨

Perma: @animesuck3r @alj4890 @annoyingmillenialnewbie @crazy-loca-blog @differenttyphoonwerewolf @fayeswiftie @gryffindordaughterofathena @genevievemd @inlocusmads @jamespotterthefirst @jennieausten @kingliam2019 @liaromancewriter @lucy-268 @onikalover @openheartforeverinmyheart @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @secretaryunpaid @socalwriterbee @sophxwithers @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction @jerzwriter-reblogs-asks

OH Only: @alwaysmychoices @annfg8 @binny1985 @coffeeheartaddict2 @peonierose @youlookappropriate

[sunniestshark-ocs]

(For Jo) // 3.What does a typical day in the character's life look like?, 17. What is the character's relationship with technology or magic (depending on the genre)?, 28. What secret talents or abilities does the character have?

| OC Questions from here |

3.

Jo's an early riser and has difficulty sleeping, so her days are typically long: Awake and up by 5-6 (or 3-4 on a rough night), go for a run or a swim, big breakfast, weights and training before work. Big lunch, checking up on subordinates and friends, more work, home for a second/third training session/physical therapy, and a bit of time for hobbies. Then biiiig dinner- this applies to any AU in which she's in a military, which is most of them lmao. Jo has to make sure to make plenty of time to eat, her metabolism is stupid fast (heat/plasma powers and long hours of physical activity) so acquiring or prepping food takes up a good chunk of her free time. In a modern AU, no longer able to serve, Jo has significantly more time for socializing and her hobbies. She spends a lot of time surfing as well, or just out with the ocean. It's one more thing she makes time for, and if you can't find her at 3am she's either in the kitchen or out in the sea.

17.

In Bleach, Jo has a relatively high amount of natural reiatsu and a pretty high-powered Zanpakuto. Before her merge she was passable at kido, but it was never something that came naturally to her and she had to work her ass off to even understand the basics. Theory outside of what she can see and feel are difficult for her, she has great physical intelligence but not so much in the more intellectual/"book smart" areas. She can figure out how to take apart and put together a car but explaining the physics of it is beyond her. Post-merge, Jo can't do kido beyond the most basic- her reiatsu is not fully /hers/ and it's difficult for her to refine outside of what she feels instinctively. She still respects the hell out of people that can fire off high-level spells and teach others to do so. Basically in any AU with magic (including GT), Jo usually has some natural, instinctive magic but outside of that isn't usually able to grasp any power beyond that. In DnD she'd be a monk/barbarian with MAD respect for wizards . It's always been that Jo is a pretty average guy as far as power but is a crazy hard worker and ends up with very hard-earned abilities. In GT it's actually something of a sticking point for her that she was unnaturally augmented, so she'll never be able to see what she could achieve on her own power.

28.

I can't honestly say Jo has any secret talents? Maybe things that just don't come up often. She's a passable cook and has a deft hand for woodcarving and generally being pretty crafty, good with her hands. Before she lost her arm she could play the bass reasonably well, mostly to accompany her sister. She also has skill in first-aid and street/battlefield medicine, considering how often it gets done to her. Oh! I suppose one thing that might be surprising about her is her relatively large or ~sophisticated~ vocabulary, despite her perceived intelligence level and that she generally just doesn't speak very much. It's all picked up from her friends, especially Eliot and Grant. (especially in GT, when both of those people regularly have mental conversations Jo can hear)

[elizabethrobertajones]

8 and 12 for the Frogicule! :3

Do they have any favorite activities to do together?

I don't think Zero's even met G'raha, let alone the busiest man in Ishgard :( The Frogzero dynamic has very much been "weird girls going into the woods and doing Rituals And Making Potions And Spells" except magic actually exists and Frog recruited Zero on a personal side mission to track down and talk face to face with Francie, her reaper avatar. It's all happened so suddenly that this adventure lead to smoochin that Frog's still reeling and hasn't managed to arrange any fun Frogicule activities. (How could she know that as soon as I set eyes on Zero I said "oh Frog has to kiss her"? it's all so sudden!)

Anyway this is exactly the sort of thing Y'shtola would enjoy too, I'm saying for no particular reason :) :)

Obviously Frog has taken G'raha to Ishgard to hang out and do High Culture stuff with Aymeric. Aymeric likes taking them to fancy dinners with important people to show off the Warrior of Light and talk up G'raha's achievements to make him blush. G'raha and Frog act all couple-y and Aymeric gets a kick out of secretly holding Frog's hand under the table as well. And of course he has to dance with her at the ball, it's just polite. And if he has a private seat at the theatre, they can all sit together up there -

Basically they're really improving the quality of his enforced public appearances and Lucia has tasked Frog with making sure these new political Head of State social duties don't get so onerous that Aymeric doesn't snap and leap out of a window and disappear into the wilds never to be seen again...

Frog KNOWS G'raha has a ridiculous crush on Aymeric because she only asked the Lord Commander out officially after G'raha wouldn't stop going on about how attractive he was and Frog would be so lucky if she could date him as well and she was like, bet? ... She also can see Aymeric is quite taken with G'raha but has decided to neutrally sit back and see how many dates the three of them can go on before Aymeric and G'raha figure it out for themselves, because that's far more entertaining to her than anything else going on.

G'raha is just happy to be there :D

*sound of all this whooshing over his head*

Who gets up the earliest? Who has the worst sleep schedule? Who is the sleepiest?

Well all three of those apply to Aymeric. If you stay over with him, he's up at first light, doing some stretches while reading paperwork. And then any time after lunch he falls right asleep as soon as you sit him down somewhere comfy?

I think Zero probably has the actual worst sleep schedule in terms of waking up at 3am and looking over at a shadow in the corner and jumping and screaming because she's sitting like a gargoyle in the corner just staring into the distance while gnawing on a whole orange skin and all. Circadian rhythms happen to people who can see the sky and enjoy the blessing of the sun. Introducing her to the sun just made her weirder, I'm afraid.

(G'raha is weird about sleep too but he just politely lies still and disassociates while pretending to be asleep and then micro-naps during the day like a champ so I am not sure Frog has noticed that he's got Slept For Three Years trauma...)

[bilbobagginshome]

A Deadbeat's Journal 27

A Jotaro Kujo x Blackfem reader story

Third person Narration

Jotaro after cutting the call is already looking up tickets to Brazil. He genuinely feels the loneliness of the night as even the stars dance alongside one another almost in jest of his bleak solitude. After mulling over Y/n’s words for the billionth time that evening he finally settles into a slumber as the waves of the ocean slowly rock him to his sleep.

Morning comes and he restarts the engine hoping by midday he can be back ashore and seriously making moves back to her and by midday a ½ of his goal is accomplished and he lands. Unlike the vibrant port of Zanzibar , filled to the brim with awe-looking tourists and inviting locals , the shores of Beira are filled with fishermen looking for their daily meals and children playing on the shores during their lunch break. They simply stare slightly at the foreigner who appears seemingly out of nowhere but soon looks away without a care in the world to this foreign specimen. After finding a suitable garage and parking his yacht, he sets off inwards of the town to find a motel. 

He records for y/n an overview of the new city he gland at and by the time he gets to a cheap hotel he scoured for online for over an hour , he’s absolutely exhausted already contemplating the next phase of his journey,

Just then a sudden notification goes off his phone and when he checks on the messenger is shocked by the email he sees and decides on calling the number as per requested

“Hello , is this Mhambi?”

“Oh Mr Jotaro, I did not expect you to call me so soon .”Mhambi responds cheerfully with tinges of distress.

“I’m actually quite excited about the idea you have proposed with me and I was too excited to not call as soon as I read your email.”He responds slightly out of breath from moving erratically around the room.

“I’m glad you think so. Though I’m just a small time environmentalist , I appreciate you taking the time off your day to further discuss this.”

“If small time means literally being a Nobel nominee then Albert Einstein made a small theory.”He says in utter shock at her word and Mlamba simply chuckles at his incredulity.

“Well. If you don’t mind, we can meet up this evening. I know a lovely dinner spot that is in a cave and I’m sure a foreigner like you would love to see something of the sort.” She says and after jotting down the place and time they should meet , Jotaro ends the call.

He takes a slight whiff of his shirt and decides a scrub in the shower is a necessity to undertake. As he rubs himself off he contemplates further of the opportunity that has simply fallen into his lap. For some reason the puzzles seem to seamlessly mend together ever since he got that award and minus the depression that comes with being 80% alone, he’s really basking in the light of his achievements despite how backbreaking and prolonging the Mombasa project entailed and by the time he is done with the shower a fantastical daydream of his future career moves hastens his pace to meet Mlambe.

He’s soon done and with time to spare quickly finds a bike to take him to the cave restaurant and just as promised the restaurant is spectacular. Dark aside from the pink and purple LED lamps hidden within the cave rocks has him thinking that he stepped into a world similar to that in Harry potter and when he was advised to remove his shoes as the cave is closer to the shore, his inner white man was already squealing in joy. He is soon directed to their table and Mlamba is decked in a form fitting little black dress with softer pearl jewellery as accessories and eyes so wide you would think you’re staring in a bottomless dark pit. Her dark skin glows in the multitudes of colours the lamps exude and she brings out a small smile in acknowledgement.

“Hi Jotaro, nice to see you “ She says as they engage in a polite hug.

“Nice to see you too, Mlamba. Here are some flowers. And you look beautiful.” He says as he hands over some flowers he had picked up on the way. 

“Wow what a gentleman. Where have you been hiding all this time?” She says in a flattered tone as she keenly looks into the composition of the flowers ,

“Oh and locally sourced! You really are keen.” She says as she places them to her side of the table,

“How can I hand an environmentalist flowers that aren’t ethically sourced and produced? You’d judge me to death.” He says with a smile of his own and she laughs in surprise though does not refute his statement.

They take into talking about the plans as the waiter leaves to place their order and she says,

“I’m actually glad you are doing this entire expedition because I’ve been dying to meet you after your second thesis on whale life in Japanese coasts and your work on protecting the endangered species there.” She says while nursing her second cup of wine.

“Oh thank you, that's such an honour. Is this why you considered me looking over the fish?” He questioned as he slowly downs his first whiskey,

“Something like that. I also did not want to deal with old creeps who have misogynistic undertones.” She says with a frown and he nods in agreement.

“Fully understandable.” He responds and the food is brought by. He decided on letting Mlamba choose the food he’d be eating and after a bite is seemingly intrigued and continues wolfing down on the food.

“Damn, you didn’t have lunch?” She questions as she notices him almost halfway done with his food barely five minutes into their dinner.

“Something like that.” He responds bashfully and straightens up to eat at a slower pace.

“So, why are you doing this expedition, especially on your own. You don’t have anyone to go around the world with?” She questions whilst looking at him in an unreadable expression, sipping her wine with ease.

“I did but my girlfriend was interested in pursuing other dreams and so she went to Brazil.”He replies with a fonder tone.

“Oh,girlfriend. I wouldn’t have guessed. Where did you both live before?” She questions once again, tone a tad more alert than usual.

“Kenya. She’s a lawyer.” He responds while spooning the last of his food on his empty plate.

“Oh that’s amazing. Can I see her?” Mlamba says with a smile and excitedly pulls out her phone to show her pics of her with him and some that seem more stalkerish than normal.

“You must be really fond of her.” She muses as she returns the phone.

“Definitely. She made my life there easier.”He responds with a smile while pocketing the phone. Realising all he’s spoken about is himself, he questions,

“And what about you ? Is there anyone special in your life?”

“There was. Now my love life is dryer than the Namibian desert.”She says with a sigh

“Yikes, what happened?”

She proceeds to tell the sob story of how she had travelled all the way to America to meet her long term long distance relationship as she heard rumours circulating that he was getting married to someone and lo and behold she finds him in the middle of a dowry negotiation. By the time her story draws to an end , she is whimpering and some of the tables around them look at Jotaro in disdain as he attempts to slightly pat her shoulder.

“Oh I don’t know what has come over me. I genuinely thought he was the one you know. Come to find out he planned to make me the secret African wife!” She exclaims as she wipes off her tears, makeup smudged from the mascara and eyes stinging with a red hue.

“Oh wow. I’m sorry.” Jotaro says awkwardly as he gestures for her to drink more water.

“I’m sorry , I’m supposed to be more professional than this, however it feels relieving to tell you. I couldn’t tell anyone close to me as they warned me about him so thank you for listening.”She responds, fully composed now though a round of hiccups have replaced her crying.

“You should tell them. They could be judgy but  they’ll put the “I told you so” on hold until after you’ve fully healed.” He responds with a smile,

“Oh thank you. You have a sweet smile. Come on, let's pay and I’ll give you my draft for the project.” She calls for the waiter and after he brings the receipt , Jotaro forcefully insists on paying and after a minor back and forth she agrees to let him pay on the condition that she’ll tip the waiter

“Thank you for this and listening to my sob-rant I appreciate it.” She says as he puts her on an uber.

“No problem. I just saw the link you sent me. I’ll be telling you this , "Expect a response during the midday cause I’m just going to bed after this.” And she laughs, simply nods as she walks in and waves bye at him as the car speeds off. As he calls his own car. He notices a call and does not wait for the second ring to answer the question.

* * *

Working with Mlamba gets rid of the slump Jotaro formerly heard. For the first time, it seems that his working skills align very well with her. Though this isn't to say that he’s never worked well with other researchers but rather never been so in tune with ideas on how the research is to phase out and as the days go by, his loneliness is easily curbed.He spends almost every morning with her and by the evening they have dinner at the street vendors outside. Moreover, major progress is being made in their research and to celebrate Mlamba proposes something for the upcoming weekend.

“The club, I don’t know, I don’t think my girlfriend would be comfortable with the idea of me going to such a place when she’s not close by and since our relationship is very young, I don’t feel like raising unnecessary tension.”

“Aren’t you bored of always being at home, besides she sounds understanding based on the conversations you guys have.” She says offhandedly as they close up the lab for the day.

“Are you eavesdropping on my conversations with her?” Jotaro questions with a slight scoff on his tone.

“Not even my fault,  I just happened to walk by the one time she called you during work. I didn’t even listen to what you guys were saying, I just remember a soft tone .” She says arms raised in surrender as Jotaro looking down on her with a raised brow.

“She is understanding. It's honestly a surprise how understanding she’s gotten, however I’m not willing to put my relationship on the line for a night out in a club that I’m 90% sure will not enjoy to the fullest.” He says pointedly to cut the conversation short.

“Oh please, all my friends have been asking to go out and I feel pressured to go after a few weeks of ghosting them . Plus aren’t you too trustworthy? Do you really believe she doesn’t have her way all the way in Brazil?” Mlamba responds, her tone getting slightly harsh nearing the end of the sentence.

Jotaro simply shakes his head and after pondering for a few seconds on their walk to the bus stop, takes out his phone and dials her number.

“Hey baby, how has your day been?” Y/n says as he overheads a mocking repetition of her sentence by Patience while Abdul laughs loudly in the background.

“Hi my love I’m perfectly fine.” Jotaro responds with a smile on his face, the tensions on his shoulders immediately relieving themselves.

“What a random time to call me, Is everything okay?”She asks and Mlamba, silently listening to their conversations, jabs slightly at Jotaro’s waist to proceed with the question.

“Well I do have something to ask. I’d like to go to the club with a couple of friends I’ve met over here . Would you be okay with that?” He asks worriedly .

“Of course. I’m so glad you’re making friends out there.You’ve been so lonely over the past few weeks it's been worrying me. And you shouldn’t ask to enjoy yourself. I trust you.” She says with a jovial tone. Jotaro can already imagine the smile on her face and wishes, for the nth time this month, that she was closeby.

“Okay , I just wanted you to be comfortable. I don’t want us crossing any boundaries in the relationship.” He says .

“Don’t worry jojo.”

“I’ll call you later okay? I love you.”

“Love you too” She says with a slight pout and he waits for her to cut the phone before placing it back in his pocket.

“Now that you have permission. Can I confirm with my friends that I will be coming alongside you?” She says as they wait for the bus to arrive. At this time the stop is filled with teenagers recounting the days shenanigans in their variously coloured uniforms,  working mothers who are already arguing with the nanny on what should the family should have for dinner, men barely keeping awake after a long work shift in the office and hawkers attempting to sell their roasted beans and cashew nuts to the passengers. The evening air stilling as the sun sets slowly behind their bus stop and some curiously looking at the  quiet mammoth that is Jojo next to the short and bubbly Mlamba who is conversing on the phone as she excitedly shares the plans for the next day with her friends. So yeah, just another peaceful evening for him at the bus stop.

He likes the pace of life here. It seems like every second passes by slowly like a rainy cloud gradually covering the blue skies. It makes you want to live and embrace every moment. That’s why he hated the capitals, especially in developing worlds. They seem extremely fast , they remind you that life is a mere mist, here one minute and gone the next.Not even a second to breathe one has already moved on to the next thing.

“Hey Jotaro?” Mlambo questions after noticing he had spaced out .

“Yeah yeah?”

“It's official, we are going clubbing till the morning tomorrow and the best part is all my friends can make it.”

“Yey” Jotaro responds unenthusiastically.

“Show more passion, shout YEY!” She says whilst letting out a hurray that has some people turning heads in slight annoyance.

“No, you should be grateful I haven’t yet backed out of the plan.” He warningly says.

“I know you can’t do that , right?” Mlamba says in a worried tone and he simply smiles and shrugs his shoulders as he watches her face contort into a series of expressions that document her spiralling.

* * *

When they enter, the club is empty almost as though it opened only a few minutes ago. Their group of eight though is able to find ample seating and start already on buying a bottle of whiskey.

“We could have started with cocktails, or even a beer?” Jotaro says whilst simultaneously wondering what state their livers are in.

“Jotaro here, we even believe the best way to get rid of a hangover is by pouring another shot.” David , one of Mlamba’s closest friends says with a smirk.

“That’s insane.” He shudders out loud whilst sipping his long island cocktail.The Dj playing the lamest hits he could find in his folder, the club barely hype , Jotaro begins to think he should have instead read one of the books Y/n recommended or even spent hours on the phone with her rather than this. Well at least the company is tolerable.

“We should get another Jack Daniel's , this one seems on the brink of ending. Waiter!” One of the squealing girls in their entourage shouts, makeup and hair done to the T , she’s a stunning doll

“Nevermind.” Jotaro mutters to himself. 

Mlamba , noticing her guest slowly retreating to the confines of his corner in his booth , scooches over to be closer to him. Already a tad tipsy and slightly high over what Jotaro hopes is simply weed she whispers, in the barely loud are,

“Do we seem a bore to you jojo?”

“No” He stiffly replies, slightly ruffled by the use of his nickname.

“Then dance.”

“The music is , for lack of a better word, dogshit.”

“Okay, but you owe me a dance when the place gets hype.” She sweetly says as she goes back to talk to some of the girls alongside the group.

And unlike Jotaro’s lacklustre expectations of what the night will bring , the place does get indeed better, especially since they switched the Djs out and brought in more 2000 classics mixed with 2010s EDM and some Afrobeats, the once boring entertainment centre seems to fill with a group of people around their age group and thus the night truly begins.

After his two cocktails and a few sips of the whiskey , Jotaro feels loose enough to converse with the people around him and them, noting that his guard is completely done, runs him a wave of questions that seem more like a tsunami. And he, though still slightly alert, is even willing to disclose some vulnerable information.

“So can we see the very mysterious girlfriend you keep mentioning.” One of the dolls, Yasmine, asks with a smirk in her face, And despite attempting to move on to other topics everyone in the table, especially Mlamba continuously insists on seeing her and he reluctantly removes his phone and gets out the first picture he can find of her.

The booth stares in silence as they look in awe at the image displayed amid the dim lighting of the club. And after a few seconds of what Jotaro considered to be deafening silence puts his phone back in his pockets.

“You need to tell me what you did to bag a girl like her, that ass is PHAT!” Jonah, one of the more extroverted of Mlamba ’s friend group loudly says and even though Jotaro chastises him for his remark,he can’t help but let out a smile in agreement.

“And while you’re at it direct me to her sister,” David says in awe. Jotaro hates to admit it but nothing boosts his ego more than knowing that everyone knows that she’s taken. By him.

Mlamba stays silent while the others sing choruses for her beauty and after a few more sips of whiskey he is inclined to divulge more general information about her. As the hype around her dies down, people start picking their partners to dance . And as he makes himself more comfortable in his seat, a more intoxicated Mlamba slurred in a whiny voice

“Jojo, you promised me a dance, why are you seated?”

“It's not like we’re waltzing, you can go dance, you don’t really need a partner.” Jotaro says with a shooing motion, already in the midst of simply enjoying the limbness of his tipsiness.

“Pleaseee” She whines even more. Jotaro doesn’t know why the sudden urge to shove her away from his arm almost overtakes him but , as a silent apology for his spur of the moment anger, he decides to appease her

Squealing in joy, she leads him to the dance floor. It starts off tame , even enjoyable as she encourages him to dance some of the more footsie local moves that most people and their friends do. Even her other friends join in and it starts a whole dance circle as the energising Afropop tunes play out . Then it turns to become a bit more sexual and she attempts to whine at him.

“Yeah I think I should get back to my seat.” He says, already uncomfortable with the amount of people grinding at him.

“Just one more song.” She insists.

“No, I don’t feel uncomfortable doing this. Plus I have a girlfriend. What would she think if she saw me in this situation?”

“Good thing she doesn’t have to see since she’s so far away from you.” Mlamba says with a smirk. He , making sure she doesn’t get hurt, shoves her away.

“I can’t believe you. I’m leaving”

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Hello once more! Sorry I lied about the back to regular scheduling. I'm heading to uni and its been a hassle, plus I was on holiday halfway of August. Some sad news coming up but I promise it will not be all dreadful