#and yet people tell me rent is raised every year

[rohirric-hunter]

"Okay, Google, how to fire rent-lowering gunshots?"

[samandcolbyownme]

Summary: Reader gives Colby the cold shoulder for something that happened years ago, only to come to terms with what they want to do about it.

Warnings: SMUT18+, strong language, reader is kind of snippy with Colby, alcohol consumption, slight name calling, use of pet names, hair pulling, choking, oral (f rec), unprotected slightly intoxicated sex, just filth

This honestly did go the way I wanted it to, so might rewrite it later on or something. I don’t know, but there's going do be a point in this one shot to where I add more warnings. You'll understand when you come to it. Enjoy! 🖤

Word count: 6.3 | not edited

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"You rented out a club?" You raise your brows, "Wow, you really do plan on celebrating." You put the straw of your iced coffee between your lips.

"Yeah, well this is a big thing to be celebrating." Sam laughs, "I just.. I know you and Colby don't really get along.. so I just-"

You put your hand up, "I can tolerate him for you, Sam. So, no worries. It's just when he-"

"Well, well, well, look who we have here."

You roll your eyes, pointing behind you, "That."

"Hey." Sam says leaning back into the couch, "Where were you?" Colby sits down on the arm of your chair, knowing that it will bug the shit out of you, "I went down to the club, talked to the owner."

"Without me?" Sam tilts his head, "I figured, since you and Princess here-" he nods towards you and you roll your eyes, "-were busy planning this, I would take the liberty of going down and paying the down payment."

"Oh shit." Sam looks at you and you nod, "I totally forgot."

"See. Don't worry. I'm not just worried about partying." He winks at you and you slowly look towards Sam, "Can I strangle him now?"

Sam laughs, "Can you wait until after the party's over?"

You nod, "I guess I can strangle him with a streamer or something."

Colby laughs, "Don't threaten me with a good time." You scoff, standing up, "I'm going shopping. I need a dress for tomorrow night."

"Oh, can I come, too? I need to find a nice shirt." Sam leans forward and you nod, "You can. But he can't."

"What did I do to be punished by staying home?" Colby raises his hands and you laugh, "By Colby being Colby."

You were actually surprised when Colby didn't follow you guys out the door.

"So what's your deal with Colby, really? You never really filled me in on that. All I know is that you just hate him." Sam asks as he buckles up.

You laugh, "I know he's your friend, brother, bestie, whatever, but he just gets on my last nerve. Every single time he's around me."

Sam laughs, "Have you ever thought that maybe he likes you?"

"Did he say he likes me?" You glance over at Sam as you drive and Sam shakes his head, "No. I'm just asking if you ever thought about it."

"Now I'm thinking maybe you should have joined him." You mumble with a laugh, "No, I mean. I guess I never really thought- no. No. I don't. Next subject please."

Sam laughs, shaking his head, "Oh yeah. You guys like each other. You just don't know it yet."

You roll your eyes, "Yeah, tell that to the multiple girls in his phone."

Sam sighs, "Colby isn't what you think. Now, I'm not sticking up for him when he constantly picks on you, but at the same time, he doesn't act the way he acts with you when he's with other people."

"Other girls, you mean." You smirk slightly and sam nods, "Well, yeah."

You sigh, "It's like he knows he annoys me and he just uses that to his advantage at really getting under my skin."

"You let him."

You look at Sam, "No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"Do fucking not."

He laughs, "Do fucking to."

"I'm done talking." You lay your hand over your mouth, "Actually- no. Nevermind."

Sam laughs, "As I said. You guys like each other. You just don't know it yet."

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

"I think I'm just going to settle with this mesh romper style looking dress." You hang the other dresses up and Sam tilts his head, "Do you like that one?"

You shrug, "I mean it's com-" your phone ringing catches your attention and you roll your eyes when you see it's Colby.

"Out of me and Sam. You had to call me?" You say as you bring the phone to your ear.

"Yeah, because I knew it would bug you." Colby laughs, "Can you do me a favor?"

"It depends." You look at Sam and he tilts his head, "What's up?"

You shrug, holding up your pointer finger.

"Can you pick me up a shirt? Like a nice button up or something? You know what I like to wear."

"Really. Why didn't you just-"

Colby cuts you off, "Now before you finish that sentence, remember who banished me from coming along. So consider this.." he hums, "I don't know, payback?"

You fight back laughter, "Go to hell, Colby."

"Hell with you sounds like heaven to me. See ya when you get back, Princess."

And with that, Colby hangs up.

You look at Sam, "I guess we have to pick up Colby a shirt for Saturday, too." He laughs and sighs, "I knew that was going to happen."

"And you didn't say anything before?" You say as you walk back over to the dress section. Sam shrugs, "I like to see how things play out."

You roll your eyes, "I hate you sometimes."

Sam slings his arm over your shoulder, "We both know that that isn't true."

You laugh, "Whatever you say." You look through the dresses and gasp slightly when you come across a navy blue dress with chain straps that cross in the back, "Nevermind. I like this one better."

You put the other one on the rack, picking up the blue one, "Alright, now to find you and douche bag a shirt."

"You can be so nice sometimes." Sam laughs and you look at him, "I know, right."

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

"Yo Colby. We're back." Sam yells as you walk into the house.

You close the door, looking around to find the house empty, or so you thought.

"Colby?" Sam yells again and you point to the steps, "I'll run up and put his shirt in his room."

You dig through the bag and pull out his shirt. You sling it over your shoulder as you move up the steps.

You let out a sigh as you reach the top, turning to walk down the hall. You twist the knob, pushing the door open and you freeze when you see a shirtless Colby sitting at his computer with his headphones on.

After a few seconds, you blink, breaking your stare and you clear your throat. You throw the shirt at him and he jumps, whipping his head over to look at you.

"Jesus Christ, y/n." He laughs as he pulls his headphones down around his neck. He pulls the shirt off his shoulder and the back of the chair.

"Sam yelled for you twice." You lean against the door frame, "Does that reach your standards?"

Colby holds up the split, two tone skull button up, "I knew I could count on you." He looks back at you and you roll your eyes, "Uh huh. You're welcome."

As you go to close the door, Colby stops you, "Hey, wait a second."

"Yeah?" You blink slowly, looking at him.

"Why don't you hang out with me for a while? I can promise I'm not as bad as you think." He spins towards you and you suck air through your teeth, "Something tells me that sticking my hand in vat of acid would hurt less than being alone with you."

"Um.." he tilts his head, shaking it slightly, "Ouch?" He laughs and raises his hands, "Why do you despise me so much?"

No one knows the real reason, you refuse to tell anyone why. It felt silly, but at the same time.. it felt like it was best to keep it between you and only you.

Younger you, the one that Colby, unknowingly, broke the heart of, was holding a grudge, to say the least.

So you put up a wall.

You made Colby the enemy so you wouldn't fall for him like you did years ago.

"I just.. have better things to do than g-" you stop yourself, "I have plans, dinner plans with friends."

"Yeah? Where at?" Colby smirks and you roll your eyes, "Kris, Celina, and I are going to that new place that opened on Fifth."

"Hmm. I see. Well you three have fun."

You nod, turning around and pulling the door shut, and you mentally curse yourself because Sam was right.

You do, infact, allow him to get under your skin because a part of you, a big part, is still madly in love with him.

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

As you walk into your apartment from dinner with friends, your phone chimes in your purse. You let out a sigh, closing the door before setting your purse on the stand and digging out your phone.

You smirk slightly when you see it's a text from Colby, So, how was dinner? Is that place worth going to?

You kick your shoes off, walking over to the couch and plopping down, I mean.. yeah. It was worth it I'd say.

You set your phone down, switching on your tv, but your mind can't focus on what's playing. Instead, it focuses on what Sam said earlier on in the day.

"You two like each other, you just don't know it yet."

You start questioning everything, Was he implying that Colby liked you? Could you be able to open up to him again? Why didn't he seen that you liked him before? Was there something wrong with you back then?

Colby was the first person you ever felt love for. When you seen him with, not just another girl, but with your friend that knew you liked him - it shattered you.

That first heartbreak was the worst, and since you were friends with Sam, it followed you.

Haunted you for all these years.

You phone dings and you blink, looking over at it. You pick it up and laugh weakly as your eyes scan over Colby's texts.

We should drag Sam there before we head to the club on Saturday.

So now I'm getting radio silence?

Come on, Princess. You can't ignore me, we're so in love, remember?

You bring your phone down, resting in your lap as you type, you know that I hate you right?

You start to type out a message, Actually, Colby. I take that back. I don't actually hate you I-

You stop once you see Colby's message pop up, you know, I once heard that enemies make the best lovers.

You delete your half written text, replacing it, oh yeah? Where did you hear that from? The little voice inside of your head.

You laugh slightly and toss your phone down, getting up to go get a drink. By the time you come back, you have two new messages.

Of course from Colby.

Hey, that man is smart. At times. Don't judge me.

Listen, can we hang out? I think we can get along just fine.

You read his message, debating on what you should do. Of course you want to hang out with him, but that little piece of you wants to keep pushing him away.

By the time you start typing out a lie, there's a knock on your door.

You walk over, looking out of the peep hole and sighing as you open the door, "You're relentless, Brock."

"Yet.. you still open the door for me." He smirks as he walks in, "I always forget how small your apartment is."

You close the door, "You know you can leave at any-"

"Relax, princess. I'm joking." He smirks as he shrugs off his black leather jacket, "So whatcha have good for dinner?"

You watch as he walks over to the couch, sitting down, "Um. I just had.. the pasta."

Fight it.

No, tell him. Tell him how you really feel.

No. You have to fight it. He's your enemy. He broke your heart.

He doesn't know that.

You shake your head, huffing as you get the little angel and demon on your shoulders to shut up.

"What did you say?" You tilt your head, "Sorry. I'm just really tired."

"Mhm." Colby hums, "I asked how fancy the place was."

You walk over, sitting on the opposite end of the couch, "Eh, I mean it's more like a business casual type place? I don't know. We just showed up how we all normally dress and no one batted an eye, so I don't really think it matters."

Colby stares at you and you look at him, "What?"

A smile grows on his face a slowly, "That's the nicest you've ever been to be."

"Oh fuck off." You laugh, "What are you doing here anyway?"

Colby leans back against the couch, extending his arm over the back, "I told you I wanted to hang out."

Your eyes scan over his ring covered fingers, "Yeah, I was going to tell you-"

"A lie." He says cutting you off, "yeah. I figured that's why I didn't give you an option." He laugh, "I know I can be hard to deal with sometimes, but I think if we can work whatever your issue is with me, we can be decent friends."

"It's not.." you sigh, "I just.." you struggle to come up with something and Colby calls you out, "It's not.. you just.. what? What?" He laughs, "Do you like me? Are you nervous and you try to cover it up with being mean to me?"

You laugh, "You're ridiculous." You look at him, "Me.. liking you? Please."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" He shrugs, "I mean, honesty is the best policy, right?"

"I thought you came here to hang out, not interrogate me." You roll your eyes, fighting back a smile. Colby raises his hands, "Yeah, right. Sorry."

"So this party." You lean back and look at him, "Who all is going to be there?"

"Usually the same ones who are at the others. Me, you. Sam. Jake and Johnnie. Tara. Oh." He snaps, "We got the triplets to come."

You raise your brows, "You guys Nick, Chris, and Matt to come? Wow. Look at you. Moving up in the world." You tease with a laugh, "so I'm sure it'll be fun."

He nods, "I'm hoping."

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

A few hours later you wake up, blanket over your body and the end credits to the movie rolling on the tv screen.

You sit up, looking around, but Colby is no where to be found.

You reach for your phone to check the time, but see a message from Colby. You click on it, opening the text to see a picture of you asleep on the couch, you look so pretty when you sleep.

Although it was a sweet gesture, your wall is still up around yourself, you'll look pretty after I stab you.

You set your phone down, standing up to go change into comfier clothes.

As you come back, your phone dings, but it's not who you think.

It's from Sam, So how'd it go?

You instantly respond, Did you tell him to come here?

Sam answers, I'm not telling you anything until you tell me how it went.

You sit back down, laughing, He's alive isn't he.

You go back to Colby's thread and read what he sent, Again, don't threaten me with a good time.

You roll your eyes, laughing slightly as you lay back down to go to sleep.

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

It's been, radio silence, all day.

Nothing from Sam.

Nothing from Colby, which is actually kind of surprising.

"Hey." Tara calls out, "I'm here. Where are you?"

"Bedroom." You yell from the comfort of your bed, knowing that that's going to get destroyed once the door opens.

"What are you doing in bed still?" Tara asks walking over, "Come on! Time to get ready to par-tay!" She walks over, opening your curtains and you groan, "Five more minutes."

You roll over but Tara climbs onto you, "Hey."

You look up at her, "What."

She tilts her head, "What's going on with you?" You roll your eyes, shaking your head, "Nothing. I just didn't sleep well last night."

"Why?" Tara whines, shaking your shoulders slightly and you groan, letting out a sigh, "If you get off of me, I'll tell you."

She moves off, sitting next to you and she pushes her glasses up onto her nose, "Okay. Spill."

You sit up, "You can't tell anyone. I haven't ever told anyone this before, not even Sam."

"Yeah, okay whatever. Now tell me."

"You know how.. I've always given Colby the cold shoulder?" You look up at her and she laughs, "Yeah, I think it's funny."

"Well, it's.."

"Come on, spit it out. We're losing daylight here. I still need to try on dresses." Tara pushes your leg and word vomit spills from your mouth in a non stop string.

"Colby broke my heart a few years back and I don't think he knows and ever since then I've been holding a grudge against him. I basically made him my enemy so I didn't get close to him again and it's all because I love him and I really don't want to feel the heartache I felt the first time around."

Tara stares at you, blinking as she processes everything you just spat at her.

"I haven't said anything because it just felt... silly? I don't know. He came over last night and all I wanted to do was keep pushing him away but that other part of me wants to tell him but I just.. can't. Do. It."

"Well.." Tara leans back and you know something bad is going to come out of her mouth, "what."

She purses her lips, "I think this is a bad time to t-"

"Just say it."

"Colby has a date tonight."

You feel your heart sink, but anger rises up quickly.

Mainly at yourself, but some towards Colby for the way he made everything feel different in the course of a day.

It feels like a repeat of what happened years ago.

"Oh." You purse your lips, "Hmm."

"I don't think it's anything serious, I-"

You just Tara off, "No. it's okay." You get up, "I'm fine. Just.." you sigh, "Please don't tell anyone. I'm serious."

She holds her hands up, "I promise. But you.." she points to you, "..missy, you need to handle this yourself."

You nod, "Yeah. I'll just.. let the alcohol do the talking." You laugh, grabbing your things for a shower.

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

You hear the music growing louder as you walk closer to the club from the car.

Your heart racing harder the more you anticipate seeing Colby with his hands all over his date.

You smile to the bouncer as you walk in, laughing as Tara dances next to you. You greet people, smiling and saying hey as you make your way around.

"Oh there's Sam!" Tara waves her hand at him, and as people in the crowd move, you see Colby standing next to a brunette at the bar.

Your jaw clenches, "Can you get me a drink?" Tara looks at you, "Yeah, what do you want?"

"Whatever, just make it a double." You watch as she walks away and you move into the corner of the club, sitting down on the chair.

It's not long after that Sam walks up to you, "That doesn't look like the happy face of someone who helped me plan this."

You look up at him as he sits on the small table in front of you, giving him a slight laugh, "No I'm happy about this."

"But you're not happy about.."

You tilt your head, "You were right."

A small smirk grows on Sam's lips, "Do you want to clarify exactly, or.." he laughs as you glare at him, "Sam."

"Yeah, I don't know why he's hanging out with her tonight. We both agreed to just come together."

"Really? Tara told me-"

"Here you go, y/n." Tara hands you or drink and you immediately suck half of it down, "Oh god, I needed that." 

You look back up at Tara but she's gone, already dancing with people on the dance floor.

Sam reaches out, punching your knee, "Do you wanna go somewhere and talk?" You put your straw between your lips and nod.

You get up, following Sam to a room on the side and he closes the door.

Little do you know, you have Colby's full attention.

"Alright, gimme the tell all." Sam rubs his hands together and you laugh slightly, "A few years ago.. something happened with Colby and it stuck with me."

Sam's face falls slightly, "What happened?"

"I.. liked Colby. A lot. Like, he was my first love, basically. I thought he liked me too, and then he got with-"

Sam cuts you off, "Stella. I remember that." He nods, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't think I had to." You blurt out, sucking down the rest of your alcohol, "God. Now I'm mad that I'm out of alcohol."

Sam chuckles, "Alright. Let's go get you more and you just .. enjoy the party you helped me plan, okay?"

You take a deep breath, nodding as you look at him, "I'm sorry."

He shakes his head, "It's fine. Come on." He walks over, opening the door and the loudness floods in. You walk out, heading straight for the bar.

The bartender points to you and you lean in, "Can I get a double captain and coke please." He nods and walks away to make it.

You tap the bar as you wait and you feel someone walk up next to you, "What'd ya order?"

"Double captain." You say, eyes glued to the bottles of alcohol on the shelf across from you.

"Going heavy from the start, huh?" Colby asks leaning down, "Are you okay?"

You look at him, "Yeah. I'm great." You force a smile and look away from him, taking your drink and bringing the straw to your lips.

"Slow down, you'll get-"

You cut Colby off, "Don't you have a date to worry about?"

Colby cocks his jaw, "Mm. I see."

"See what?" You snap and before Colby can answer, you feel a hand around your wrist and you're pulled from the bar.

"Come on, tiger. Now's not the time." Tara says looking back at you. You bring your drink up, sucking as much down as you can before you stop.

"Dance. You need to settle." Tara starts to dance and you can't help but laugh, feeling a bit looser from the first drink settling in quickly.

You force yourself to not look at Colby, keeping your distance because your anger wants to lash out.

You were pissed all over again from him being so oblivious the first time around.

You were pissed about him coming over last night, making things feel like they could be alright.

You were pissed you even thought about letting your guard down.

"Another double captain and Coke." You slide your empty glass on the bar and look behind you as you hear the music die down.

Everyone starts to cheer when Sam walks up on to the small stage, followed by Colby.

"Thank you guys so much for being here." Sam starts out, "You know, I want to say a huge thank you to someone who's here tonight. Without her, we couldn't have planned this party like this. Y/n." Sam pauses, looking around, "Where are ya?"

You raise your hand and Sam starts speaking, "There she is. Everyone please give y/n a hand because she's the one who made this party happen."

You smile, looking around and you take your drink as soon as it's sets down on the bar.

The music starts to play loudly again and Sam makes his way through the crowd, "Hey. You doing okay?"

You laugh, "Oh yeah. Feeling much better."

He laughs, "I think you should talk to Colby." You take a deep breath, "I've moved past it." He raises a brow, "Have you?"

You groan, "No."

Sam leans in, "Tara made that girl leave, per Colby's request."

You turn your head, looking at Sam, "Really?"

Sam nods, "Mhm."

You found yourself wanting to kiss Sam, but you knew that wouldn't be a good thing, "Um.." you lean back, "Yeah.. I.."

Sam tilts his head, "What's up?"

You shake your head, "N-nothing. I think.. after this one.. I'm done.." you laugh, looking down at your full glass.

Sam laughs, "I see. Well, whenever you want to talk to Colby, just text me."

You turn towards Sam, placing your hand on his arm, "Can you be there? Just in case things.. get out of hand?"

He nods, "anything for you." He winks and smiles before he walks away.

You turn to the bar, staring down at the dark wood and now there's even more questions.

Why do you suddenly feel attacked to Sam?

Why did you want to kiss him?

"Fuck." You groan lowly, "What the fuck." You push yourself from the bar and walk to find the bathroom.

You walk in, taking a deep breath as the loudness drowns out, giving you a moment to think.

You pull out your phone, clicking on Sam's name. You try to type out a message, but nothing seems to sound right.

Your head starts to spin as more thoughts roll in and you lean against the wall.

The only way you were going to get any answers to the questions you have, is by talking to them.

You unlock your phone, sending a text to Sam, Okay, where do I have to go?

You hold your phone to your chest as you wait for an answer, which doesn't take long, Meet me by the stage.

You put your phone in your purse and pull open the door, walking down the small steps and around to the stage.

As you're looking around, you run into someone and when you look up, you see Sam smiling down at you, "Hey."

You smile forgetting all of your emotions for a split second, "Hey."

But it's all brought back when Sam nods, "Come on, follow me." You follow him past the bar, in through a door that leads you to a small corridor with three doors on either side.

Sam walks you to the last one, pushing the door open.

You follow him in, the room is lit red and Colby is sitting in a chair, chin rested in his palm, "About time."

"Sorry. I gave her time to be ready." Sam says as he closes the door behind you.

Your eyes stay on Colby and he looks at you, "What's up, Princess?"

You tilt your head, a billion things you want to say first racing through your mind.

You feel hands on your arms, gently rubbing up and down, "Just tell him." Sam whispers, "Tell him everything you told me."

If your heart could beat out of your chest, it would be on the floor right now.

"I'm.. so mad at you." You start, "I'm so fucking, unbelievably mad at you for breaking my heart and not even caring that it stuck with me all these years."

Colby nods, allowing you to continue, "You were my first love, and my first heartbreak. How did you not notice that I was head over heels for you?"

You pause, taking a breath, Sam's hands still on your arms, "I built a wall. Treated you like an enemy all because I fucking love you, but you made me too scared to even want to get close to you again."

Colby stands up, walking over to you, "What do you want, princess."

You lean back into Sam, his head resting on the back of yours, "I-I want.." you look up at Colby, "You."

A smirk grows on his lips and he pulls his lower one between his teeth. He brushes a strand of hair from your face, "Just me?"

You stare at him, kind of nervous to tell him about how you felt about Sam just a little bit ago.

Colby tilts his head, "You sure about that? I seen the way you were looking at him at the bar.." his hand travels up and down your bicep, "The way you're leaning into his touch right now."

You think about pulling away from Sam but you don't want to.

"Why do you think you've always been the only girl in my life?" Sam asks as he rests his chin on your shoulder, "Why do you think I'm always asking you to move out of that small ass apartment and into the spare room at our place?"

"Y-You.." you think for a moment, "You both want me?"

Colby nods, "Why do you think Sam was so persistent on getting you to be okay with me?"

"You talk?" You laugh slightly, "of course you do."

"We want you." Sam whispers, lips brushing against your cheek, "Do you want us?"

You bite your lip, eyes staying on Colby's for a few seconds. He leans in, inches away from your face, "What do you say, princess?"

You reach up, pulling Colby in to close the space. Your tongues dance together in a passionate motion before he leans back, "Atta girl."

"Now that we got that out of the way." Sam spins you towards him, cupping your cheeks before he plants his lips onto yours.

Your hands move to the sides of his neck, pushing your body against his. His hands slide down, gripping your waist, "I can wait my turn." He mumbles leaning back, "I wanna watch you and Colby make up."

He spins you around and Colby lifts you off the ground, your legs finding their way around his hips.

"Is that okay?" Colby asks as he walks over to the long couch.

"Is what okay?" You question and Colby chuckles, "That Sam watches me fuck you?"

You nod quickly, "But what about your party?"

Colby shakes his head and lays you down on the couch, "Fuck the party. We're having more fun in here."

You smirk and tilt your head as his lips connect to your neck, biting and marking up your skin with deep, purple marks.

You let out a moan, fluttering your eyes closed as you feel him grind against you through the thin layer of your panties, "Colby." You whimper, "Please."

He lifts his head, "Please what, princess?"

You grip the collar of his shirt, the one you bought for him, "I need you."

"All in good time, my love." He pecks your lips, reaching back to unhook your leg from around him, "I want to see what you've been withholding from me for all these years."

He grabs your hands, pulling you up so your back is now against the back part of the couch. He moves down to his knees, in between yours and his hands slide up your thighs.

You glance over at Sam who's intently watching the scene unfold.

You bite your lip, smirking slightly as you turn your head to look down at Colby. You lift your hips as his fingers hook in between your skin and the band.

He drags them down and you pull your one leg out, letting them hang off your high heel covered foot.

He lifts your legs onto his shoulder and you scoot down slightly, biting your lip as you anticipate his lips on your clit.

You tilt your head back, letting out a moan as he sucks and flicks his tongue over it, groaning against you as he tilts his head down to lick in between your folds.

"Fuck." Sam whispers off to the side.

You reach your arm out, lifting your head to look at him as your breathing quickens and you grip the cushion with your other hand.

Sam moves over, sitting down next to you. His arm goes over the back of the couch, behind your head and he grips your chin to plant his lips on yours.

He swallows your moans that are caused by Colby, "You look fucking beautiful like this."

You smirk against his lips, sliding one hand to the back of Colby's head and the other into Sam's hair.

You and Sam both look down at Colby.

You grip their hair, pulling as you pull Colby closer with your leg, "Fuck, Fuck, fuck." You arch your back, whimpering out as you feel so, so, so close.

Colby leans back, licking his lips before moving up and leaning against your body. His lips attach to yours and you groan at the taste of your pussy on his lips.

You turn your head, connecting your lips to Sam's and he groans, "Fuck, I can't wait to have my way with you."

You smirk, "Good thing I know where you live." He chuckles, nodding as he leans back. He gets up, returning to the place he was sitting in before you called him over.

"Lay on your stomach for me." Colby mumbles as he kisses your neck. You slide over, rolling onto your stomach and you lock eyes with Sam.

You feel Colby push your dress up to pool around your waist and you hear the clinking of Colby's belt being undone.

You look over your shoulder as Colby straddles your legs. His hands caress your ass and he brings one up to drop it down with a hard smack.

You whimper, dropping your head a little as you wait for him to do it to the other.

And he does, leaving matching handprints.

You gasp, whining out as you move your hips side to side, "Colby."

You feel him lean down, one hand on the back of the couch, the other guiding his cock go where you both want it to be most, "I'm getting there, princess."

You hear him chuckle and you bite down on your lip as you feel his cock glide between your folds and into where you both want him to be most.

You let out a moan, eyes rolling closed as you feel his hand slide up and over your shoulder to wrap his fingers around your neck, "That what you wanted baby?"

You nod slightly, opening your eyes, "Y-yes."

Your eyes meet Sam's, moaning from Colby's strokes of his cock, and everything is coming together, quite quickly actually.

You were cursing yourself, wanting to smack yourself around for not realizing how clear the answer to everything really was.

You were so blocked by the walls you built around yourself, and you were consumed by your own thoughts, you left yourself clueless to what they were trying to do.

It was all because I love them both, you think, smirking because you know that it's okay to.

You feel Colby's head rest against yours, his cock thrusting deep into your core, "mine." He groans lowly, "Ours."

"Yours." You breathe out, "So fucking yours."

"Tell him." Colby says lowly, a moan slipping from his lips, "let him hear you, princess."

Colby's grip tightens on your neck as he pulls your head up to look at Sam. Your eyes lock onto his and he tilts his head, "Tell me, baby."

"I'm yours." You whimper and Colby slides his hand around to grip your hair, pulling harshly, "Louder."

"Yours.. I'm.." you swallow, moaning loudly, "Yours!"

"That's our girl." Colby presses his lips to your temple before leaning up to withdrawal his cock from you, "Come here."

You roll over, sitting up and Colby's lips crash onto yours. His hands pull you onto him so you're straddling him.

His hand holds his cock steady and you sink down onto you, allowing him to swallow your moans.

His hands slide down to grip your ass, groaning as you grind your hips into his, "C-Colby." He slides a hand up, gripping the back of your neck as he presses his lips to yours.

Your hands slide up his chest, digging into his clothed shoulders as you moan against his lips, mind racing about what's in store for when you get back to their place.

I love them both, you think over and over again, they love me.

The thought alone was enough to get you off.

Colby's hands slide up to pull the top of your dress down, exposing your boobs. His hands inch up, gripping and kneading as you bounce up and down.

Your head falls back, moans escaping your lips as you're sucked into an orgasmic state.

Your walls squeeze Colby's cock as you lean forward, body melting into his as your hands tangle within his hair and pull to earn a groan.

His hands tighten on your waist and you feel him twitch inside you. He lets out a slight chuckle, "Sorry."

You relax onto him, letting out a sigh, "It's okay." You laugh slightly, "Nothing is stopping it from doing it again."

He slides his hands up your back, "You're right, well.. I mean there's one thing.. we should probably get back out there, people are probably looking for us."

"Is it bad I kind of forgot about that for a second?" You laugh leaning up to move off of him. You stand up, pulling your panties up and he shrugs, "I'd rather be with you, trust me. We both do."

Sam walks up, his arms sliding around to fix the top of your dress, "So does it all make sense now?" He laughs quietly and you look from him to Colby, "oh yeah. It's all crystal clear now."

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

I'm sorry if this is all over the place, I've been picking up writing it as much as I could. I've been sick the last couple of days and it's been rough.

As always, let me know how you liked it. Thank you so much for reading! Love you all! 🖤

Likes and reblogs are majorly appreciated!

[makethatelevenrings]

Breakfast for Three // J. Todd x f!reader

Requested? Yes!

Warnings: reader has a kid, swearing, talks of poverty (if u haven’t been able to figure out, I am a leftist and I am tucking my lil handkerchief into my collar and preparing to eat billionaires)

Summary: Being a single parent is hard. Being a single parent in Gotham feels impossible sometimes. Two people change things for the better. 

Listen, raising a child on your own was a test on its own. But being a single parent in Gotham? You had to be absolutely out of your mind.

But you loved your kid. You wouldn’t go back and change your decision. Every morning, you woke up to the giggles and shrieks of your four year old climbing all over you. Lucy was always up before your alarm and while you needed every minute of sleep, you would miss these moments whenever she became too cool to hang out with her mother. So you just bundled her wriggling body up into your arms and peppered her head with kisses as she laughed and wrapped her little octopus limbs around you.

Breakfast had moved from a coffee and a granola bar as you rushed out the door to work to Bluey pancakes for Lucy and even more coffee for you before you rushed out the door to get her to preschool and you to work. Every day felt like it was flying by too quickly.

Her birthday was quickly approaching and that’s how you found yourself out on the fire escape of your apartment with the baby monitor clutched between your hands and sobs escaping you despite your best efforts to stifle your cries.

You couldn’t afford any of the popular toys or games that kids were obsessed with. Hell, you could barely afford rent this month. Living in Gotham wasn’t as bad as other places in terms of rent but raising a kid was expensive and you were struggling to make ends meet thanks to work being slow. God, she was going to be so disappointed. Maybe you could start eating only one meal a day? That would save some money on groceries…

“Are you okay?”

The voice came from the shadows and the subsequent heart attack you received practically launched you into the air. The person cursed and then stepped out of the shadows. Okay, less scary but still pretty fucking terrifying. Red Hood stared down at you, or at least, you thought he was looking at you. The helmet made it difficult to figure out what direction he was facing.

“I said, are you okay?” he repeated in a gruff, no-nonsense voice. You nodded quickly and swiped away your tears with the back of your hand.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Don’t you have skulls to bash in or something?”

A huff of laughter escaped the vigilante’s helmet and you cocked your head to the side. He could laugh? He was capable of humor? Surprises were all around tonight.

“Already did that. And then I heard someone sounding like they just watched Marley and Me three times in a row and figured I should come check.” He eased himself into a crouch next to you and you admired how large and imposing he was yet he didn’t seem terrifying when he was next to you. You weren’t his target so there was no reason to fear him.

“Gonna tell me what’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s stupid,” you muttered. You turned your attention back to the baby monitor to see Lucy fast asleep in your bed. The one bedroom apartment you rented didn’t have space for another bed so the two of you shared one. Luckily, she was a deep sleeper so she never stirred when you crawled in a few hours after her bedtime and got up early in the morning to get ready for the day.

“Nothing that makes you cry is stupid,” Red Hood retorted. “Hit me with it.”

“My kid’s birthday is coming up and I don’t have the funds to pay for anything. I can barely keep our heating on. She’s going to hate her birthday and I’ll have ruined it forever. I’m already working sixty hours a week, but I can’t ask Mrs. Hayes to watch her longer. Fuck.” You scrubbed a hand down your face and bemoaned your rotten fucking luck. Fuck your shitbag ex. Fuck the system that prevented single parents from succeeding. Fuck it all.

Rustling beside you made you look up to find Red Hood rummaging through his pockets. He let out a triumphant hum and then outstretched his hand. A stack of bills rested in his gloved palm and your eyes widened at the offering.

“Absolutely not,” you blurted out. “I’m not taking blood money from you. Who knows where that’s come from? And what if you show up in five years demanding the money back with some huge fucking interest rate?”

He chuffed out another laugh. “Christ, your mind is an interesting place. It’s legit, I promise. And it’s not a loan. It’s a gift. Take it. I’ve got enough cash.”

You watched him warily as you reached out and grasped the money. Your lips moved as you counted out the values silently and inhaled sharply once you got to the end. Three thousand dollars. That would pay rent for two months, leaving your paycheck to cushion you.

“Holy shit. Thank you. Thank you so much,” you gasped. But when you looked up, there was no sight of Red Hood. He had simply disappeared into the shadows once again. Only the rough paper of cash in your hands made you realize that it wasn’t a dream.

You spent the rest of the night going over your finances and figuring out where you could use the cash and how much you could spend on Lucy. With enough to bolster you for a bit, you decided to take her by a bakery on her way to pre-school. With her dinosaur backpack firmly settled on her back, Lucy bounded towards the bakery with you hot on her heels. Where the hell did she get all this energy?

“Woah,” a man exclaimed as Lucy tripped on a raised edge of the sidewalk. He caught her before she went sprawling onto the pavement, saving you from a torrent of tears and skinned knees.

“Gotta be careful there, kiddo,” he said as he righted her. You caught up to her finally and kneeled down to check her for injuries. Unscathed, thanks to the stranger. You raised your head to meet his eyes and thank him and found yourself captured by searing teal eyes.

“Thank you,” you blurted out. “I should really get her one of those backpack leashes.”

His full lips curled up into a grin and your heart stuttered at the sight of it. Small scars littered his tan skin, but it only added to the handsome rogue look he had going for him.

“I get it. The cinnamon rolls at this place are fu-” His eyes darted towards the squirming child in your hands. “Freaking amazing. I practically run here every morning to get one.”

Lucy gasped. “You like cinnamon rolls?”

The man shrugged. “Well, yeah, who doesn’t?”

“Sad people,” she replied wisely. You burst into laughter at the solemnity of her words and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“I love you, kid,” you announced.

“Love you too, mommy. Can we go now?”

You stood up to your full height and the man did the same, but he was much taller than you. He offered his hand and you shook it.

“I’m Jason. How about I buy you two breakfast?”

“Oh, you don’t have to do it. If anything, I owe you.”

His smile grew and you marveled at the slight dimple in his chin. “Yeah, but this way I can be a gentleman before I ask you out.”

There was no way this exceedingly handsome, Adonis-like man was asking you on a date. No fucking way. You had toothpaste on your shirt and a four year old currently clinging to your leg. No man had even looked at you since your ex knocked you up and left.

But he was kind and genuine and there was some kind of soft emotion in his eyes that made you want to ask him how the world had hurt him. And Lucy seemed to like him from just their first meeting.

“Okay. Breakfast sounds nice.”

If only you knew how a simple breakfast would change your life forever.

tag list: @mcrmarvelloki​ @gone-batty-fics​ @someoneimsure​ @perpetual-fangirl900​ @visagebrise​ @cursedandromedablack​ @alexxavicry​ @the-wayward-daughter​ @raging-trash-of-mind​ @kat-nee​ @khaylin27​ @igotanidea​ @princessbl0ss0m​

[andreal831]

This fandom needs to back off of Matt Donovan and Zach Roerig

Starting with the ridiculous: Zach Roerig and Julie Plec never dated. It's ridiculous that I have to say this. There is a blurry picture of him leaning in to Julie Plec at some point. I even tried to do the work for you all and could not find one shred of evidence of an actual kiss. Y'all are just wild for this rumor. If anything, my search revealed that Ian and Zach were in a relationship. I mean look at that affection.

Also, with just a tiny bit of research, we can find out that Zach was in a relationship when he started the show and, due to issues at home, he ends up fighting for full custody of his two year old daughter while on the show. The only romantic connection there is any reports on is with Candice King and that was relatively short lived. Otherwise Zach was just a single father, trying to raise and support his daughter.

Now people will try to say Zach is racist as well. I've heard he was racist because of dating Plec. See earlier paragraph. Or that he made racist comments to Kat. Again, there is zero evidence of this. People keep pointing to this interview saying that he either does the Nazi salute or a black power fist and it is such a reach it's ridiculous. He is looking at Kat because the question asked related to Bonnie and Matt and he reaches forward as a hand gesture and then raises his fist in a fairly generic way.

I can't tell if people get Matt Davis and Zach confused because he plays Matt or if people just love to hate on Zach because he plays Matt. Either way, it is disgusting to spread rumors about someone being racist when there is no evidence as far as I can tell. It's also terrible to distract from the actual racism that Kat had to deal with on the show.

From every interview I've seen he seems like such a sweet person. He even said working on the show was a "healing process" and yet the fandom treats him like this. Zach goes to the panels and none of his coworkers seem uncomfortable and avoid him. Not that them liking someone means that person is good, most of them still interact with Matt Davis and yet unfollowed Michael Malarkey.

Now onto Matt Donovan.

First of all, the fact that y'all pretend this man isn't attractive tells me all I need to know. Objectively, Zach Roerig is attractive. You can not like his character but you all just sound goofy.

The biggest complaint with Matt is that he is "useless," but this to me just shows you are watching the show for either the romance or attractive people and not for storytelling.

The role of the "human" in fantasy is so important. We, as an audience, are humans and we need to have a threshold character. A character that reminds of that even though we are rooting for the supernatural creatures, they are still not the good guys. It's why supernatural stories often revolve around humans. It gives the show the humanity that it would be in danger of losing if it just focused on the predatory species. Matt reminds us of the humanity that is at stake in the show.

Matt is particularly important in this show because he not only the sole human in a pack of supernatural creatures, but he is the only one without financial privilege in TVD. Matt not only comes from a family that is struggling financially, but his parents are gone and his sister is struggling with addiction. Matt is working it appears full time while in high school full time. All of his friends are going to parties and given cars and clothes, planning for college; while Matt is having to figure out how to afford his mom's mortgage/rent. Season 1 opens up focusing on how much Elena is struggling with the death of her parents but dismissed Matt's struggles as some lovesick teenager. When in reality Elena at least had a support system. Sure Jeremy was spiraling like Vicki, but Elena and Jeremy had Jenna. Matt was struggling with the purposeful abandonment of his parents and his sister's drug addiction with zero support system. He even loses his childhood friends when Elena and he break up. He only really has Tyler, who, let's be honest is not the best friend in Season 1.

He is also the first person in the show to lose someone due to the supernatural. His sister ends up attacked and in the hospital and he then has to figure out how to pay for that while taking care of Vicki who is clearly struggling even more than normal. When Vicki does end up dead, he knows there is more too it and the entire town, including his friends, gaslight him. Matt has every right to hate vampires. They murdered his sister in cold blood.

Matt is so devastated by Vicki's death that is haunts him throughout the show. He even risks his life just to talk to her ghost for a few moments.

People say Matt hates the supernatural, and he did, but he had reasons. And despite that, he was always there for his friends. Even when he was terrified, and in much more of a risk than his vampire friends, he was always there for them.

Yes, Matt is the one driving the truck when Elena dies and Stefan saves Matt over Elena, but none of that is Matt's fault. He was attempting to save his friend's life with Jeremey's help. How is that any different than Elena having Stefan compel Jeremy to leave town? Let's also not forget who helps Elena feed in her early days. But the fandom never wants to give him credit for that.

Matt is constantly used, berated, manipulated, and compelled by the supernatural around him. Mystic Falls needed someone like Matt to stand up for them since they were unaware of the supernatural world. Even the "good vampires" killed humans. Matt was trying to protect his town.

The last complaint ties it all in, that Matt only survived so long on the show because he was dating Julie Plec. Again, that's a lie. He never dated Julie, and it especially had nothing to do with the show writing. I would also like to point out that the character Matt is based on, Matt Honeycutt, in the book never dies. So why are we surprised he doesn't die in the show? Matt had a lot of close calls and even had a Gilbert ring for protection. No one ever asks why Steven McQeen (Jeremy) doesn't die or assumes it's because he was "sleeping his way to the top." These assumptions are immature and baseless.

All Matt wants to do is live a normal life, something he had to fight much harder than the rest of them for. He is the most consistent friend out of all of them. People love to say "how did Matt get so many girls?" Because he's nice. Because he respected them and fought for them, even if they didn't deserve it. They would all have been better off ending up with Matt.

Honestly, Matt and Cami's purpose are similar to me and both of the actors deserve such a huge apology from this fandom. Some of y'all need to learn to separate a show from reality.

[mishydraws]

Very... very unfortunate life update

Hi, everyone.

Ok, I don’t want to waste your time but I wanted to be upfront about what’s going on in my life just so you all know.

Last night I got what is probably one of the worst emails that could have ever appeared in my inbox? Our landlord has given us a 60-day notice to get out. For context, my mom and I have been living here since the year 2000. We have never been late on rent or missed a payment despite every difficulty life has thrown at us in that time and this has completely blindsided us.

We haven’t spoken to any of the neighbors yet but some of the wording on the notice makes me think that they may be kicking out the entire building. Or maybe they’re just targeting those of us in the non-renovated units because we’ve been here so long and they could charge a new tenant much more with a quick kitchen and bathroom upgrade. Renoviction is a new word I just learned. I don’t know. That’s what happened to my brother at his last apartment. They kicked out everyone in his building, renovated, raised the rent, then let new people move in.

They suddenly started increasing our rent every year like clockwork a few years ago so I’ve had a feeling they’ve been trying to price us out for a while but I didn’t know they could just… tell us to leave just because they can. Rent consistently paid up and everything for 24 years.

The notice we received really doesn’t say much so it’s all speculation I guess. It doesn’t state a reason why it just says we need to be gone by March 31st.

But basically, I’m really not doing well right now in all honesty. I slept for maybe an hour last night and it’s like a switch flipped in me as soon as I read the email. My stomach has had this weird knotted feeling ever since and I can’t stand up for more than a few minutes before needing to lie down again in case I either faint or vomit… I’m not sure which but it’s been this way since last night. I had to stand up at the sink to wash one singular dish from dinner and I could barely do it. At least I didn’t see the email until after I ate last night because I still have no appetite now.

However bad I’m feeling I know my mom is probably feeling worse. She has been for a while. She’s getting older and my dad is no longer alive. Aside from my brother and one irl friend I still see in person regularly, we have no family or other support system in this country and are well and truly on our own, staring down the barrel of homelessness if we can’t quickly secure a place and move decades worth of our life there before the end of March.

All of this to say, I don’t know what our usual art shenanigans here are going to look like during this time. I am incredibly stressed to the point where I am physically ill but I also can’t pause and step away because I do need the income that I receive from your support of me/my art here. It’s just the reality. I’ve never been particularly Big And Successful with what I do so your support means all the much more and makes a real impact on my life.

I am so sorry if this dampens your mood at all today or if you notice a decrease in the quality of art I’m able to deliver over the next few months but I will try my best to keep things rolling and let you know if there’s any particular delays to expect.

To top it off, I requested a tour of a nearby apartment last night (more expensive than our current) and the name of the person who just texted me back has the same name as our current landlord. Who wants to start taking bets? I know for a fact they own a lot of property in the area so this isn’t looking promising.

Anyways. Sorry for this downer of a post. If we’re not homeless in 2 months then… I dunno. I’ll have somewhere indoors to do art? Yay? You can imagine the housing market we’re dealing with being in California. The prospect of moving at this point has always been one of my biggest fears but we’ll see if we get lucky real fast 😢

If you've ever thought about supporting my Patreon or anything else, now and over the next few months might be a good time if you can swing it. Maybe it'll help us secure a place to move if I can point to it and be like 'Look! A whole income!' 🥲 Idk man.

There's an art update in the (public) post I made if you want to see what we're at least trying to work on for sticker club through all of this.

Mishy

[boba-tea-addict-1004]

🔥 Cryptid Rengoku offers you safety 🔥

Pairing: Cryptid Rengoku x Nonbinary Y/n

Word count: 1,665

A/N: i wanted to post this on Halloween but got caught up with some stuff, so enjoy some post Halloween content :)

⚠TW: Transphobia and Physical abuse ⚠

Inspired by:

You worked as a paranormal investigator for about a year now. you always been fascinated with mythology, the paranormal and other worldly things... this of course did not go unnoticed by your parents (along with signs of your not so cis normative identity). they always said that they did what they did out of protection... however now on your own you weren't so sure you were the one they were protecting. push came to shove, and you haven't spoken since you moved out.

you think they liked it better this way anyway.

the town you moved in had a strange atmosphere to it, you couldn't quite place what it was...

once you got settled in you started researching, not only for your job but also out of pure enjoyment. the place you rented was small and cozy however the rent was... something. still you didn't have much time to dwell on it, you figured if you could just get through these next few months with at least a few assignments you'd be okay.

shouldnt be hard..

since you moved into a city with possibly the most missing people..

.

.

.

'

'The Aniciti Oni: A mysterious beast going as far back as the taisho era and even a bit further than that. rumored he has the power to create and control fire with ease. ancient art show's he was worshiped and praised... for what purpose is unknown. little is known and everything is still just speculation. was said to be sighted in forest near resident area's' as you continued to read you sighed ignoring whatever calls you got from your parents. they have been calling for a few days now, it was really starting to worry you. you didn't tell them where you were going when you left and yet from the voicemails they left, somehow.. they knew. unsettling to say the least.

you sigh "give me a break" you mutter to yourself rejecting another call from them. you looked at the page and figured that'd be a good place to start looking... the forest wasn't that far from your general area so it would be much of a problem. just hoped you'd be able to do what you needed to do first.

.

.

you had you headphones in your ear listening to your music looking around the outskirts of the woods first, seeing if there were any signs of life besides the usual birds and wolfs. you looked close at the ground at a few footprints, so far nothing seemed out of the ordinary and things were going pretty smoothly. you were about to stand when suddenly you were yanked up by someone causing your headphones to fall out of position. you were turned around and forced to face the people you tried so hard to run from. how they found you, you weren't sure but if you had to guess it was most likely a friend told them. you listened as your father yelled in your face while you were trying to push him away. after a bit he dropped you onto the hard asphalt of the street close by.

"After everything we done for you! after raising you and taking care of you this is how you repay us! running off to some town without so much as a goodbye!" your mother was trying to hold him back from kicking you any further. at this point you were curled up from the pain and was just waiting for him to stop so you could finally get up, every time you did try to get up you were kicked back down. you were internally screaming and begging to stop but no words were coming out, you considered yourself a strong person... but not around them. they somehow always managed to seem bigger and more powerful than you. he grabbed you by your collar again and he hit you a few more times. after a bit he dropped you back on the street and it was then you took this opportunity to run into the woods. you didn't have your phone, dew to the drama you lost it so now you had no way to call for help. not like you really had anyone to call anyway... your mom then ran after you trying to 'reason with you' but you already knew what that meant. she'd try and find a way to convince you to come back. that wasn't going to work this time. you continued to run till you tripped on a tree root and hit your head on a rock. then.. lights out..

.

.

.

when you woke up you felt your head was pounding and still bleeding slightly. "urg.." you groaned trying to get up. you noticed that the plaid shirt you were wearing was torn- no.. it was ripped in some areas and was now being used as a makeshift bandage for your head. lucky for you, you were wearing a tank top underneath, so you weren't half naked or anything like that. you got up and noticed that the jacket you were wearing (now covered in blood) was being used as a makeshift pillow. day had long since ended and from the looks of things you'd be knocked out for six hours at most. sun had already set and it was starting to get cold. you picked up your jacket and put it on trying not to think about the blood.. though you did wonder what was keeping you warn while you were asleep.. or.. what even saved you in the first place. "hello?" you call out but no response

"Hello!"

still nothing but dead silence

"I- I'm not from around here... and... i could really use some help getting back into town..." you weren't sure how deep you were in the woods or how long it'd take you to get back. everything looked the same at night. you looked around a bit more and after a bit you heard the sound of something rustling in the tree's. you look up swiftly and noticed a pair of big eyes, unsettling for sure but you weren't scared. you made eye contact with- whatever it was and in a calm tone said "hey.. don't be afraid.."

"I'm not afraid." he responded with an echo in his voice

you were a bit taken back, you weren't expecting an actual response but replied anyway "then come out" you walk a little closer

"then you'll be afraid."

you shake your head slightly then winced a bit from the pain "who- who are you?"

"careful... looks pretty bad..."

you nod slight then tilt your head slowly ".. who are you?" frankly you were somewhat afraid of the answer but stood firm

he didn't respond

"...are.. they coming back?"

he shook his head, you could somewhat make out his form a bit more as your eye adjusted "no, every time they got close i led them out. they gave up after a while... i'm sorry about that by the way"

"you.. saw?"

he nodded "i watched.. I'm sorry i couldn't step in sooner.. was afraid you'd run away"

you sighed "why would i do that?"

"..."

you look up at the moon and then back at him "..can i at least get your name?"

"..Kyojuro. Kyojuro Rengoku.."

you smile slightly "Y/n. Y/n L/n"

"What were you even doing out here?" he moved a little closer but remained hidden enough.

"i could ask you the same thing.. but i'm not gonna since i owe you one"

he shook his head "you dont own me anything Y/n.."

you look up at the moon, the light was perfectly on you, and you looked down and saw how many bruises and cuts were on you. you then walked closer to where the figure was and reached your hand out. he shook his head again then stepped back a bit more... you both continued to make eye contact then after a few seconds he took it. one thing you were not expecting to feel was.. claws... one thing you also now just noticed was how much taller he was than you. around seven feet at least. you led him into the light, and you nearly froze but kept your composer as best as you could. his eyes were red and almost looked like staring into a void, you noticed his ears and tail.. you weren't dealing with a human in the slightest. whatever he was... you were making direct contact with and felt your blood run colder. still you did your best to stay calm and composed. you remembered that page you read about in one of your books, a legendary creature that was rumored to be lurking around. could he be what you were looking for?.. he was a lot bigger that you expected. you noticed you were still holding his hand and rubbed your thumb against his soft fur and you let out a soft exhale "fluffy." you note. he chuckled slightly smiling "i'm guessing i'm not what you were expecting"

"Well yeah i was somewhat expecting someone more.. my height" you chuckle. from his fur you were able to make the assumption he was beside you as you slept and only left when you were starting to to wake up. for some reason that brought you comfort in knowing..

"it's not safe to go wondering alone at night.. especially if they might still be lurking. you may stay here for a while.."

"Oh no i couldn't do that, i don't want to impose" you shook your head still trying to get used to who you were talking to

"i insist.. it's why i was created after all.."

you rose a brow "created..?"

"i can elaborate more on that some other time, right now.. you need rest... and food"

now that he mentioned it you noticed you were hungry "i'd really appreciate that" you smile

and so was formed your first friendship in your new town

[yooniesim]

I don't like to share financial struggles on here but, I have always made a point of being transparent as possible too. So let me tell yall frankly. I am 1-2 months away from not being able to pay any of my bills including rent. the new medication I have to switch to bc of the national shortage is $182 per month. I don't know how im going to afford it. The one i switched to already and have been paying for has had no effect at all. I have had doctor's visits every few weeks for various health issues since March and no insurance since January. My student loans have unpaused and I have been paying them for several months now. I was laid off from one of my jobs this year and the other was paused when my family member I was caregiving for passed away. I have another caregiving job now but it doesn't pay nearly enough for all my bills, medical expenses, and food. I am in the red every month and what I have saved will not last much longer.

Regardless of all this, I still do not paywall my cc, even early access, and I do not ask for donations. I took up curseforge because it seemed like a good place to host my files, and then was pleasantly surprised by the small amount of money I was able to get from it every month or so. This money doesn't even touch my expenses and will not even be enough to pay for my meds anymore. It ranges from $50-200 over the course of several months depending if I am active enough to post any cc or not. Any of you that are independent know that this is nothing in terms of the current cost of living. I haven't even received my payment from last month yet and as soon as I do it is already spent. If I had any leeway at all, I would have already deleted my cc from there, but the gravity of the situation right now is... extremely high. If I deleted it now, I probably wouldn't even get the money I already earned there, as it is still in process. And I cannot risk that. What i can do is not upload anything new to their website in the meantime. But I cannot delete my old uploads.

I have spent most of my life being vocal about social justice issues. I have donated very often to the causes i cared about, spoken to people both irl and online to raise awareness despite being in an area where it is dangerous to do so, done volunteer work, and hosted fundraising efforts. Much of my breath over the past weekend was spent talking about Palestine. It is not that I do not care about this issue- far from it. I've lost a lot of sleep trying to figure out what to do about this. It's not easy trying to weigh the impact of a boycott against your own well being. Especially getting conflicting info on whether or not Overwolf is actually supporting the IDF or just victims of the terrorist attacks as they say. It's all complicated, confusing, and heartbreaking. And even so, I am boycotting in the terms of not uploading new stuff to there and offering alternate download links for my old stuff. And when I am able, I will eliminate curseforge completely. But I hope this helps anyone understand why it's not gone immediately and what my current perspective is.

[sherdnerd]

Y'know, its funny how the pathological need of modern storytelling to subvert expectations can infect our views of the real world. Because honestly my life has been the opposite of that

I was born in New York City. Queens. My parents were both Irish immigrants, my mom had been there about a decade, my dad since the 70s. While I was still very young, they decided that they wanted to raise their kids where they had been raised, and so we moved to a small suburban town outside Dublin.

Growing up, we never got the chance to go back. Money and whatnot. But I was raised on stories of their time in America. Plus all my favorite movies were set there. So throughout my childhood I knew I wanted to get to America. Badly.

Then, in my teenage years I started to learn more about the world, become more cynical, and learn more about America's flaws. Which is something somebody could spend their entire life listing. I began to think that America wasn't what it was cracked up to be. But I still had one thing in mind: I've never been there. Everything I know is second hand. Ideally, I'd like to draw my own conclusions.

Finally, I got my chance. An exchange program accepted me at the University of Vermont, and as I needed to transfer flights there anyway, I slotted in a few days in New York. And...

I had a great time. In Vermont I made wonderful friends, a beautiful city, and a place where I felt truly like I belonged. In New York, a city I'd aspired to visit practically my entire life, I was taken aback by just how much it lived up to my expectations. I went to America, as I'd dreamed of as a kid and, in spite of and acknowledging the many flaws that I learned of as I got older, I loved it. I actually stayed on beyond the exchange program. As I was born there, I'm a US citizen. No visa required, I could just rent an apartment and get a job. Which I did.

Which felt weird. I felt like I wasn't supposed to. Like, it feels wrong that the thing I'd always wanted and aspired for did satisfy me, and allowed me to spend my time in Vermont feeling content. I can honestly say that one of the happiest periods of my life was working at a CVS just off the interstate. Every cynical lesson I've been taught not only by storytelling but by other people tells me I should have been crushingly disappointed with something I'd spent literally my entire life hyping up.

It feels so weird. And like something is wrong somehow. And yet. Because every life experience is different. Will that thing you've always wanted make you happy? Conventional wisdom says no, but it worked for me, so why not give it a go

[beneficialfondue]

Geraskier FanFic Recommendations

Within the Storm (G) by Hum My Name - A Continent trapped in an eternal winter, cursed by the sudden disappearance of the Summer God years ago. A disowned noble trying to brave the storm, stumbling upon a strange cabin in the worst of the blizzard. Jaskier's only ever known the cold-- but, Geralt, somehow, seems so warm...

jump care (T) by @penandinkprincess - In Jaskier’s defense, he would argue that he had very good reasons for not realizing he was haunted. Between gigs and side jobs, his days are far from standard working hours, the house is old so who would be alarmed by a few odd noises now and then, and after a lifetime of ADHD, who is he to say that he didn’t leave every single cabinet door open and rearrange his mugs in the cupboard without realizing it? “The fucking writing in the mirror wasn’t a clue?” Priscilla asks with a dubious eyebrow raised. (Jaskier has a poltergeist) (This is a problem until it gets his rent reduced) (Then the only problem is stopping the witcher his landlord hired from wrecking the good thing he's got going on)

Morning After (T) by @whispered-story - This isn't how Geralt thought he would do this. But seeing Jaskier with his hair still wet from swimming, bundled up on one of Geralt's hoodies, he can't help himself.

We'll Build a Den Out of Pillows (And Get Drunk Again) (G) by @wren-of-the-woods - Jaskier gets sick. When Geralt asks how to help, Jaskier jokingly suggests that he build a pillow fort. He does not expect Geralt to take it seriously. Geralt takes it seriously.

What Can Go Wrong? (G) by Doing_a_heckin_science - Jaskier offers to take care of an errand for an exhausted Geralt. It spirals into a life-or-death situation that the witcher may be too late to stop. Modern AU. Bank Heist featuring hostage!Jaskier.

Very Late At Night When Cities Turn Into Forests Again (E) by AguScribbles - A modern-day witcher in a world where people stopped believing in magic and monsters is trying to do his laundry in peace. He won't have that wish granted, though. It seems, unfortunately, that an annoying laundry companion will be the least of Geralt's problems. (Jaskier and Geralt meet at a laundromat at 2am and then proceed to fall in love while a blast from Geralt's Witchery past threatens to ruin everything)

you are in the earth of me (T) by empressoftheclouds - Geralt is captured and given to Prince Julian Pankratz of Lettenhove to serve as his guardian, but the last thing he expects is to fall in love with him. Prince!Jaskier and Bodyguard/Knight!Geralt AU.

Don't Tell Me, Dear, How Much You Care (T) - by @whispered-story - It's the middle of the night and Jaskier just wants to grab himself some water. He's nowhere near ready to face a bunch of inebriated witchers and Geralt's drunk affection.

You Don't Have to Sing it Nice (But Honey Sing it Strong) (G) - by kell_be_belle - Jaskier didn't know why he was here. His manager could have sent him to a tropical island with white sand beaches or a mountain chalet overlooking a quaint vineyard and yet he had been sent to the middle of nowhere. After a recently developed panic disorder has left him unable to perform, famed music sensation Jaskier is sent to the therapeutic farmstead of Kaer Morhen where their animal therapy program has become nationally renowned for its success. Jaskier doesn't care much for the dirt or the smell or the animals, but the soft yet disgruntled program manager, Geralt, might just make the damage to his wardrobe worth it. A fic in which Geralt is, for once, the emotionally competent one and Jaskier is in desperate need of some self-love.

TW: Panic Attacks

Don't Go Stealing My Heart (T) - by @thesilverqueenlady - When Jaskier is stiffed by a lord on payment, he decides to help himself to proper compensation. Alongside the correct amount of gold and silver, he also steals a beautiful silver wolf's head medallion. It's safe to say that he is not expecting the medallion to be haunted by the spirit of a very grumpy, very handsome, very cursed Witcher.

The Minute I Met You, the Colors of My Life Began to Pour (E) - by @whispered-story - Geralt had taken one look at Jaskier in that dingy tavern in Posada almost a year ago and he'd known—Jaskier was his. His to protect and take care of and cherish. His mate.

Or: The story of Geralt and Jaskier's mating. (A/B/O)

Spectre's Soul (T) - by @wren-of-the-woods - When Jaskier tried to go on a date with a man named Rience, he did not expect to nearly be killed. He certainly did not expect to discover a beautiful valley while running away from him. He very definitely did not expect to find out that the valley was haunted — by an absurdly beautiful man.

Or: In which Geralt is cursed to be a ghost and Jaskier is the first person in decades to talk to him.

I'm Lost, I'm Found in You (E) - by @whispered-story - After Geralt gets injured on a hunt, he's nursed back to health by another witcher. Over the next few years, Geralt keeps crossing paths with the Cat—first by accident, then on purpose.

(Cat Witcher!Jaskier)

animal instincts (M) - by leodesic - Despite Jaskier's hard work, there are still plenty of people who hate witchers. They think they're monstrous, inhuman, only held back from violence by a thin veneer of control. One mage has a plan to spread his views by capturing a witcher and bewitching them to remove their control. When the Butcher of Blaviken walks into his hideout, he's convinced he's found the perfect candidate - and a convenient way to get rid of the pesky bard that's been singing his praises.

Jaskier is forced to agree witchers are not human, but that doesn't mean they're dangerous. In fact, he's astounded by how many of Geralt's uncontrolled impulses involve touching.

All the Better (E) - by @ambutwrites - When a young bard takes the forest path the locals steer clear of, he soon discovers what lurks in the woods.

(Werewolf!Geralt)

if somebody loved you, they'd tell you by now (M) - by Tallfroggie20 - Geralt had never called Jaskier a friend, not once in their twenty years traveling together. Now he returns to uproot Jaskier's life, Child Surprise in tow and mentions of an 'old friend' on his lips. It makes Jaskier want to scream.

Deepest Desires (E) - by MilanScolding - So no, Jaskier would remain an amicable if noisy companion, and Geralt would do damn near anything to not ruin the one nice friendship he’s had in life, including stuffing his feelings down to the deepest darkest corners of his mind. But the syrupy flutter of Jaskier’s lashes as he opens his eyes, looking up through them at Geralt, impossibly blue and even more impossibly filled with that elusive expression, filled with such open want, that is enough to give Geralt the bravery to say, “Your deepest desire is… me?” Jaskier’s eyebrows crinkle together, suddenly cross again. “Geralt, if you make me say it, I will combust on the spot.” And Geralt half-believes him, what with the flagrant blush creeping up his neck.

AKA Jaskier accidentally bought a spell and before you know it he's getting boned by Geralt

When Gods of Old Come Knocking (M) - by MilanScolding - “Sing.” The god commanded. And Jaskier obliged. The words tasted of spring, of the lambs he would lead up the hillside at the turn of the seasons, singing sweetly to them in the watery sunlight. They tasted of the harvest, when autumn sank in rich hues across the valley and bellies were full for the first time all year. They tasted out of place, being sung to a god cold and cruel as winter, in a land of mist and darkness. In the silence that followed, Jaskier strained to hear the god’s movements. But the White Wolf had disappeared from view, and his weak mortal ears heard not a trace, until the god’s voice thundered through the forest. “Your tribute is worthy, mortals. I will claim him as mine.” Without warning, the god appeared before him. He seized Jaskier in a tight embrace, pressing their lips together.

AKA Peasant!Jaskier is sacrificed to God!Geralt! and a boatload of kissing and (sad but fluffy but good ending!)shenanigans ensues

bitten hand guides best (E) - by frankoceansmoonriver - “Are you alright?” Geralt asks. “I am now, thanks to you!” “It’s my fault your hand is fucked up.” “It’s actually those other bastards fault, for chasing me into the trap but I see your point.” The man lifts his left hand, inspecting. “It hurts like fuck but it’ll heal soon, probably won’t be able to play for a few days but I’ve had worse.” The man looks and sounds so gentle, Geralt really can’t imagine he’s had worse. “Play?” “Yes, the lute.” “A werewolf that plays the lute,” Geralt says. This day is very bizarre and it’s only just started.

You Can't Always Get What You Want (E) - by @brighteyedjill - Whenever Geralt visits the bathhouse, everyone makes assumptions about what he wants, and he ends up disappointed. But tonight, a stranger makes some perceptive guesses, and Geralt just might end up getting what he needs

The Things You Have Caused Me Most to Want (are those that furthest elude me) (E) - by @brighteyedjill - Jaskier is not what anyone would call a traditional alpha, and certainly not the kind of alpha anyone would want for a mate. And he is quite surprised to unceremoniously discover that Geralt, his companion of many years, is in fact an omega. Geralt and his fellow witchers repress their heats until they arrive at Kaer Morhen for the winter. This year, since Jaskier’s rut is starting at just the right time, Geralt invites Jaskier to come along. Jaskier thinks he knows what to expect when partnering an omega in heat, but the situation at Kaer Morhen thoroughly wrecks his expectations.

A/B/O dynamics Alpha!Jaskier, Omega!Geralt, Omega!Lambert, Omega!Eskel, Beta!Coen

fit to house a love (T) - by deadpooled - “I am so bringing this up next time you make fun of me for coming down to breakfast in a cloak and gloves.” Which is mostly accounted to Lambert and Yennefer, but Geralt will never pass up an opportunity to make Jaskier get pissy enough to start throwing bacon. Geralt grunts and gets a better hold on Jaskier’s waist, tugging at him. “Come here.” Jaskier laughs, a quick, bright sound that startles out of him in a way that warms Geralt completely. He puts up some resistance, regardless. “No, no no no, I’m not done yet.” “I can tell you what happens,” Geralt says as he manages to get him down to where he can hook his chin on his shoulder.

Domestic fluff, marriage proposal, established relationship

the song of the ocean (E) - by Officer_Jennie - Geralt hears of a creature singing out at sea, whose songs are driving a village mad with lust every night, and he sets out to find the beast and make it stop. But when he learns the creature might be sentient, he leans towards a less violent approach in convincing it to stop bespelling the poor village folk.

Or-

Geralt is a witcher. Jaskier is a siren. They fuck.

In Want of A Wife (T) - by Swankyo0 - “It’s what you haven’t done, son,” Alfred’s voice was brusque and short, but not unkind. Jaskier braced himself. “It’s time you settled down and found a wife.” The room went silent. Every eye in the room bounced between the two men, no one daring to speak. Every eye except one- Geralt, who sedately finished chewing his breakfast, seeming to completely ignore the pleading glances Jaskier was shooting him. After a long pause, the witcher looked up and glanced around the table, meeting Jaskier’s eye briefly, before stating, calmly, “Can’t. He’s already married.” “Right, yes, of course,” Jaskier nodded his agreement before actually hearing Geralt’s words. “I’m- wait, uh-"

A Sort of Courting (T) - by thinksleep - Jaskier finds himself in the halls of Kaer Morhen, home to the Warlord of the North. He didn’t expect to find the Warlord so attractive though. Jaskier figures his normal gambit of flowers and poetry won’t go down well with a witcher, which leads to the immortal question of how to court one. Geralt figures if he wants to catch Jaskier’s eye he needs to compete with the techniques of the fancy courts Jaskier is used to. Both end in much confusion and little success.

Eskel, Lambert, Yennefer, and Ciri have a betting pool, and watch on in amusement.

[justmultifandom]

Kidge summer event 2023

Day 3: Road trip

Keith didn't want to come; he would have much preferred to stay in their desert home or on their spaceship, but that was a Holt family tradition and since he had married the famous scientist ex green paladin of Voltron Katie Holt a few months ago, he had to go.

So they had left Kosmo together with Acxa, Ezor, Zethrid, Kolivan and his mother, they had taken a ticket for the flight from America to Italy like normal people and had rented a car that would take them from the airport to granny's farmhouse by Pidge.

“It will be hell for you…”: she laughed, switching songs on the radio to look for a more traditional Italian one.

“I appreciate the sincerity…”: he rolled his eyes with a smirk: “I mean, almost everyone didn't come to our wedding so I hardly know anyone…”

“Hey, there are my parents, Matt and N7!”: she exclaimed, giving him a light playful punch on the arm: “And then you have to be prepared, most of my family on my father's side are over 50 and does not speak English, it will be fun to see you go crazy to communicate!”

“Funny for you…”: Keith corrected her: “I mean, how does Colleen do?”

"My mother had to learn Italian even before marrying my father": she explained: "And it is now a tradition every June 2 to meet in the grandmother's farmhouse, and since you were stupid enough to marry me, you must come too"

Keith shook his head, hiding an amused smirk, as the car passed through small lanes in the middle of the fields, while on the radio they played an old Italian song that Pidge had mentioned. He understood it was called "Sarà perchè ti amo" or something like that.

"I like car trips, we should do them more often": she said, looking at him with eyes full of affection and love: "And then, today will be hell for me too..."

“You're right, we should go on more car rides just you and me…”: he smiled: “Besides, why should it be hell? It's your family, of course, you haven't seen them for a while but... every year you met..."

“First of all we don't have much time yet to take you and I on road trips by ourselves…”: she sighed, looking at Keith: “Besides, I have to tell them about the baby…”

“What baby?” He scowled at her, with a confused look and a raised eyebrow. She just smiled, resting her hand on his, looking at him with sweet eyes full of love.

“Our baby, Keith…”

A little curiosity: June 2 is the feast of the birth of the Italian republic

This is the song.

[inthememetime]

Best Billionaire (Chapter 1/5)

AO3 here! Based off this post!

More under the cut! (Any resemblance of Evon Mush to actual billionaire Elon Musk is definitely not intentional. I definitely am not rooting for Bruce to punch him).

Side note: no pairings, but friendships are made.

The news was fairly normal. Tragedy here, natural disaster there, stocks were down- wait. Vlad narrowed his eyes at the newspaper in his hands, then confirmed it on the computer. Stocks fluctuated constantly, but a 3-point drop in one weekend?

He pressed a button on his landline. "Leslie? Can you get me the Finance and PR departments on the line, please?"

Best Billionaire. Seriously? "Yes sir, it's a US-based contest. Wayne Enterprises is in the lead, followed by Stark Industries, Dalv Co., and LexCorp."

"And what did Wayne and Stark do to get ahead?" He asked.

"Benefits, sir. Wayne lowered employee costs and doubled benefits, while SI kept the same packages but decreased their waiting period."

"Hmm. Get with Benefits, both of you. By Wednesday, I want an in-depth cost analysis of waving the waiting period until 30 days after training," the PR person choked on something, "and let's see what we can do for increasing benefits."

"Yes sir."

"With all due respect Mr. Masters, why even consider it? That's a good chunk of the bottom line."

He tapped the newspaper idly for a moment. "Our stocks have dropped, not because they've innovated new products or changed prices, but because they look like they care. If we don't get ahead of this now, it'll look like we're playing catch-up, and could cause further losses. Best play along, for now, we can afford it."

"Understood."

He made the announcement Thursday morning, effective immediately. Next day, stocks were normal. Next week, up by 5 points.

All was back to normal.

-

He got the call at 3 AM, and vowed to murder someone if it weren't serious. "Yes?"

"Stocks are down 25 points, people are talking about selling shares," his PR person snapped.

Vlad was entirely awake now. "What happened?"

"SI. All employees are now making a living wage, and employees making over that have been given $2/hr raises. Wayne matched them."

"Peanut brittle. And LexCorp?"

"Nothing yet, but they've been going down since the benefits change."

"Match them. Match them, and double tuition reimbursement. How popular is the daycare reimbursement?"

"Nobody's mentioned it, but both companies have it."

"50% reimbursement. Make the announcement, make it big, rent out ad space on every social media site you can, get billboards, whatever you have to do. Don't worry about the budget for this."

"Yes sir."

It was 4:30 when he walked into the building. "Where are we?" He called to the team in the conference room.

"10 points shy of normal, most aren't awake yet."

"Shareholders?"

"They've asked for a meeting next month, might push it up depending on how this goes."

"Good. Keep me posted. This works out, you're all looking at a very nice year-end bonus."

"Will do!"

A few hours later, stocks had returned to normal. He gave himself a little pay cut to make sure the shareholders got their pound of flesh, irritated though he knew he'd never notice the sting.

By that evening, stocks were increasing again, and the expo next week would showcase several dozen new clean energy vehicle designs.

-

As predicted, stocks went through the roof; finally, some success! Daniel, the little rat, didn't agree. "So, heard you're falling behind! Wayne and SI a bit too big for you?"

He barely kept himself from firing an ectoblast. They were in human forms, in a rare (somewhat) peaceable moment. A moment that he intended to pursue with lovely Maddie- before Jack lumbered back in.

"Vladdie! Those are some cool cars, man!"

"Thank you, Jack. Tell me, Maddie, how-"

He was interrupted once again, this time by Maddie knocking a glass of very hot coffee on his lap. "Oh, I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine," he said with gritted teeth.

"You know, Vladdie," Danny said once they headed to the GAV. Ancients, he hated that nickname! Curse Jack for letting it slip near impressionable children. "I know a certain lady who'd be very impressed if you managed to help with the environment."

Oh. Oh, this was a trap, he knew it! But... Maddie...

Ah hell, he needed to one-up Wayne and SI somehow.

"I'll take it into consideration."

-

"Today, on the heels of Dalv Co, Wayne Enterprises, and SI," ha! He was first! "LexCorp finally decided to get in the game and offers 50% tuition reimbursement. Do you think that puts Luthor in the running for Best Billionaire, Tom?"

"Thanks, Aaliyah! Most people are thinking it's ridiculous, a tactic to bump stocks and approval ratings," Vlad snorted. As if they weren't all doing that. "But SI is upping the stakes! In addition to the September Foundation, Tony Stark has vowed 2% of profits will go to 3rd world countries."

He raised an eyebrow. Interesting. Vlad picked up the phone. "Get me Sasha in Accounting and Red in Payroll."

"How would we fare if we matched Stark's donations, thrice over? 5% for the environment, and- what's a charity you like? Sure, 1% to that. Sasha, you can go. Please remember the department meeting Tuesday. We're doing something new."

-

Aaliyah was speaking on the news again. "DalvCo stocks are at a record high this week! Many are flocking to the conglomerate as they are choosing to benefit US environmental and health concerns. SI critics argue that 2% abroad doesn't match 6% in the states. That's 5% to environmental concerns, 1% is going to Flint, Michigan, and 1% to homeless shelters across the US."

He toasted the hijabi-wearing woman on the screen. "Have a lovely day, Ms. Aaliyah. You've certainly made mine."

Before he could turn off the TV, the other anchor spoke. "That's not all, Aaliyah! Wayne Enterprises has gotten permission from the FDA to synthesize insulin! They'll be selling for $20 per bottle, making it possible for the quality of life to increase for millions, at home and abroad."

"You're right, Tom!" Aaliyah's bubbly voice rang out, "Insulin can cost Americans anywhere from $800-2500 per month due to high markups. By selling with such a small profit margin, they are massively undercutting Big Pharma."

"Traitor," he mumbled. "What to do about this?"

-

"What are we doing about this?" Red demanded, striding into his office. "We have dozens of patents for medical technologies, but we're locked into contracts."

"What about the artificial organs?" He asked. He hadn't started with cloning Daniel; no, he planned on cloning Maddie, and started with small things. Skin grafts. Organs. Over the past 10 years, they've been highly successful.

"We can't exactly sell those outside of a hospital."

He nodded, then froze. "Red, what if we didn't? We could announce our prices, make the people drive it down."

"Nobody's going to haggle on an organ," they said, but he could hear the uncertainty.

"On a heart, a pancreas, a lung? Of course not! But on a kidney, liver, skin grafts? There's some time. Besides, combine it with the price listings for the dialysis machines and ventilators, and you'll have a country so angry at the healthcare and insurance industries, they won't care about anything sketchy we do for years."

They nodded, albeit nervously. "Sure."

-

"Thank you for agreeing to join us on air, Mr. Masters."

"Please, just call me Vlad. It's a pleasure to be here."

Sam hadn't stopped cackling since the price lists went out, and Facebook and Twitter went insane. Frankly, Danny was worried for her. Tucker just rolled his eyes and turned the TV up. "Take down the bourgeoisie!"

"Doesn't that mean taking down Vlad?" Jazz asked, sitting down on the floor of Sam's bedroom.

"Are you complaining?"

"No, but I like him a lot more all the way in New York."

"Fair."

"So Vlad," Harriet asked- a favor for something in Wisconsin. He wasn't clear, she didn't press. As long as he didn't go crazy like the Fentons, she had the interview that would bring her back to the big leagues. "Tell me, what inspired you to release those prices?"

"The news, actually. Everyone seemed so surprised by the markup on insulin. I suppose if you spend enough time in an industry, you become desensitized."

"Did you know it would cause rioting?"

Vlad raised an eyebrow- careful, it said- and replied smoothly, "I wasn't surprised when it did. As anyone from the affected companies can tell you, I've been trying to lower prices for years. I have a profit margin that covers the organ growing, transport, and faulty organs, but even if they only charged 10% above that, we're talking thousands of dollars per organ they'd be losing."

"Are these FDA approved?"

"Yes. In fact, we started producing them a decade ago, and they're far safer than an organ donated by someone else."

"And how does that work?" She asked, and he nodded, pleased to be back in safer topics.

"For one, the rejection risk is lowered from upwards of 60% down to just 3%, 1% with the anti-rejection medicines required for all traditional transplants, because they're made with the owner's DNA. These medications, by the way, frequently cause cancer or other unintended harm. For another, a traditional transplant requires two people to be cut open; a donor who may or may not be dead, and the one receiving the organ. That confers certain risks of..."

-

"Are you seeing this?" Pepper demanded, turning up the TV.

"What? I'm working on-"

"Sir, you may want to see this," JARVIS insisted.

Tony popped a blueberry in his mouth and looked up. "Wait, he's been cloning people?!"

"That's what you're focused on? Tony, Wayne Enterprises releases dirt cheap insulin, DalvCo and Vlad Masters are overthrowing the US healthcare system, and we're still getting flack for donating abroad instead of locally!"

"We can't do much about that. Maybe release a new phone?"

"A new phone?! They are improving or saving lives out there! A new phone will have us laughed out into bankruptcy. What about the hearing aids you made for Clint, that new screen reader for Daredevil, or the prosthetic arms, or the braces- any of that?"

"They're not perfect," he argued.

She stared at him and sighed. "If I could turn back time, I'd beat your father to death." Pepper inhaled sharply, then continued in a milder tone. "The hearing impaired person who hears for the first time in years will not care if it isn't perfect. The visually impaired person who has a screen reader miles ahead of the market won't care if the battery needs to be replaced once every 2 years instead of 5. And I promise you, when somebody bed-bound gets braces or a chair that lets them move around of their own free will, they will not care if it requires additional padding."

"But it's not-"

"Quality of Life now? Or perfection when it's too late?"

"Sir, if I may suggest- Ms. Potts is correct. You may also benefit from a larger testing pool."

"I mean, if you think they won't mind the glitches, sure. Go for it."

"Good."

-

"Mobility aids?!" He snapped.

Danny yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Dude, it's 4 am here."

The fruitloop didn't care. "First insulin, now mobility aids- mark my words, Daniel Fenton, I will win!"

Daniel didn't reply.

"Daniel?"

The sounds of snoring reached his ears. "Little wretch," he snapped half-heartedly and hung up.

[justawolf17]

A Moms Story

Hi everyone,

I ask myself what am I doing here? What am I doing with my life? When I was young, I seemed to have everything figured out, but what I didn't know was just how my life would actually turn out. I wasn't a great student; I always had a problem with authority and being told what to do. I've had an attitude my whole life and thought I knew EVERYTHING. Here I am 33 years old and now know I never knew squat. I graduated high school just barley, I failed 2 required test that was needed to receive my diploma and when I walked across that stage on what should be your first proudest accomplishment, I was given a piece of paper instead of a diploma stating I still needed to take the required test to complete my schooling. I went back to summer school as a "graduated" senior to finish these testing's, wait weeks and then did I receive an actual diploma. I thought I was on top of the world then. 18 years old and now no one can tell me what to do. I started college but since I wasn't a great student and I had more flexibly now and no mom making me to go to school I fell behind, missed too much class and couldn't catch back up so I quit... a feeling that become too easy for me. I went to work and through the years continued to quit when things felt too hard. I partied to hard, fired from jobs, tried going back to school a few more times and quit each and every time. I struggled my whole life, and it all goes back to that moment I first quit at something.

At 28 years old I become a mom, there is no feeling in the world to compare to that first breath your child breathes, that breathe of relief that they are okay. Then sets in reality, it is no longer just you anymore, it's you being able to provide for a child who is helpless and depending on you to feed, change, bath and cloth them every second of everyday. I tried going back to work 8 weeks after my son was born, he stayed home with his dad while I worked and when he was old enough, he went to daycare and that feeling of leaving your child with people you do not know just took over me. I decided to quit my job and become a stay-at-home mom. That was the best years of my life. I was there every day for my son, from the minute he woke up until he went to bed. He is my best friend. However, money doesn't grow on trees and with 1 income and 3 people to support my husband struggled and we struggled. We did what most of Americans do and that is look to the government for assistance. We were given WIC for formula, food stamps for food, and Medicaid for myself and my son. I grew up struggling, living in bad neighborhoods since that's all my mom could afford, I refused to raise my kids in that same environment yet here we were living the same life. We had some moments things were okay and great but more moments of struggling and crying.

At age 30 I had our second son, reality set in again, we now have a family of 4 to support. How are we going to do this? How are we going to afford the things we need. My second son was born 2 months before the corona virus pandemic took over and everyone was on lock down and jobs were not hiring, people were getting let go, many people died, and the world wasn't the same. Here we were with a 2-year-old and a newborn in the midst of a worldwide shut down. My husband had lost his job and was taking many odd jobs just to keep us afloat. We also at one point got evicted from our home but luckily, we made the rent just in enough time and made it through our lease. Times have been tough for us, but times are also tough for the rest of the world. I think when you become a parent all you want is to give your children the life you never had. The life they deserve. I don't write this blog for anyone to feel sorry for us. We are 3 years later, and I can't say we are perfect, but we are better than we were 3 years ago and isn't that what life should be like? Continue to grow and lean? We trusted in God, and he's always prevailed and granted us with many things in life and HE continues to bless us daily.

If you've made it this far, I thank you. I am now 33 years old, working a part time night job to avoid daycare cost for my 3-year-old while my husband works days. I have found something to keep myself busy during the day to bring in extra income. As a mom the motivation to hustle never ends. I want to give my children the best life I can. I started working as an amazon affiliate and this is making a small commission when someone purchases items through my amazon link. I'm asking everyone to check my link out and support this small business I am working on. I'm far from where I want to be, but I no longer give up when things get hard. I want to show my kids what never quitting gets you, I've made mistakes, I'm not perfect but I will try every day to be better than yesterday and do better than before. Please show your support by checking out my link, sharing my story and help me reach my goals.

"Having a strong mom is like having a best friend that can carry you when your legs are too tired to walk.” – Unknown

[ridiasfangirlings]

Rei and Mikoto have a hook up before either of them become kings and then later have to come to terms with it when they meet each other officially.

This is just making me imagine the two of them having like a drunken regrettable hook up and then a couple years later meeting in the park and Munakata is trying very very hard to act professional and Kingly and disapproving and Mikoto’s just like didn’t I fuck you once I’m pretty sure. Like maybe this happened at some point either before Munakata went to school overseas or while he was home visiting, say just a month or two before Mikoto awakens as King. Munakata has been convinced to try some alcohol for the first time and he’s feeling very rebellious because he’s not quite old enough to drink yet and he’s never disobeyed the rules before (maybe his brother made some comments about how it’s a rite of passage for high school kids but since Munakata’s going overseas to a fancy school he probably won’t ever get to do this, Munakata decides this is a new experience he must try. He doesn’t even consider making a fake ID and doesn’t need to, the bartender just gets swept up in his aura and doesn’t even ask). 

Munakata intends to only have a single drink but then he runs into Mikoto, who’s been doing some work as a bouncer for easy cash and so he can beat people up. They immediately clash and this turns into a drinking contest, which then turns into a drunken makeout in an alley with their hands down each other’s pants and eventually renting a hotel room. The next morning Munakata coughs primly, gathers up his clothes and leaves without a word, making a note that it seems he has finally had one of those new experiences he was hoping to try. Mikoto’s not surprised that Munakata just leaves and he doesn’t really care, it’s not like he was expecting anything out of this and hey it saved him from having to listen to that guy talk. 

Jump a couple years later and they meet as Kings, Kokujouji does notice that when he gives Suoh Mikoto’s dossier to the new Blue King Munakata raises an eyebrow and gives the smallest cough, like it’s barely a reaction but Munakata’s so completely in control otherwise that this is notable. He doesn’t give any indication when he runs into Mikoto for the first time either and it’s not until their third or fourth fight that Mikoto just grins and says Munakata’s become even more of a tight ass since they last met, Munakata notes that Mikoto is still just as uncouth and Mikoto just smirks because he figured this was the same guy.

 I imagine this being mostly a secret between them but everyone kinda knows something is up because every now and again Mikoto will make what seems like an innocent comment but gets Munakata noticeably annoyed, or Munakata will say something cold to Mikoto that feels weirdly personal and Mikoto looks a little more irritated than normal. I imagine Mikoto finds the whole thing sort of amusing in a ‘easy go-to way to piss Munakata off’ sense but he’s also not rushing to tell anyone else either. Kusanagi definitely ends up finding out somehow, imagine the two of them drinking at the bar and Kusanagi wonders why Mikoto sometimes acts like he and Munakata have known each other for a while and Mikoto just shrugs and offhandedly mentions he screwed Munakata once. Kusanagi’s in the middle of taking a drink and he spits it all over the floor like wait wait go back you did what. Mikoto doesn’t elaborate and now Kusanagi is just like seriously please tell me you’re kidding. Somehow this gets into the rumor mill and both Homra and S4 have gossip that Mikoto and Munakata are old exes, a rumor which neither King bothers to confirm or deny. 

[glommergoop]

hi

please help a trans disabled system stay afloat

hi it's me. mr. ebeg. i’m here to beg on tumblr dot corn.

i’ve been trying to find consistent work for over a year and have had a couple interviews or other promising stuff, but nothing’s turned out. i keep trying to do commissions of multiple types (art, writing, and more), but i’ve literally gone 5+ months without a client sometimes. when i do get commissions it’s usually not for very much. i’m selling things i own online and locally. i’m borrowing money from cashapp and racking up extra fees because i can’t pay it back yet. i DO have section 8 now, which pays most of rent, i still have $30 a month to pay (fee for my pet cat) but genuinely even $30 is starting to become insanely hard to get. i’ll start getting food stamps at the end of this month (on 11/29/2022), so food will be ok after that

i’m literally trying every option and still nothing is keeping me afloat and i can’t fucking live this way anymore so i’m just gonna become the ebeg guy!

tdlr: i very desperately need help from anyone able to give if i'm going to be able to pay my rent and not be evicted next month!

i really just need at least $30 a month for what’s left of rent but would like to try to raise $185

- 185 is the average (give or take a bit) amount of bills that i have each month. not much in the long run, but still literally way out of my budget. i am frequently having to just let bills go unpaid until things get threatened to get cut off because i cannot make enough fucking money and i’m so tired. if i could get $185 i’d actually have some breathing room and maybe be able to save money. but also i’m aware that’s kind of a lot. beggars can’t be choosers, anything helps.

please don’t tag as don4tion or boost like that or tumblr will shadowban the post

bonus details about my situation under the if you care:

i also used to work with a place that’s supposed to help disabled people find work, but i finally quit working with them because they’d treated me very badly. (not gonna go too into depth about that bc it was genuinely traumatizing, but for reference my breaking point was when i arrived to a meeting to meet the new counselor they wanted me to work with since my old one left the company - my FIFTH fucking one in the time i’d been there - and... they literally didn’t even tell her that she’d be taking me onto her caseload. so she didn’t show up. i tried very hard for multiple months to still work with them because i DO need accommodations, and... was treated too poorly to make ANY progress and this particular event just broke me man.)

last month, i got some more money from my late tax return and i thought i’d be okay for a while because i could pay off bills. and then. an error then caused my bills to come out twice, putting me 200 fucking dollars in the negative and i spent the entire month having to beg my friends for money for food and to get out of the negative so i could pay that stupid fucking $30.  i had to contact my racist/transphobic jerk dad who i’d cut contact with because he doesn’t respect me being transgender at all, to ask him for the last $50. this was all extremely stressful to the point that i basically stopped sleeping - spent several days up all night (not in a row ofc but it still sucked), kept not being able to sleep until 7 am, etc. it was honest to god the worst time i’ve had in. a very long time.

basically i’m So Fucking Tired. the stress never ends and i need any help anyone can give me.

i’ve kind of given up on doing commissions of stuff but if you donate and would like to see examples of the fanfics or graphic design stuff i make, just send me a dm or something

[akamikazae]

Love me Mercilessly Kakashi x Akami Chapter 21: Reap what you Sow word count: 5.1k warnings: -Implied sexual situations, implied mentions of child abuse, drug trafficking, slavery, etc, Canonical violence, gore, death of minor characters, mentions of trauma, Ptsd Previous Chapters [x]

Akami and Team Ro go on a mission-one of Itachi's lasts

Mayaku–an ex Konoha nin fled from the Village years ago when it was discovered he was selling government secrets during the Third War. Now as rumor had it narcotics could be added to the long list of crimes.

Konoha was tipped off that a large shipment of drugs was to be smuggled during Inaho Village’s Harvest Moon Festival. Inaho was a small Village bordered by Iwagakure and the Land of Waterfalls. While hidden between rolling hills and mountain ranges its secluded location had direct access to the sea. 

Konohagakure didn’t care about the drug ring, they only cared that the rat was taken care of. Team Ro’s mission was to return Mayaku to the Village…one way or another. 

After claiming the last shower Akami threw herself on top of the mattress, slapping Kakashi in the process. She groaned in relief, as the mattress bounced. The best part about undercover missions was getting to stay at an Inn. Team Ro would be playing the part of a vacationing family. To keep up the ruse they rented a single room with two beds. Kakashi and Akami shared one, like they had many restless nights. Tenzo and Itachi shared the other, grateful they weren't sleeping on the ground like they had on their voyage here. 

The festival didn’t start until midday so they got to sleep in. Akami was out cold, face down in the pillow. The weight of Kakashi’s arm thrown over her back was grounding—until he got up and used her for leverage, digging his elbow in her spine. She whipped a pillow at his head.

They wolfed down the Inn’s shitty–yet complementary–breakfast and perfected their henge’s. 

Akami softened her bone structure, slimming her jaw and rounding her nose. She turned her eyes a cool shade of black and made her wild hair pin straight. Kakashi traded his electric silver hair for a mop of mousey brown. Concealing his scar and shifting his eyes to a soft green. Tenzo and Itachi modeled their own disguises off of their would-be parents. 

Team Ro attended the festival like every other wholesome family. Children were running rampant as people flooded the streets; vendors, yati and games around every corner. 

Akami had her arm looped through Kakashi’s as they walked around the festival, Anbu masks concealed beneath second hand kimonos. Itachi and Tenzo blended in seamlessly with large gaggles of kids playing games and eating sweets.

Kakashi spotted a yakitori stand and dragged Akami towards the yati while they worked recon. He kept glancing at her oddly as they waited in line. She tried her hardest to deduce the secret message behind his stares but he wasn’t using a code she knew. Finally she furrowed her brow enough for him to understand her unsaid ‘what?’ 

He leaned in so no one else could hear and whispered, “I like your eyes better.” 

Akami shielded her smile behind the decorative crane fan she purchased. She reached forward to poke the beauty mark beneath his lip with her thumb. It amused her that he kept it visible through the henge. She teased him once, that the sole purpose of the mask was to hide that one single imperfection. She’d never tell him how endearing she thought it was.

Kakashi paid for the big beautiful glistening sauce soaked chicken skewer, handing it to a practically drooling Akami. They posted up against a large tent filled with people eating and drinking and more importantly gossiping. Akami plucked a piece of chicken from the skewer and popped it into her mouth, humming in satisfaction. Kakashi snorted at her as he kept his eyes on the tent as they eavesdropped. She looked over his shoulder scanning the crowd passing behind him. She tore off another piece and raised it to his mouth. He smirked, ate the yakitori and very purposefully nibbled her finger. 

Akami pulled back her hand and pouted at it–then at him. He copied her expression, drooping his bottom lip and grabbed her finger to give it a light peck. 

“All better?” He asked with a mocking tone. At that Akami could not help but overplay her minuscule affliction, she dramatically stuck out her lip and dolefully shook her head. 

Kakashi took her hand again, carefully inspecting her finger, turning it over with concern. He slowly brought it to his lips and watched her as he kissed it again, even beneath the henge he would have sworn he saw her iridescent eyes glow. 

Akami didn’t think she’d be able to get away with hiding behind the fan a second time. She chewed on the inside of her cheek and pursed her lips to stifle her brewing smile. Wondering if he’d ever look at her like this with mismatched eyes and gravity defying hair. Then she watched him find something else in the crowd and he dropped their theatrics along with her hand.

She took a bite of chicken straight from the skewer waiting for a reaction, his cue to make a move. He only stared over her shoulder, furrowing his brow and inhaling the air.

“Do we need to track down some sake ?” She asked. 

“Yes dear, I think so.” 

Akami reluctantly deposited the remainder of her skewer in the garbage as she followed Kakashi’s lead, tracking a man pushing a large wheelbarrow—its contents concealed by a tarp. 

When they turned the corner it hit her--A sickly sweet scent akin to maple syrup and a pungent floral odor, like an elderly woman wearing too much perfume. 

Street performers spitting fire and swinging torches impeded their pursuit. They got lost in the confusion and the smoke of the fire was too distracting for even Kakashi. They were turning in circles until Kakashi spotted a wheelbarrow.

They followed the man to the edge of the northeast gate. Akami dragged Kakashi to hide beside a merchant’s tent and they watched on bated breath as the man with the wheelbarrow spoke with other vendors. He pulled back the tarp only to reveal fireworks for the end of the night's festivities. They lost him…

Kakashi tried again to pick up the scent. 

“Opium.” Akami whispered. Confirming she had come to a similar conclusion. 

“Smelled like sulfur and something damp like mold too.” Her sense of smell was decent but nothing compared to Kakashi’s. 

She hummed as they stared out at the dark streets, Villagers passed by making their way through the gates. The mountains were steep but seemed so close from the far side of the festival. 

“You think he's here then? In the mountains.”

Kakashi nodded and turned back. 

Continue Reading [x]

[thetruthaboutnolan]

RUMOR HAS IT THAT PEDO STALKER IS HAVING HER INFO DOXXED.

She is and it is glorious. Now I wanna make it clear. This is info my friend has been sitting on for close to three years now. He got it when a former friend of the pedo sent him the screen shot of his pedo stalker’s PayPal info after that former friend sent her 500$ to cover rent and the pedo only sent back 20$ before starting shit with and then ghosting that friend. He’s been suppressing the info all this time.

Why? I don’t know. I’ve been in his ear everyday telling him how this bitch doxxed him, spread lies about him, got people that random hubs for the jcink rpc to lie for her and protect her (only for it to come out those people were both protecting people that were pedos and into CP and were then selves the same either in the past or in the past and low key still are). And how they insulted and ridiculed him for working in retail when he needed to make extra money to help pay for a relative’s medical costs. Especially when she hasn’t had a job in years and lives off scamming people. And still he didn’t wanna release the info on her as ‘bringing real life stuff into online beef is going too far’

And let’s be clear here, there is evidence of this pedo scamming people not only on her coding blog but through sites designed for raising money only to later message people on how she just bought a new laptop, sofas etc etc. I even told him. “Bitch, you a better man than me” if I dug into the real lives of my tumblr stalkers and uncovered actual evidence of them scamming people and in some cases straight out committing wire fraud, my ass would be so quick to release it their real names revealed or not, fuck them at this point.

So it’s great seeing other people care enough now to be like ‘well, I’m that bitch and will go ahead and do it for you’. It’s also HIGH KEY funny to see this bitch left her group and a shit ton of people she either chased away or deemed ‘toxic’ have returned it to within 24 hours of her ass leaving. I mean, it kind of makes you wanna rethink all those mentions that this pedo stalker is herself toxic, problematic, a bully, and a manipulative liar when shit like that happens the moment her ass is gone. Seriously, it kind of tells you that the people who were acting like your friends and believed every word you said secretly knew you were full of shit and just waiting to be free of you.

YOUR STALKERS STILL PROJECTING?

Probably? Well most definitely but eh, they boring so I just wait til a couple of people DM me screenshots of so and so ranting again. It just gives ‘notice me senpai’ vibes and they act like I don’t see when and how often they view my blog here. But apparently they think someone who has been breaking tumblr’s coding and designing their own layouts for tumblr itself doesn’t know how to track ips and visitors outside of tumblr’s methods. Those idiots believe they doxxed me and yet they don’t know I design webpages for a living and that from my early to modern twenties I was in the intelligence field?

But then again they do only find what they wanna find and tie it back to me. Which is why they haven’t found a single shred of proof of any of the dramas they try to link me to or that people claimed and either deleted or walked back. Well, that and it doesn’t exist. Take a page out of my friend’s stalker’s book and just make it already. Let’s go full telenovela in this bitch talk to yourself on different blogs use multiple discord and then badly photoshop them to pretend it’s not you on two different accounts.

Because it’s getting boring and I need something to do as I wait for my replies on my active threads from all the groups I’m in. Make it interesting at this point they are just sad obsessed paparazzi. Like bitches, so something that will make me *gasps in Spanish* or just go back to bring me up every few years because your irrelevant asses need a legend like myself to keep you from going completely broke.