#but i can’t spend $1K on a ticket

[hyunjins-orange-slice-too]

i really wanted to get ateez tickets but i genuinely don’t think it’s going to happen for me. 😭 i’m not in their fan club so i didn’t get presale today. but i just checked the show i wanted to go to and there’s like… 20 seats left? and the only ones that are next to each other are A THOUSAND DOLLARS and piece..?

literally me rn:

[triple-to-stag]

despite me being in the country where the Olympics are, I can’t stream them because France.tv thinks I’m in the states and peacock thinks I’m in France 🫥

[gloomwitchwrites]

1k challenge request- what is Ghost like on vacation? NSFW always preferred lol

Ghostie on vacation? Vacation?!? Yes, please. Funny enough, Ghost is currently on vacation in Ink & Needle, and that boy is being naughty in that AU. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. Thanks for sending this in! I hope you enjoy it (and the steamy bits).

Most of these are gn!reader with one or two exceptions!

Word Count: 729

ao3 // taglist // main masterlist // 1k follower event masterlist

Do y’all remember the bit of banter between Soap, Ghost, and Laswell in MW3? And Ghost replies “why not both?” when it comes to whether they prefer the beach or snow. To me, that means Ghost is down for anything. He’ll take a road trip or a week-long stay in Bali. Man just loves a good vacation.

On that note, when Ghost and Soap were being a bit cheeky about the “tan lines around the eyes,” he insinuates he wears the mask, but I don’t believe that. When Simon isn’t in the field, he’s not going to wear his mask, especially on vacation. He’d stick out like a sore thumb.

If Simon is taking a vacation with his S/O, he’s really down for anything. It can be simple and romantic. It could be camping. Hell, you could drag him to Disneyworld and he’d probably still enjoy himself.

However, he’s very much controlling when it comes to traveling. He’s the Dad in this scenario. He packs in advance, he wakes up way too early to go to the airport, he checks to make sure the plane is actually at the gate, he keeps the schedule, and Simon isn’t necessarily going to just “go with the flow” in the moment. Simon is the one holding the passports and tickets. God help you if you try to seize them from him.

No mask. Period. And no work. Simon isn’t taking phone calls, emails, or anything else. Price can deal with any shenanigans on his own.

Terrible about putting on sunscreen. You’re always making sure he’s protecting his skin.

Most of the spending money is spent on feeding Simon. Dude is a brick wall and he’s always eating. And when he’s not eating something, he’s buying you whatever you want.

If the vacation requires driving, Simon prefers taking his own vehicle or renting one. He doesn’t skimp here. Simon will select a reputable rental car company and select something roomy.

Holds you accountable on everything, but is also incredibly indulgent. You might complain that something is expensive and you won’t get it, and Simon will say good on you for sticking to your guns, but he’ll also just fucking buy it anyway because he can’t help seeing you smile.

Vacations (or rather holidays) are Simon’s one opportunity to forget everything. He can spend time with you completely uninterrupted. No life shit. No work shit. Just you and him.

Enjoys the outdoors but is also down for exploring cities, walking through museums, and trying new things. Simon is open to exploring a culture he’s never interacted with before, especially if he’s doing it with you.

Likes to travel and go on vacation during off-seasons. Simon isn’t a fan of crowds and it’s not from an anxiety standpoint. That military training is hard to dislodge, and he’s often overly aware of potential threats in a crowd.

Has a terrible sweet tooth. Simon will eat more desserts than actual food if you’re not watching him.

Loves long road trips because he enjoys all the lazy blow jobs you give him while in the car. Sometimes he has to pull over and just have his way with you.

Basically, you and Simon are fucking regardless of where you are.

Going on a destination vacation to a beachy oasis? Simon is fucking you in the cabana, in the hotel room, in the private pool, under a waterfall. Sometimes it might be lazy and slow, and sometimes he’s just chasing his own end and needs to be inside you.

Camping? That tent is seeing some action. You’re little spoon. Simon is big spoon. And he probably has his cock buried deep inside you, rocking his hips lazily while is hand is playing with other parts of you.

But he’s smart not to fuck out in the wilderness. Bug bites are the fucking worse.

In the cabin in the Pacific Northwest? He’s fucking you by the fire while it rains outside.

Simon’s intimacy and romantic side really flourishes during this time. Because there are no outside distractions, he’s able to put his entire focus on you. Along with the sex, Simon is simply an attentive partner. While he’s here to enjoy himself, he is also highly aware of your needs.

Hates when the two of you have to go back to the real world. Would rather disappear with you forever.

taglist:

@km-ffluv @glitterypirateduck @tiredmetalenthusiast @spicyspicyliving @miaraei

@coffeecaketornado @wren5650 @aykxz98 @kayden666 @unhinged-reader-36

@miss-mistinguett @keiva1000 @cherryofdeath @sapphichotmess @enfppuff

@cinnabeanz @berarenado @rogerrhqpsody @josephquinnschesthair @saoirse06

@haven-1307 @therealbloom @ninman82 @no-oneelsebutnsu @marispunk

@thewulf @lxblm @ferns-fics @ooldcardigan @beebeechaos

@enarien @xxkay15xx @sw33tsnow @kessi-21 @makayla-666

@lifes-project @burn1ngw00d @heeheehoohoohahahihi @lulurubberduckie @ravenpoe67

@contractedcriteria @lovely-ateez @gingergirl06 @kidd3ath @leed-bbg

@webmvie @blackhawkfanatic @suhmie @tulipsun-flower @ghosts-hoe

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 | Part 9

He just can't give up.

Tags/Warnings: Game Designer!Jungkook, Non Idol AU, established relationship, slight Angst, personal insecurities, SFW but kook is naked the entire time help, [Tags will be different for every part!]

Length: 1k Words

There is no taglist for this fic.

Collab with @euphoricfilter ! 💜

-> Masterlist

♥━━━━━━━━━━•.♡.•━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

When Jungkook emerges from the bathroom, you’re already dressed in at least a pair of panties and a shirt of his that’s way too big for you.

He however doesn’t seem to be in too much of a hurry to put on any clothes, as he marches back into the bedroom naked, no shame at all while his hand rubs a towel over his damp hair. “Jungkook-” you say, and he hums a reply to you, shaking some water out of his ear before he turns to you, tattooed skin distracting you for a moment before you find your thoughts again. “-I... Really love you, you know. But I’m still mad.” You shrug, making his face morph into one of urgency, as he watches you sigh and get up to open the dresser. “I’m going to have a weekend with the girls to-” You start, but his eyes fall open in shock, blood running cold.

Shit.

“No!” He whines, like a wounded animal almost, making you frown at him. “I mean- babe please, I already had to spend one whole night without you-” He complains weakly, unable to really prevent you from getting out clothes for yourself as you pack an overnight bag that’s pink in colour. “-please-”

“Jungkook just give me that.” You say, looking at him as he takes out one of your sweaters again. “I don’t want to lash out at you just because I’m still riled up from the shit that happened these past few weeks.” You say, referring to past outbursts that had been common- and that hurt him, you know that. You’ve got a pretty bad temper, you’re aware of this, and you’ve been trying hard to control it especially with him, because the words that sometimes tend to slip through your lips aren’t the truth at all-, they’re just meant to hurt, nothing else.

And hurt they do, because you know him well, and know what his weak spots are.

But Jungkook isn’t someone you want to hurt- you actually want to avoid that at all cost, but with the pressure of the past stress he’s put you throught just as much as he’d had to carry it, you’re very aware of the fact that you might just end up scolding and yelling at him for things he’s got no control over. And you don’t want that. You hate feeling annoyed by him.

But for Jungkook, this is absolutely horrible. You can’t leave, not this weekend at least. He’s just blasted half his money on his bank account out for the plane tickets, and the Airbnb is booked and currently being prepared for the two of you. If you leave now, everything would’ve been for nothing.

“No, you don’t get it- you can’t leave...” He complains, as you roll your eyes, closing the closet to instead venture into the bathroom to pack your skincare into a small bag. “-baby are you listening to me?” He urges, but you just shrug.

“Yeah, but I don’t feel like dancing to the song you’re singing right now..” You just mumble, and suddenly, he becomes serious-

Before he walks out the bedroom, out of sight.

“Jungkook?” You call out, but you don’t get a reply at all- so you just can’t help but walk out the bedroom to see what the hell your naked boyfriend could be doing right now, just to find him right in front of the front door, sitting to block it, arms crossed just like his legs. “Jeon Jungkook, what the fuck are you doing?” You ask, looking at him in disbelief.

“You’re not leaving.” He says, staring ahead of himself, determined as ever while some water drops from the slightly curled ends of his dark hair. He must be freezing his ass off- quite literally- and you just can’t help but worry.

“Jungkook please, the floor is cold as fuck-” You whine, walking towards him to try and pull him up by his arm- but he’s not moving, his weight preventing you from even getting him to remotely get up. “Jungk-”

“Say you’ll stay then.” He looks up at you, goosebumps already rising on his forearms.

“I already told them I’d come along this weekend, I’m going to be back Sunday evening!” You complain. “You’re being-”

“You can just tell them your boyfriend is taking you to an expensive as fuck holiday trip.” He says, looking you straight in the eyes. “That it was a surprise, that you didn’t know.” Jungkook offers, and you frown again.

“Jungkook you know I can’t lie!” You whine, pulling at his arm again, but his hand moves now to hold your wrist, catching your attention.

“Who said it’s a lie?” He asks, and from his tone of voice to the look on his face, you know he’s serious.

“...Jungkook, what the fuck?” You almost whisper out. “Why? And how would you even pay for that-” You argue, sitting down on your knees next to him now, completely caught off guard.

“With overtime.” He shrugs. “Side jobs. And some weird assets I made for some indie-game I doubt will ever be released to be honest.” He explains.

“So you didn’t ignore me because you were seeing someone else... but, hold on.” You shake your head. “You constantly went out with the boys though?” You argue, and at that, he seems to become visibly a bit bashful.

Shy even.

“No, that was...” He plays with his lip ring. “...I took on a nightshift job at the bar we went to with your dad last year. You know, the one where that guy fell off his chair and cleared the whole table in the process?” He chuckles, looking down at his knees.

“...” You look at him for a good moment, silently, before your shoulders relax. “Oh Jungkook... why?” You coo, finally realizing why he was always so extremely burned out, and why he smelled of alcohol and cigarettes every night he came home.

“I.. That's the thing. I can’t tell you yet- but I will.” He urges, moving a bit to face you. “If you don’t go with the girls, but me instead.” He tells you, eyes anxiously jumping from one of yours to the other as he waits for your answer. And after a moment, you nod.

“Okay.” You tell him, before you move to smack his thigh, and stand up,-

“But put on some pants first, idiot!

[cowboybarzy]

could i request prompts 29 & 33 from the fluff list with barzy please!! 🫶🏼🩷

hii love 🤍 yes of course!! -> lolo’s 1k celly

29. “You’re so beautiful.” & 33. “Do you want my coat? It’s really cold out here.”

“Hey. What are you doing out here?” You turned your head when you heard Mat’s voice and saw him coming out of the restaurant the Islanders were having their Christmas party at.

“Yeah, just wanted some fresh air,” you answered, turning back to the railing which overlooked the ocean. Mat joined next to you, draping his arm around your shoulders, and pressed a kiss on top of your head.

“You ok?” You nodded, scooting closer to him for some warmth as you had left your coat inside. “Baby?,” he pressed further when you didn’t elaborate.

“I’m fine, I promise. Just missed my family a bit and seeing everyone so happy made me a little sad,” you explained and pressed into him even further. “But I’m ok and very happy to spend the holidays with you.”

“Sure? I can still buy you a plane ticket to see them.” You nodded again smiling earnestly before kissing him softly.

“Can’t wait to make new traditions with you.” You kissed again and his other hand cradled the side of your head, his thumb slowly stroking your cheek.

“You are so beautiful.” And you felt it. You stood there for a few more moments. “Please take my coat if we’re going to stay out here longer. It’s really cold out here and you’re shivering.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“God, you’re so difficult,” he said with a chuckle and opened his coat, which he then wrapped around you for a big hug. You let out a small laugh, too.

“You still love me,” you said looking up at him, your chin resting on his chest. He smiled wide, his lips then brushing your lips.

“I do.”

[merrybloomwrites]

Damien Haas - Celebrating Your Birthday

Summary: After years of not celebrating your birthday, Damien helps make the day extra special for you.

Word Count: 1K

AN: Thank you to anon who requested this story!

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You were never one to celebrate your birthday. You always said you didn’t understand all the fuss. Especially as an adult. Once you hit eighteen, it seemed silly to expect other people to take time out of their lives to celebrate you. Maybe milestone birthdays could be an exception, but 28? What’s so special about that?

And then you started dating Damien. Your 26th birthday landed just a few weeks after you’d started your relationship. It was so new you hadn’t even told him about it. 

When he asked about your birthday a month later he was slightly upset he’d missed it, but understood where you were coming from. 

For your 27th birthday Damien took you to dinner at your favorite Italian restaurant. He’d gotten you cupcakes, flowers, a necklace, and a card he’d filled with sweet words. He’d made the day absolutely perfect for you. 

He did notice however, that you seemed upset the following day. He gently asked you what was wrong, and you informed him that two of your closest friends forgot your birthday. 

While you don’t want people going out of their way for you, a simple text would be nice. Just knowing that your supposed best friends were thinking of you would’ve been nice. 

It’s because of this incident that Damien learns the real reason you downplay your birthday. The truth is, you set the bar low so you won’t be disappointed, as you have been in the past. If you don’t set any expectations, then the day can’t fall short. 

He’s heartbroken to hear that you’ve been let down so much before, and vows to change that. Which brings you to your 28th birthday. 

It happens to land on a Friday this year, which makes it so much easier for Damien to plan a surprise. For the past couple of months you’ve been picking Damien up every Friday after work so you can spend the weekend together. Today is no different. 

You pull into the parking lot and enter the building. It’s quiet up front, which is odd since the Smosh team is very rarely quiet. You continue walking until you reach the large conference room. Peeking inside, you notice Damien sitting alone at the table. 

“Hi,” you say as you enter the room. 

He turns quickly and stands, saying, “Hi baby, happy birthday!”

He wraps you in a hug as you thank him for his now third birthday greeting of the day. You’re tucked into Damien, meaning you don’t see what is going on behind you. 

As silently as possible, people start filling the room. You do hear some shuffling, so after a moment you pull away and look around. 

You’re shocked to see the room filled with people all shouting “Surprise!” There’s a cake, and balloons, and presents, and you can’t believe what you are seeing. 

Everyone starts wishing you a happy birthday and you take time thanking all of them. Finally, you turn back to Damien and say, “You did all this for me?”

“Of course I did, baby. You’re special to me, you deserve to be celebrated.”

His words are so sweet that you can’t help but lean up and give him a quick peck, even though the two of you aren’t really fans of PDA. But right now that doesn’t matter, because this boy deserves to be shown how grateful you are for him and all he does for you. 

You enjoy the party for a while before everyone starts heading out to wrap up their work and go home. 

“Ready for the next part of your day?” Damien asks. 

“There’s more?” You reply, already blown away by the surprise party he threw you. 

“Of course there’s more, silly goose. There’s still hours left of your birthday, I’ve got it all planned!”

“Do you really?” 

“I do! I got tickets for the fountain show at the local gardens,” he explains. 

“I’ve been wanting to do that forever!” 

“I know. I figured today would be the perfect time to go.”

“It is, Damien. It’s perfect. You are perfect.”

He leans down to give you another sweet kiss. The two of you finish saying goodbye to everyone before driving to the garden for the show. 

It’s as spectacular as you always imagined it would be. And having Damien by your side, his arm wrapped gently around your waist, makes it even better. 

You watch the show in amazement, loving the way the water dances to the music. But what you don’t know is that Damien isn’t as interested in it as you are. No, he'd much rather watch how happy and excited you are by it. That is what he’s here to see. 

The two of you end the night at your apartment. You’re snuggled on the couch, a comfort movie on the TV. 

“Thank you for today,” you say once again. “It’s been a long time since I’ve really enjoyed my birthday. Thank you for making me feel so special.”

“Of course, baby. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.”

You don’t know it at the moment, but you eventually realize how healing this day was for you. Damien helped you learn that you’re deserving of attention too, that you matter to others, and that the people who care about you won’t see celebrating your birthday as a waste of time. 

Damien has helped you heal in so many ways, and this is just one more example of his love and compassion.

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AN: Thank you for reading!

[chocotonez]

skz as love languages pt4: quality time

a/n: I’ve been recovering well! Thank you for all your sweet messages <3 I hope all those in America enjoyed the Fourth of July celebrations! I love the fireworks.

cw/genre: swearing, fluff, touch of angst but that’s ok mainly light hearted fluff :) gn reader, lmk if anything else should be tagged!

summary: skz showing and receiving love through quality time !!

my link to the 1k june special masterlist -> W(`0`)W

•••

chan

-chan is a busy man and he knows that, but he’ll never prioritize work over you

-if he’s away on performances or touring he’ll call you before and after each stage and ask what you thought, if you ate, what you plan on doing that day…

-he’s a lot more talkative than he lets on, when you two are sitting across from each other he can’t help but ramble about his ambitions, dates he wants to take you on, he just really loves talking to you no matter what it’s about

-he likes being near you whether awake or not, so don’t be surprised when a half asleep kangaroo is desperately clinging to your waist so you stay in bed with him a moment longer

-he really doesn’t like leaving you behind or making you feel lonely, it’s just one of the things that come with his job so he ensures every second he can spend with you is worthwhile

-but he also really enjoys lazy dates!! staying at home and cuddling to watch a movie with you, he doesn’t really care what you two do as long as he’s with you

-looks at you so fondly when you two are just relaxing together, being near you makes every second without you worthwhile <3

-probably the type to run back to your shared apartment so he can give you another kiss on the cheek and spend another second with you, he just can’t get enough!!

lee know

-enjoys your company more than you know but he’s honestly kinda bad at expressing it, especially at first

-you can tell he loves being around you because he always seeks you out, even if he teases you for being clingy, he’s a 10000x more clingy than you I swear

-“wtf r u obsessed with me…why are u always following me…” but he’s tagging behind you like a lost puppy if you decide to get up just to go use the washroom

-wants to be alone with you, purely so he can indulge himself in you entirely and gets your whole, undivided attention

-can get moody if he doesn’t see you for a while, even FaceTimes and calls doesn’t scratch the y/n itch, he pays for your plane tickets just so you can visit him while he’s touring

-if you two are together he NEEDS to be touching you!! Holding your hand, hand on your thigh, stroking your hair or you stroking his head, randomly kissing you when you two are idly on your phones…he’s obsessed with being near you and touching you

-physical touch and quality time just go hand in hand for him <33

-he really does adore being with you, your company is one of his biggest comforts, sometimes he’ll randomly pull up outside your apartment so he can just spend the night in your arms when he needs to see you

changbin

-“pls come over I need to see you” “we saw each other like ten minutes ago binnie” “it wasn’t enough!!”

-so so so clingy especially when you first two start dating, he gets so excited to see you and so he’ll always call and ask if he can come over or if you two can hang out

-he doesn’t mean to be annoying or anything it’s just your presence :( it’s one of his greatest joys to have you around

-begs you to be at the studio when he’s working so you be near him, he also just likes hearing your opinions on new projects or whatnot

-is always talking when you two are together, even if you’re both about to go to bed, he’ll lazily ramble about his day and ask you how you’ve been and his favorite things about you…just always needs to talk!!

-type of boyfriend to always asks to do mundane tasks together and never gets bored, even grocery shopping with you is his ideal date

-needs excitement so expect spontaneous dates that involve walking around downtown and exploring new karaoke bars or whatnot, food touring new restaurants, new experiences with you is one of his favorite forms of quality time :)

-expect him to ask for a movie night date or a sleepover in the studio every now and again tho, he just needs the comfort and stability of a familiar environment and one of his fave people <3

hyunjin

-spends time with you quietly, he doesn’t feel the need to fill time with you with mindless chatter, as long as you’re next to him he doesn’t give a shit what’s happening

-lazily reclines on the couch and gestures for u to come over and sit on his lap,,,,just so you two can scroll on your phone

-he’s like a kitty cat!! you can practically hear him purring on your shoulder when you two are just sitting on the couch

-spends time with you very unprompted or spontaneous dates, doesn’t really make thought out plans. he sees something cool and he just texts you “hey baby doll, wanna check out this new cafe with me?" and obvs you say yes becuz ur in love w ur boyfriend!!!

-he doesn’t make it obvious but he cherishes every second he gets to spend with you, especially since he’s working a lot. he likes to randomly call and check in if he’s abroad so he can hear your voice, and he always sends voice messages so you can hear his :)

-makes long eye contact, sometimes to make you flustered, other times just because he really likes admiring you and observing your beauty for uncomfortable periods of time but gets flustered if you calls him out LMAO

-more of a listener than a talker, he’ll be happy to hear about your day but let him enjoy your voice and lean back and he can die a happy man <:

han

-he gets very very excited when you want to willingly spend time with him, it makes him feel so loved and appreciated!!

-the idea that you take time out of your day to spend time with him makes him so blushy and happy, but he’s not as eccentric and energetic when spending time with you as he may seem

-he can play up his playful personality just so he can get a reaction and make others smile, but he’s very comfortable being more introverted and quiet around you, laying his head on your shoulder and playing with your fingers while enjoying your company and warmth

-type of boyfriend to cup your face and give you a long kiss after not seeing you for a long time ToT GOD I LOVE HIMWOEPDPWOEO

-needs a solid hour before bed just being next to you, cuddling and singing soft lullabies while rambling till the room is filled with soft snoring

-plans the BEST date nights especially after not seeing you for a while, movies, cafes, parks, shared skincare routines or shopping trips, he make sure you have just as much fun as he does when you two are hanging out

-he always puts time aside for you so you can hang out whenever he can, he never wants you to feel like a second priority :(

-type of boyfriend to surprise you with flowers and a date proposition just because he missed you

felix

-he’s always yearning for you when he’s gone, if he’s away from you for too long he always gets a bit sentimental and sends voice messages reassuring you that u two are gonna hang out TONS when he comes back!!

-he likes long train rides/drives with you, especially road trips! Feels comfortable sitting in your company doing nothing but enjoying scenery

-likes baking with you, sings softly and teases you if you get better on yourself and giggles all cutesey GAWDDDD I CANT DO THISSS

-he gives you his undivided attention when you’re talking, makes sure you feel like you’re being heard and feels so loved when you do the same

-it means a lot to him when you understand his busy schedule, esp if you go out of your way to message and call without him asking so you two can at least talk even tho ur miles away

-cuddling w u is another priority when you two hang out, hands wrapped around your waist and him brushing hair out of your face or peppering kisses over your face so he can get a better look at you

-god every second with you he wishes could be an hour :( he loves being around you

seungmin

-type of boyfie to really like taking naps with you I feel like idk why

-even if it’s uncomfortably hot, spooning with you and being tucked under the blankets is one of his fave ways to spend time with you

-gets a bit needy without your attention but he also craves his independence so a lot of times your quality time is spend outside on dates or walking around parks!!

-spends hours with you in a cafe just talking meaninglessly about any conversation topic he can come up with

-he also really likes walking tv shows or movies with you, likes to get a new experience when he hangs out with you!!

-he’s really loving and open to whatever you want to do as well, he just wants to be stimulated sometimes and so he can get a little bored if you two aren’t doing anything

-tells you lots of little fun stories to keep you entertained especially when you two are just chilling in bed hehe

-kisses your forehead and holds you close if he hasn’t seen you for a while, and he can get a bit sentimental. he’s not very open about how much he misses you but he always craves your presence </3

-but don’t expect him to admit it LMAO he gets flustered if you call him out for being cheesy, it’s not his fault he loves being around you

jeongin

-“come outside I’m bored and wanna hang out” is a frequent text you receive from him every few hours especially in the late hours of night

-if you two are private about your relationship he really appreciates the cover of night to keep you two safe from any unwanted attention lolol

-he loves spending time with you and will literally cancel work plans so he can go on a date with you or smth

-gets blushy if you want to go out of your way to spend time with him, he feels like you’re just such an angel and u wanna go out of ur way to spend time with HIM??? he goes batshit crazy. loves it. loves you.

-cuddles with you on the couch, legs wrapped around your waist with your head tucked into the crook of his shoulder, telling you about his day and asking you random questions just to ramble and talk with you

-he loves the sound of your voice, he’ll randomly call you no matter the time-zone he’s in so you can hear you talk

-with his job, it’s hard for him to be so needy for your presence while also being away, pls be patient it’s not his fault he’s a clingy fox baby hehe

-but also expect him to come over at random hours of the day so he can cuddle and listen to you talk, no matter if ur preoccupied or not :)

•••

taglist: @chansburgah @hamburgers101 @spacegirlstuff @mxrivicgb @endless-tsundoku

[ikeromantic]

Particles Attract

At 3rd place in my IkeVamp 1K Follower Celebration: Fluffy Isaac. Our resident hedgehog makes his move, but fudges the truth to do it. Approx. 4500 words of fluffy, awkward love.

Isaac was having a good time. Not that he would admit as much - not even under torture. But spending time with Haruko was rapidly becoming his favorite thing. She was a puzzle more exciting than the most complex bit of astrophysics. A heavenly body he wanted to observe more than even the hauntingly beautiful distant nebulae. The vagaries of her expressions were more fascinating than the dance of planets in their orbits. 

This was a feeling he never expected to have for any human. But she’d shown up with her silly grin and her kind words and . . . well . . . he felt his mouth curve up in a tender smile. 

“What is that for? Did you like the sandwich I made you so much?” Haruko gave him a teasing look as she fished for compliments. 

“No,” Isaac began and then seeing the way her shoulders fell, “Y-yes! I mean, it was quite good, but, well, you see . . . “ His sentence ended in a pensive silence as he realized he wasn’t sure he wanted to explain. Such vulnerability was dangerous, of course, and her affection was by no means certain. 

They stood there, shuffling their feet, gazes bouncing from the wallpaper to each other in pretend disinterest and a patent refusal to acknowledge the tension between them.

“Ah! There you are my pretty little bird.” Arthur’s chipper voice shattered the moment. He took Haruko’s hand and brushed his lips across the back as if he was a gentleman. 

“Arthur.” She pulled her hand back before he took advantage. “You were looking for me?”

The writer nodded, grinning. “I was! You see I have a proposal for you too good to turn down.” He pulled a bit of colorful paper from his pocket. “I know you like getting to see things you can’t in your time, so I got us tickets to La Dame aux Camélias.”

Haruko looked at him with some confusion. 19th century theater wasn’t exactly her specialty. 

Arthur grinned. “You’ll love it. It’s a tragic romance. Say you’ll go with me? Please? I promise to be on my best behavior.” 

Isaac watched the expression on her face turn from disinterest to open curiosity. He could see the word yes already forming on her lips. “Wait!”

She glanced at him, an eyebrow raised. 

“I - I was going to tell you. I . . . I got us tickets to that play. As a surprise. For you.” Isaac heard the words stumble out of himself, surprised by them as much as she was.  

“You . . . got us tickets to a play? At a theater?” Haruko’s tone was incredulous. 

Arthur looked at Isaac as well, his surprise dissolving into a knowing smirk. “Is that so, Newt?”

“It . . . is. Yes. Of course. Why wouldn’t it be so? I - I like plays!” 

“And tragic romances?” Arthur’s grin widened.

Isaac nodded, his hair fell forward into his eyes. He pushed it back, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks. He forced himself to look at Haruko, well, at her feet anyhow. “So . . . would you . . . go with me?” The sense of coming rejection made his shoulders tense.

She looked at Arthur’s teasing expression and then to Isaac, who still hadn’t looked up. “That sounds like fun, Arthur, but I think I’ll go with Isaac. Maybe we can go to something else, another time.” 

“I’ll hold you to it.” Arthur told Haruko, and then winked at Isaac before sauntering off.

Alone with Haruko once more, Isaac had no idea what to say. He was already regretting his intervention. A play? In a crowded venue? To watch a tragic romance? It all sounded quite outside the enjoyable. But the excitement in Haruko’s expression was undeniable. If she wanted to go to this performance, he would take her. 

“I can’t believe you got us tickets! That’s so sweet.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed excitedly. “I assumed our first date would be a - a planetarium or a lecture hall!”

“F-first . . . date?” The words landed with the force of a blow. 

She leaned across the intervening space to place the shyest, lightest kiss to his cheek. It was the barest whisper of touch and warmth. “I can’t wait!” Then she let go of his hand, suddenly shy again. “I - I should get back to work. Sebas, you know?”

“Right. Yes.” Words were not forming properly in his head and his tongue felt stuck to the roof of his mouth. 

Haruko turned to go, taking a few steps before she looked back at him again. “This will be so much fun!” Then she hurried away, her steps light and full of joy. 

Isaac cursed himself. He should have said something better than that. Something profound. Or flirtatious. Arthur would have had something witty to reply. He sighed. It seemed he had some tickets to purchase and plans to make. For his first date. An unexpected giddiness rose in his belly, a feeling like butterflies, unsettled but not entirely unpleasant.

A few hours later, the fluttery feeling had subsided, replaced instead by a familiar leaden anxiety. There was a line at the theater box office. It seemed this play was a popular one, and the lead actors were very well known. That was all well and good, except that it meant nearly everyone wanted a ticket. 

The line was full of chattering servants come to buy tickets for the nobility, merchants, and even foreign visitors. Isaac felt overwhelmed by the waves of conversation, the press of bodies behind and in front of him. Too many people, too much noise. The light was too bright, the air too thick, and his skin felt tight and hot. 

He forced himself to breathe through it. Deep breaths, slow. Keep the goal in mind. Haruko’s smile. It took several minutes to calm himself, but Isaac was quite proud of himself. He did not flee the discomfort, though he had to repeat the exercise several times as his place in line progressed. 

Once at the ticket booth, he felt a rush of exaltation. He’d done it. He was here. The tickets were in hand. “Two for La Dame aux Camélias.”

“There are no seats. Might I suggest . . .”

Isaac didn’t hear anything past ‘no seats’. The brief sense of victory crashed into burning defeat. Failure. And he would have to admit he’d lied to Haruko. She would hate him. Maybe laugh. 

“Sir? Sir, if you aren’t going to purchase tickets, I have to ask you to move on.” The clerk gave him a sympathetic glance. “You can always show up for will-call on one of the performances. If someone doesn’t show, you can get their seat. It happens a lot! At intermission if not the start.”

He nodded, his jaw too tense to speak. Then he left, empty-handed and lost in thought. Will-call. Imagine it. Even if a seat opened, what chance there would be two? Beside each other? And Haruko would still know he hadn’t actually got tickets. Will-call. Will . . . the thought came to him in a lightning-burst.

Will - Shakespeare - had connections. If anyone could get him into a sold out play, it was the playwright. Isaac hurried across town, allowing himself this small sliver of hope. 

Shakespeare answered his frantic knocking with an unreadable smile. “Come in, please, and pray tell what fair circumstance hath blown you to my doorstep?”

“I don’t know about fair . . . but I hope you can help me.” 

“If it is within my power to set your fears at ease, I shall.”

Isaac followed Will in and sat at his table. While his host prepared tea, Isaac gave him the general outline of his situation.

“So, thy interest in the lovely Haruko compelled thee to give lie to her and to the rival, Arthur, as well. I see.” Shakespeare sipped his tea, thinking.

“I was hoping you could speak to someone at the theater, see if there is anyway I can get two tickets. Maybe some seats reserved for a family member or an unused private booth or . . . I don’t know. Anything?” Isaac realized he was babbling and cut his begging short. 

Will shook his head. “Tis most unfortunate you’ve chosen a production from a man that considers me his competition rather than a fellow playwright. Would I to ask for a favor, he would ensure it was denied and perhaps more.” 

Isaac felt his shoulders fall and his heart seize up in his chest. 

“Don’t look so stricken! There is yet a path open to you, should your love be worth the doing of dastardly deeds.” Shakespeare fixed him with a mischievous look. “There are yet ways you can accomplish your goal.”

“I - I won’t steal Arthur’s tickets, if that is what you mean. I’d probably just get caught. And even if I didn’t, he’d suspect.” 

Will gave a crooked smile and laughed. “No need to turn to such banal acts of indecency, my friend. Rather let us consider young Arthur’s favorite past-time.”

Isaac blinked. “I don’t see what his womanizing and drinking have to do with it.”

“Not his bad habits, my myopic Romeo. No. I refer to his love for games of skill and chance.” There was a dangerous glint in Shakespeare’s red-tinged eye. 

“I don’t know. He usually beats me at chess.” The feeling of hopelessness was creeping back into him, a cold emptiness that moved slowly through him. This wasn’t going to work. He should just go home and confess everything to Haruko and Arthur. Then lock himself in his room with his books until their mockery subsided.

Will’s smile widened. “I had aught else in mind, something capitalizing on the mathematically minded. What say you? Wilt thou listen to my plot and see if it dost lend itself to your peculiarities?”

“A-alright. Can’t hurt to listen.”

It was a few hours later that Isaac stumbled away from Shakespeare’s home, his thoughts whirling. He understood now why Theo disliked the bard. A mind that could come up with such a dastardly plot . . . but at least, today, it seemed that penchant for schemes would work to his benefit. If - and only if - he could pull it off. 

Isaac had an endless well of doubt there. His luck had never been very good nor had his skills proven effective in anything but theorem. Yet . . . just thinking of Haruko at his side, her hand in his . . . he felt an unexpected optimism. 

He headed to the tavern Arthur and Theo often frequented, determined. 

The place was much as he remembered it. Crowded and noisy and full of tobacco smoke and the smell of sour beer. He scanned the patrons, searching for Arthur, but the writer spotted him first. 

“Newt! What the devil?” Arthur waded through the gathering to grab Isaac by his shoulder in greeting. He dragged him back through the shifting crowd to a table near the back wall. 

Theo gave him a curt nod. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Isaac shrugged uncomfortably. Suddenly, all of Shakespeare’s scheming seemed less possible. Another man could pull it off, perhaps, but not him. He was too nervous. Too shy. “I was . . . passing. Passing by.”

Arthur smirked. “That so? Well since you’re here, let me buy you a drink. What will you have? Apple juice? Apple cider? Applejack? Ooh! I know! Apple brandy!”

“N-no! I - a beer. A beer is fine.” Isaac tried to protest but Arthur’s shouts to the waitress went right over the top of his words. When the server brought over an apple brandy, all he could do was take it with a forced smile. 

Theo was the first to break the silence between them as they drank their disparate beverages. “So. What brings you to this part of town?”

Isaac swallowed, his throat tight with nerves. “I . . . ah . . . that is . . . I was visiting a- a friend. W-we played cards. Together.” 

Arthur grinned. “Cards, eh? I like a hand of cards from time to time.”

Despite his botched delivery, the gambit had worked just as Shakespeare predicted. Isaac pounced. “You do? Would you like to-to play with me? Now?”

“Sure. But a card game isn’t any fun without some stakes attached. What are you betting?”

Isaac’s first instinct was to say the tickets, but Will had counseled against revealing his actual desires right off the bat. “I haven’t got much on me. W-what about just a small pot? A few francs?”

“I’m in.” Theo gave a thin-lipped smile. 

Isaac eased the deck of cards from his pocket. It was a 52 card set on loan from the bard. Each card was hand painted, from the bloody queen of hearts to the terrifying king of spades. He began to awkwardly shuffle, nearly dropping the whole thing.

“Allow me.” Arthur took the cards and shuffled several times, the cards flowing like water between his hands. “So what rules are we playing with? Your friend teach you something new?”

“N-new to me. It’s a- a five card draw?”

Theo chuckled. “Five card open draw. Let’s play.” He put his money in the center of the table. Five francs. Arthur and Isaac followed suit.

Isaac took the cards Arthur dealt him and looked over his hand. It was a good one. An ace of spades, a queen of clubs, and a ten of clubs. The other two cards were not great. He toted up the count and discarded a card. When the discard reveal came after everyone’s turn, he calculated the percent likelihood of Theo or Arthur having a better hand, and how likely he would be to get a jack or king in the next round. 

It wasn’t precise math, but statistics. Supposed to give him an edge. But as the second round of cards were dealt, he couldn’t help but feel this was more chance than skill. Isaac felt as if he were sweating. The air here was too warm by half. 

He didn’t get a jack or king in the next round, but he did get another queen. A pair. Not the best hand nor the worst. 

“I’ll raise,” Arthur said, as he surveyed his cards. They all dutifully added more to the pot. 

“You’re bluffing.” Theo raised an eyebrow at Arthur. “You only raise when you’ve got a crap hand.”

Isaac did his math again, figuring that he had at this point only a 30% chance of getting the remaining cards he needed to win. But Will said he should expect to lose a few rounds as he got the hang of it. And that by losing, he could set Arthur at ease and make him more likely to go in for the real prize. 

Theo won the first round and bought drinks with some of the money. “Another hand?”

“Most definitely! I can’t allow you to walk off with just one battle won. This is war, old boy. And I’m in to win it.” A feverish light glowed in the deeps of Arthur’s blue eyes. He loved a good competition and it showed.

Isaac wanted nothing more than to escape home, back to the comfort of his room. But for Haruko . . . “I’m in as well. Let’s play.”

The next round, Isaac won. He was almost shocked by it. He’d had a 37% chance of getting the hand he wanted, but based on the cards he held and the discard count, figured the chances of one of his companions having a better deal was even lower. And he’d been right. 

The card game went on for hours, with Isaac winning more hands than he lost as he got better at figuring out when the math was on his side. Arthur crowed when he won and grumbled when he lost, while Theo just kept his quiet smirk. 

“Well, that’s it boys. This has to be my last hand. I’m quite out of funds for the night, between drinks and losing to Newt here.” Arthur sighed. 

“Losing your war, hm?” Theo chuckled.

Isaac deemed this the moment Will told him to watch for. “I . . . I have an idea. I-if you w-want to have one last . . . important . . . bet.”

“What’s that, Newt? Are you going to bet your favorite apple?”

“N-no. My date. With Haruko.” His petal-pink gaze settled on Arthur. This was it. He had to be brave. “If I win, you give me your theater tickets. If I lose, I’ll cancel my date with her and you . . . you can ask her out.”

Theo’s brows rose. “Whew. Are you serious? Hondje is gonna be pissed you’re betting with her as the prize.”

Isaac knew that was true, but he’d had no other choice. And if he won, it wouldn’t matter. That was what he had to focus on. 

Arthur laughed. “Only if she finds out.”

“So what do I get out of this? I don’t want a date or theater tickets.” Theo scowled at the two of them.

“I’ll owe you a favor,” Arthur offered. 

Theo rolled his eyes. “Too vague. How about this? If I win, the two of you work for me next weekend. Vincent and I have a gallery to set up and getting free labor from the two of you will make the work go faster.”

“And what will we get from you if you lose?” Arthur gave Isaac a wink as if they were in on this together.

“I won’t tell Hondje the two of you were betting with her as the prize.” He arched a brow in challenge.

Isaac gave a nod of agreement. “Alright.” He really didn’t need Haruko to hear that, especially not from Theo.

Arthur groaned. “You can’t be serious. So my options are to win a date with Haruko, lose my tickets to a sold-out show, or end up working myself to the bone? Seems like more chances to lose than to win. Can’t you throw in a round of drinks on you or something?” When Theo only stared at him, he sighed. “Fine. That’s the pot. Let’s play.”

Theo shuffled and dealt this time. Each of them wanted to win and their intent, serious expressions were far different than they wore for the prior hands. 

Isaac stared at his hand, feeling a trickle of sweat down his back. No high value cards. None at all. He held a 5 of hearts, a 7 of hearts, a 3 of hearts, and two mismatched spades. 

“What’s the matter, Newt? You look like you found a worm in your apple core.” Arthur gave him a mocking grin. 

Theo shook his head as he set out his discards. “Or he’s playing you.”

“Our Newt isn’t that good an actor. Just look at the cast of his lashes, the slight downward pull on the left side of his lips. He’s leaned a bit forward, but slumped as if he’s ready to give up.” Arthur shrugged. “I think I’ve won this hand, old boy.” 

The discards were revealed and Isaac did his math again. The odds were terrible. When he got his new cards, he got a jack of hearts, which somewhat improved his hand. Another round of discards and he managed to pick up a king of hearts. That gave him a flush. Better than nothing but there were several hands that could beat his. 

Theo sighed heavily. “Are we gonna call this?”

“So eager to lose? Alright. I call.” Arthur’s grin was wide and predatory.

They laid their cards out. Theo held four aces. The winning hand. Arthur had only two pair. 

“Haha! Yes! I’ll see you both at dawn on Friday.” Theo laughed, his serious expression breaking into a bright smile.

Isaac nodded, trying to keep his expression flat despite the vast abyss that opened in his chest.

Arthur leaned back and rubbed his forehead. “A bet’s a bet, eh? Alright. I’ll be there.” 

“Good.” Theo finished his beer and stood. “I’m headed home. You two coming with?”

“Not yet. I think I’ll share this last drink with Newt before I turn in.” Arthur waved his friend away. 

When Theo was gone, the two men sat in uncomfortable silence with each other. Isaac wanted very much to just disappear. Preferably into a black hole that would pop him out someplace far enough from here that he could forget this whole scheme. 

“So. Couldn’t get tickets, hm?” Arthur asked more gently than Isaac would expect.

“No. And you knew I wouldn’t be able to when you asked Haruko out.” 

Arthur’s smile told Isaac he was right on that hypothetical. “I knew it was sold out but I wasn’t sure if you could pull something off.”

“Well. I couldn’t.” Isaac took a breath, trying to force his chest to loosen. “Since I c-can’t take her, and I know she wants to go . . . would you . . . that is . . . I want Haruko to - to have a good time. Please take her to see the play.”

Arthur’s eyebrow twitched and for a moment, there was something vulnerable in his blue-eyed gaze. Then it was gone and there was only his smirk and mischief. “I would love to, Newt. But it turns out I’ve double-booked myself. And I would hate to let my ladyfriends down.” He set the tickets on the table between them. 

“What?” Isaac wasn’t sure he understood.

“You’ll have to take Haruko in my stead, old boy. What do you say?”

Isaac stared at the tickets and then back up at Arthur. “What are you playing at?”

“Nothing at all, Newt.” He finished his drink and stood, a touch unsteady. “Just have a good time, hm? The both of you.” He patted Isaac’s shoulder as he stumbled past.

It was several minutes after Arthur’s departure that Isaac picked up the tickets from the table. He didn’t understand what had just happened. People truly were the greatest of mysteries. Pure chaos to which the simple laws of the universe did not seem to apply. 

On the night of the play, Isaac stood in the entryway waiting for Haruko. He felt ridiculous in his suit. The collar was too tight, the waistcoat a cheery red, the pants a touch too long for him, and the shoes . . . entirely too shiny. The desire to go and change into his daily wear was almost too great. But the play was a formal event. His long-suffering sigh cut short as he caught sight of Haruko on the stairs.

She wore a floor length gown of shimmering silver, a silk that flowed over her skin like water. The skirt held an assortment of tiny, glittering specks that he realized were meant to be stars. Lace edged the cuffs and hem, and covered her from the low neckline to her throat in a way that caught his gaze and made his mouth go dry. The mixture of covered-but-visible stirred a desire in him that he hadn’t realized he could feel. 

“So . . . do I look ok? Le Comte helped me pick a dress. It- it’s a bit much. Isn’t it?” Haruko laughed and smoothed the skirt self-consciously.

“You are so beautiful. Words do not do you justice, nor can numerics give an answer.” Isaac murmured, not realizing he’d spoken aloud. It was only when Haruko’s cheeks flushed hotly that he understood his thoughts were spoken in her hearing. “I - I mean . . . you look quite appealing. Yes. Lovely. You are.”

She giggled and held out her hand. “You look nice too.”

Her simple compliment staggered him and for a moment, he felt he could not breathe. He took her hand in his. The clamor of her racing pulse matched his own desperate heartbeat. Isaac lifted her hand to his lips. He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and wished to god he was brave enough to ask for a taste of her lips. 

When he raised his head, he found her watching him with wide-eyed focus, her lips parted, heat in her cheeks. “Isaac . . .”

They shared a long look, both too nervous to move closer and with no desire to step back. 

“W-we should. Go. Yes. The carriage.” Isaac felt as if he was drowning in her. She was so beautiful. So sweet. Smart and kind and he’d been a fool to think this would work. He would say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing. He would ruin it. 

Haruko laughed again, sounding almost out of breath. “Right. The play. We should go.”

They left in the carriage, an awkward silence between them. Isaac felt he ought to say something. Perhaps compliment her again. But he couldn’t find words in the jumble of his thoughts. She was so close, sitting beside him on the narrow cushioned bench. Her hip pressed against his. The slight, warm touch of her knee to his leg, her arm to his side. 

“Y-your perfume is. It’s nice.” 

“You like it? Will helped me choose it. He says a perfume should match the person.”

Isaac nodded. “It does. Sweet. Like you.” He felt his whole face go hot as his words sank in. Would she think he meant it as a vampire? As a man? Did he sound like a lecher? “I mean. Sweet. Personality. Not taste. Not that you don’t. Taste. Sweet. Or - no! Wait.”

Haruko laughed softly and held a finger to his lips. “It’s ok Isaac. I know what you meant.”

“Y-you do?” He felt her soft fingertip brush his lips and thought again of kissing her. She was so damnably distracting. Such that he was glad to be distracted by her. 

“Yeah. I think so.” She leaned close, her fingertip slipping from his lips to his chin. “I . . . I’m going to kiss you now. So - so don’t run away.”

“I -” He’d been about to tell her he wouldn’t, of course, but the words were lost as Haruko’s mouth met his. Her lips were warm and sweet, tasting faintly of peppermint and tea. 

The touch broke something loose in him, some knot he never noticed before now. And as it came unraveled, he did as well. His arm went around Haruko, pulling her almost into his lap. Isaac kissed her with a slow, heated passion. His lips moved against hers with an aching tenderness, and the urgency of long-repressed desire. And she answered in kind, as if she too hungered for that connection.

Isaac pulled back for a breath, afraid if he did not break the kiss now, they might still be entwined when the coach pulled up to the theater. A small voice in his mind asked if that would be so terrible, but he ignored it. “You. You k-kissed me.”

“We kissed each other.” Haruko smiled at him with such joy. 

“I . . . yes. Yes. I suppose we did.” Giddiness fluttered in his chest amidst the warmth he felt there. Like the banked coals of a furnace. They needed only a touch from Haruko to set him all aflame. 

“Do you think we might kiss again? Some day?” Her eyelashes lay on her cheeks as she looked down in sudden shyness.

“We- we might. Even, perhaps, now. If you like. We could.” 

Haruko did not let him stumble for long. She turned her face to him and blessed him again with her touch. 

Isaac felt himself in awe of her. To him, she was the most beautiful of women. Lovely beyond compare. If she were a star in the heavens, she would be the only light he could see. And for reasons he could not fathom, she chose to embrace him with her light. And in that star-shine, he could forget his fear and awkwardness. He could love and let love into the fortress that was his heart.

[nelapanela94]

Hello my friend, I hope that you are having a good day! 😊 Well, For my first request, I wanted to see if you could do a headcanon with Levi Ackerman x short black!reader (Short meaning like 5’2 in height and who’s he didn't think had existed with Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean roots/culture which includes the accent,food and of course Soca Carnival) who they date, want to marry and have children with in the future? ( You can choose how many kids each of them should have!)

Hi sweetheart!!!

TW: set in our AU! in the 70's, mentions of Dad Levi, Kuchel and Kenny are alive, fluff

WC: 1k

Levi hugs Kuchel goodbye, pricking with guilt for his mother's tears, but the driver hits the horn, beckoning him.

He was twenty-five when a travel agency add popped on the tv, promising paradise. So, out of an impulse, he scrubbed the dregs of his savings account and booked a round trip to the Caribbean. He packed on his shoulders the basics for summer land, and a bottle of antibacterial gel mellowed with aloe.

Coming from a place that barely sees the light for six months of the year, where the cold gnaws at your bones and you have to toddle around with at least six layers during winter, he did feel like crossing st. peter's gates once he hops off the plane in Port of Spain. Enduring ten hours squeezed between the snores of an old rickety man and the wails of a baby was worth it. At the airport, he hoards all the tourist guide pamphlets he can cram into his pockets and calls Kuchel from the public phone to let her know he’s all right. Then he spends long minutes in the bathroom washing his face and hands.

The soft frizzling on his skin; the breeze tousling his hair. In few days, his skin is flushed with a farmer's tan, and cafe au lait freckles stud his shoulders and nose. But he relishes the energy with which this land sizzles, the babble of different accents and the diversity of its people who anchored on the island from all around the globe. The market pulses with different languages, colors, textures, smells, and flavors, and he spends all morning trying fruits he'd never heard of in his life. He takes more time though, to accustom his taste buds to the spiciness.

He never forgets to send a postcard to his mother every week to let her know her little boy is doing fine. He also mentions at the end of one that he’ll reschedule his return ticket, though he has not selected a date yet. Maybe until spring begins.

One evening, he saunters along the Maracas Bay promenade and wallows in it. The sunset on the beach is like a painting coming to life. The sky is a canvas of orange, pink and purple, blending in a swirl of colors. The sun, a fiery ball, slowly sinking into the horizon. The waves sparkle with golden light, reflecting the sun's rays. The briny breeze strokes his hair and the warm sand smoldering his feet invites him to sit. He takes pictures with his XG-9 Minolta, capturing the world’s beauty through the lens. He zooms and zooms, looking for different angles until he stumbles with a group of girls, dancing and laughing, eating lay's and drinking sprite. One smiles and winks and waves a hand, and a frisson of both panic and exhilaration ripples through every inch of him. His cheeks begin to tingle. He drops the camera on his lap and looks away.

“Hey!”

Levi’s heart bangs like the gallop of a horse in a race. His lips part. His eyes snap, and he gulps before turning around. She is wearing a billowing midi dress, her deep ochre skin glowing with a healthy sheen, lips plumped and moist. A set of golden bracelets clanking with every lithe movement. Her eyes are brown, the type of brown that becomes honey under the light, rimmed with long lashes. Levi stutters a hi, his hands too clammy he can’t let go of the hem of his white t. “My name is [name], and I was wondering if you would go to the carnival with me.” She tries to cajole him with a smile. Her eyes soften, pleading, glinting. Lashes flitting. Levi blinks while his brain tries to connect thoughts and metamorphose them into words. He doesn’t know how that ‘yes’ comes out from his mouth. 

“Great!” She beams and pries a sharpie from her purse. “Where are you staying at? I’ll pick you tomorrow at 10 am.” She holds the cap in her lips and the tip glides smoothly on her palm with Levi’s address. “For whom I ask at the front desk?” And he relaxes his shoulders, “Levi Ackerman.”

He watches her running back to her friends, and from time to time, she steals a quick glance at him.

She takes Levi to the parades and tries to teach him how to dance, how to loosen his hips, but he… just don’t have it in him. A futile attempt. He can’t stop looking at her, the way her body follows the lively rhythms of the music. Whenever their eyes meet, he feels a flush rising in his cheeks. She’s shorter than him, not more than a couple of inches, and that makes them the perfect dancing partners. “Come on, admit you’re having fun.” She quips and he replies with a smirk, “I can’t ruin my reputation as a first-class grump.”

She takes him to the best local restaurants too, introducing him to a kaleidoscope of flavors and he feels guilty to think that Kuchel’s food lacks some spiciness. He loves roti with beef, pastelle and sweet bread. His abs start melting, but he can’t care less; the food is worthy.

Levi’s been bewitched, bespelled, mesmerized, impossible and illogical, yet the only explanation of his desire to stay. He wants to know her, to find any excuse to talk to her, to find out what she thinks of things. Hold her hand and walk by the beach under a starry night sky. They are so different, but she brings a kind of music into his life he’d never heard before. Twinkling bell notes, distinctive and beautiful, descend into a sweet slurring that untangles the twisted, bare wires in his head.

She kisses him of course, Levi is too nervous to take the step, and from that kiss, his mind races from the kiss to touch her more. To pick out the wedding invitations, to build a home and set up a baby crib.

Weeks later he calls Kuchel and drops the bomb, something he’d been postponing, claiming he needed to find the right words, and tells her, fiddling with the telephone cord, “I’m staying, indefinitely.” But when a shocked why comes in from the other side, he panics and pushes the hook.

Levi scores a job at a top accounting firm in the capital. They move together, get married in a small and intimate celebration, and have those little twin brats that can’t stop wailing and giggling and pulling at his hair with their strong grip. Two girls with big almond-shaped gray eyes and golden skin. Though, things didn’t happen in that exact same order. Indeed, when he wired his mother, he was carrying the pregnancy test in his pocket.

Taglist: @stygianoir @lamees004 @svftackerman @apolloshaiku @luvjiro @roralore   @notgoodforlife @galactict3a

Want to join the tag list? Click here.

[cornertheculprit]

Uhhhh do you have any nick&Maya fic recs that are realllyyyy long? I’m recovering from surgery (rip to my gallbladder) and I need stuff to do

hmmm there are no particularly LONG ones that specifically center around just them but here are a bunch of them i've recced before (including one that's 76.8k words) and here are a few more i've discovered lately!!

a restaurant probably isn't the best place for a life-altering conversation (1k):

It's been less than a week since another life-changing case for Phoenix and Maya. While recovering, they go to their favorite burger joint, and Maya has something important to say... but serious conversations when they're both still exhausted are hard to keep up.

Never (1k):

Maya and Phoenix are sorting through the attic in the Fey Mansion, checking up on the (supposedly) priceless (supposedly) magical artifacts stored there.

A crystal ball gives them a glimpse into an alternate reality that never quite came to pass.

Sunday (1.1k):

“Can’t I come see a friend?" A small, involuntary warmth that comes with being called her friend. “At.. six in the morning?” In response, she holds up a plastic bag and shakes it in his face, nearly tipping over with the force of removing her other sandal. There’s a cardboard box at the bottom that bends precariously and exposes a chocolate covered donut, along with tinfoil wrapped somethings on top.

Phoenix and Maya spend an early morning together, aka the one and only time Maya paid for takeout.

Turnabout Ticket (1.1k):

Maya gets pulled over for speeding. It's the weirdest ticket the officer has ever given.

these aren't long, but they ARE funny and will hopefully serve as a distraction while you recover :) i hope you feel better soon!

[fluxandflowwithittt]

There are so many concerts coming up and of course 85 percent of them not in my state meaning I have to fly to another state and continuous flights and accommodation is getting expensive! 😩

One of the concerts I bought a ticket for for October this year I can no longer attend as I have an overseas trip booked the following month and all my $$ is going to that.

It’s also on the weekend of the AFL Grand Final so the cheapest flights are around $900 when normally return flights are $200. Accommodation is around $500 per night when normally for This accommodation it’s only $180 per night.

So as heart breaking as it is, I’ll have to skip it.

The day I get back from my overseas trip I have to repack my suitcase and get sleep as the following morning I’m flying interstate to attend a music festival, then fly home to attend the Foo Fighters concert. I wasn’t going to attend this music festival but a musician I love and that got me through some really rough times started following me on social media and mentioned being down for this event from London and I couldn’t say no to that 😍

Another concert a week after that and another Christmas Eve! What an amazing way to spend Christmas Eve ✨🌲♥️

Don’t get me started on Taylor Swift! After a week of stress spending all day in an online queue hoping to get access to tickets, a lot of tears and anger and anxiety and I got tickets for interstate. So once again flying out to see her! Her shows have been declared a major event here and of course EVERYONE spikes prices. Flights are looking like they will be around $1k and accomodation per night that’s not sold out already and available it’s $850 per night 👀

Can’t catch a break!

I also have Blink 182 early next year in fact a week before Taylor! Luckily Blink 182 are performing in my home town meaning I don’t need flights and accommodation 🙏

I also have VIP for Blink! Yay!

Then another trip interstate for a week of roller coasters and wild adventures!

So much to look forward to! Just the way I like it.

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

Random Occupations (2) Masterlist

part one

7-Eleven (ao3) - iCheeseYou (EHkook) luke/ashton T, 74k

Summary: Ashton Irwin is a master of thievery. He steals from general stores, food markets, jewelry shops, museums, and people's homes. Never once did he get caught nor did anyone find out his identity. He loves being a thief. Stealing is his addiction, and he has no intention on curing it.

However, there is one place and one place alone that he does not steal from, and that's the 7-Eleven at the corner street. He goes in late at night to buy things for himself and to see a boy who works during that time named Luke Hemmings.

a change of heart and a silver lining (ao3) - bellawritess luke/calum T, 18k

Summary: Calum’s not obsessed with routine or anything, but he does become accustomed to certain constants in life. Michael is always about eight minutes late. Ashton always records vocals barefoot. Calum always knows the person behind the register at Bake Station.

Except today. Today it’s a stranger, though admittedly a stranger who looks enough like Jack that Calum can easily connect the dots.

“Hi there,” says the bloke in Jack’s place, giving Calum a bright smile. “What can I get for you today?”

If this is Luke Hemmings, Calum’s fucked.

(OR: wrong number AU and strangers to lovers bakery AU battled and this was the outcome.)

Books. (ao3) - orphan_account michael/calum, bryana/ashton G, 1k

Summary: "Yeah, I'm looking for like... Fifty Shades of Grey, but like, do it yourself."

Or the one where Calum is shy and awkward and Michael is adventurous. Or just a dumb ass.

Break The Plans We Had Before (ao3) - awfuldaycupcake michael/calum N/R, 2k

Summary: Poor Mikey works the night shift at Maccas. Could he quit? Well, not if he expects to pay college tuition. His coworker, Calum, seems to have taken a liking to him, too. He isn't quite sure if that's a good thing.

calum's cleaning service (ao3) - orphan_account calum/ashtoon N/R, 7k

Summary: or, the cliche one where Calum needs a job, and Ashton just wants to fuck his new maid over a table.

Daydreams - @daydadahlias (cornflowerblue (daydadahlias)) michael/ashton, luke/calum T, 6k

Summary: It's not Michael's fault the owner of Fletcher's Flowers is so good-looking. And no one—Luke—should be able to blame him for wanting to come to the shop and admire the pretty buff man with large delicate hands as he assembles bouquets or pets his cat.

happy endings (ao3) - emiliathegreat (puckdummy) calum/ashton E, 3k

Summary: he didn’t really know why he ended up there, or how really. he convinced himself that it was for one reason: to get out of the cold. with numb fingers, he would rather spend some time in a heated shop than walk all the way back to his fourth-floor apartment in the brisk air that would quite possibly chill him to the bone.

it definitely wasn’t because of the cute boy with the curly hair that he saw through the window. nope, not at all.

or

calum starts to visit a local bookstore to spend time with ashton, the cute boy who works there

He Drove Away The First of September, But I Remember (ao3) - senioritastyles michael/ashton G, 6k

Summary: "Hi." He calls, catching the cute worker's attention.

The worker looks up and fumbles around to put his phone away, his face awestruck as he looks at Ashton. "Uh, hi."

There's an awkward moment of silence as they both stare at each other, the sounds of the carnival fading into the background and Ashton feels his heart leap when the boy smiles. He's got on tight black skinny jeans and a Metallica t-shirt, his waist surrounded by what looks like a combination of a fanny pack and an apron. Ashton knows it's probably full of money and tickets even though no one is approaching is the booth to play, and he can't help but smile back at the boy. He's completely stricken by the boy's beauty, mesmerized by the enticing features and pale skin.

Or: Michael and Ashton meet right before Ashton has to go back to school.

Hold For All Eternity (ao3) - senioritastyles luke/ashton G, 2k

Summary: Ashton's been to this aquarium so many times that he could find his way around without the maps and signs, but there's a new exhibit that just opened last week and his siblings have been dying to go see so they made a family day out of it—Ann even took off work for it. The whole way here Ashton had to listen to incessant babbling about the new penguin area and how cute the penguins will be and not even the radio can save his ears from hearing Lauren and Harry lose their god damn minds over some arctic ducks things. Ashton's never been particularly interested in penguins himself, he's more of a shark guy and they tend to eat penguins, but he's glad he gets a day to spend with his family since that doesn't seem to happen lately.

Or: Luke works at the new penguin exhibit and Ashton asks him out.

Perks of Black Friday (ao3) - padamooseandsquirrel michael/luke G, 1k

Summary: Black Friday is here and that means great sales and excitement for all!

Except for Michael Clifford, an employee at target who has to put up with over enthusiastic shoppers. Cue Luke Hemmings, one of the said enthusiastic shoppers and Michael's crush.

"Ready, Princess?" (ao3) - mukeftlashton michael/luke, calum/ashton E, 8k

Summary: In which Luke is a quiet boy who likes to wear dresses, and Michael is a cheeky, tattooed Hot Topic worker who can teach him a thing or two about how to live.

So Inn Love (ao3) - iCheeseYou (EHkook) michael/luke E, 9k

Summary: Michael is a summer employee at the inn by the beach and Luke is a famous author who checks into that very same inn for the summer.

Summer Days (ao3) - malumsmermaid michael/calum G, 1k

Summary: Michael and Calum are spending their summer off from college working at a local summer camp in their college town.

Unexpected Places (ao3) - The_Lady michael/luke T, 2k

Summary: The last thing Michael expects to find when heading home from his morning shift at the bakery is a slumped over Luke Hemmings sporting a black eye and split lip. Yet, there Michael’s school-hood rival is, clear as day, sitting on the concrete and leaning against the alley wall. Well, there goes pizza and DnD.

you say you didn't know, i wonder why you didn't ask? (ao3) - hideforalifetime michael/luke T, 14k

Summary: Luke and Michael have been best friends since elementary school, moving out of the country all alone, but together for college, getting through all the highs and lows of adulting together. There’s never been a person who knows them that doesn’t refer to them as “Luke and Michael”. Always paired, and if one’s without the other, questions are immediately asked. Hell, some people automatically assume they’re dating, and he hurriedly corrects them. But deep down, Luke doesn’t want to. He doesn’t know when his brain made the transition of looking at Michael as a friend to someone he’d want as more than a friend, but it’s true. Sometimes, when he stares at Michael’s choppy, often dishevelled blue hair, he feels like-

[twinstarlovers]

These wanna be men really triggered me to get my period early tho 💀 but bro I was thinking this is really suppose to be our last life like that’s crazy. I think that’s why we are able to feel the highest level of love. I mean anyone can feel love but not everyone can just feel twin flame love yk. Anyways I had a dream about you last night but I can’t describe or remember it enough to put into words. Also I’m so mad my videos haven’t been wanting to post. Also I’m starting a new job hopefully this upcoming week or next week. Ima be a paraprofessional for pg county schools lol. My mom pushed me into it but I’m kinda glad she did like it seems meant to be kinda. It’s also next to my gym so it will for sure motivate me more. The only thing is I’d be working 7 hours & so hopefully I’ll be okay & not get drained. I used to dread 4 hours. Like my final hour I would start to feel my energy giving out like I was gonna pass out but maybe cus that job in general can be too much. I’m excited to be working with an older age group. I kinda like the older ages sometimes. Oh ima be working at Ridgecrest elementary. The principal contacted me & wants me there so bad. I really like her, she puts a lot of effort & is always consistent with me compared to everyone else I’ve dealt w fr. But yeah ima be an ESOL paraprofessional. I guess for the kids that don’t speak English like that or need help. I basically take them in groups to help them finish work (I believe lol). Anyways I should’ve known working for a school would work better for me because I have the breaks just like the kids like winter & summer & shit which thank goodness because I could stay at a job but it’s me not getting any sort of break that be having me fed up w it enough to quit yk & then when I leave I’m just like “damn I miss it, I just needed a week break for myself”. Plus there are a lot of benefits but I ain’t worried about all that rn lol. I wonder why this is the path I’m going in tho. Yes I wanted to work with kids for my early years but I still don’t know what I wanna do later on in life. I just wanna be rich lol. I think that will happen for me tho somehow. If it’s my vision I think I will be because so many people I’ve met don’t mind not being rich yk but idk me personally, I wanna be rich. I have a vision of all the stuff I can do w money. My main thing is giving back to my loved ones. That’s one thing I dream of for some reason. I’m not really sure I’ll achieve any of this but I believe it’ll happen miraculously. Ik money don’t matter but I’m just a girl who has expensive taste be so fr. It’s genuinely not my fault. But anyways I gotta be getting up at like 5-6am fr now for this job. I’ve been sleeping late smh. I probably won’t be able to go to the gym the first week from exhaustion & me trying to adjust to working for that long fr. Slowdive is coming to concert 9 times out of 10 ima go if the tickets aren’t sold out by next month. Im so excited. I should be going w my little sister. I kinda like their new album. I need to spend more money on concerts & traveling than clothes lol. I have clothes I’ve bought months ago that I never worn still & that’s one of my bad habits but for me… I save them for a good occasion yk or for when I’m feeling good & rn I am not feeling too good. When I’m more myself & got places to go then I will wear them lol. I heard it’s bad to do that but I really dgaf. If anything I see it as a good thing, I see it as a sign of hope for the future yk that I used to have trouble with sooo. Anyways for my bd ima be on my period I believe 😐. Sooo I probably won’t do nun the day of. I had plans to do sum big like a hotel room for myself but that might not happen buttt im giving myself 1k to spend on myself so that’s exactly what I will do, go on a shopping spree & I’ll be just fine with that lmao. I already know what I want lol. I hate how nobody cares about bds no more like bro.. after not celebrating my bd all as a kid & my teenage years, it’s just getting started for me in my 20’s. Ima take it so seriously. To be continued….

[shynessboys]

Also…. Man I know you get floor, send off and soundcheck but some packages didn’t even include send off so 1k?? Everyone’s saying don’t judge but BTS’ gold sound check was only $500 and that’s already a lot😭 maybe I’m being too judgmental cause if BTS’ ticket prices were that crazy I’d likely still spend it cause they’re my favorite group yk but i can’t help but to feel like ticket master is really ringing people dry with this one

[themculibrary]

Zoo Masterlist

Baby Giraffes & Overheated Spider-Kids (ao3) - Marvelous_Writer

pepper/tony G, 2k

Summary: In which Peter faints during a family trip to the zoo.

(Alternate title: Too Hot, Hot Damn)

can't say anything to your face (ao3) - dharmainitiative sam/bucky T, 7k

Summary: There are three things that Sam Wilson knows to be true about his job at the Westview Zoo. Number one: the birdhouse is without a doubt the best exhibit to work in. Number two: all the concessions they sell to visitors for an arm and a leg are completely inedible except for Dip n’ Dots, specifically the Banana Split flavor. And number three: Bucky Barnes absolutely, 100% hates him.

Or: five times Sam thought Bucky despised him, and one time he realized he didn't.

Clint and Thor go to the Zoo (ao3) - Capucine T, 724

Summary: Somehow, Clint finds himself taking Thor to the zoo.

Which is just wonderful, why didn't he come up with this idea before? Questionable acts are taken. Why indeed aren't giraffes ridden into battle?

This and many questions Clint cannot answer.

Don't Hide Away (ao3) - agentx13 G, 1k

Summary: Sharon likes air conditioning, Bucky likes people sticking to the plan, and Sam likes birds.

First Date (ao3) - BlackBirdAolen bucky/wanda G, 598

Summary: After a long time of being close, Wanda and Bucky finally are ready for a date.

My Heart is Like a Zoo (ao3) - cruelest_month clint/phil T, 3k

Summary: After jogging doesn't play out the way that Clint or Loki would have liked, Phil takes them both to the zoo. (Loki is 2.5 years old)

Spy in the zoo (ao3) - LosZaros wanda/vision G, 2k

Summary: Wanda and Vision are planning a date before Wanda has to go on a mission. What they don't know is that a certain spy is watching them.

The Ape Helped Them (ao3) - Dulcia steve/bucky G, 1k

Summary: Sarah Rogers takes her son to the Zoo

The Asset and The Zoo (ao3) - Introvertatheart steve/bucky G, 3k

Summary: After getting adjusted to living in the tower, Steve and Bucky feel a little cramped up. They decide to go to the zoo. Steve isn't expecting Bucky to have the same reaction as the aquarium, all that matters is that they have fun.

The Bucky Bear Exhibit (ao3) - buckybarnes19 G, 354

Summary: Bucky, Steve, and Natasha spend a day at the zoo. Steve struggles to deal with letting go.

there's people and they're young and alive (ao3) - Amanuensis clint/natasha T, 2k

Summary: "Tagging your target in the reptile house in Madrid," Clint says, "does not count as 'a trip to the zoo.'"

Vultures and Tigers and Lemurs (ao3) - celestialskiff G, 7k

Summary: Leo and Skye were promised a trip to the zoo. Jemma and Natasha came along too. Total fluff.

Your Heart is the Only Place That I'd Call Home (ao3) - t0bemadeofglass loki/natasha G, 767

Summary: Natasha decides that she wants a pet, but the only problem is that it's not exactly the most conventional of animals. Loki does his best to accommodate.

Zoo Day (ao3) - ibelieveinturtles

Summary: Once a month, they go to the zoo.

Zoo with Steve (ao3) - heythereshipfreak steve/tony N/R, 999

Summary: “You haven't been to a zoo before?” Tony asked Steve as they made their way to the ticketing booth.

“Not really, I was constantly sick when I was younger and it was expensive to see them. Bucky used to show me the pictures he took when his family went to the zoo.” Steve said as he turns to Tony.

“Bucky?” Tony asked.

“My bestfriend in the 40's. We grew up together.”Steve explains, and continue to talk about Bucky.

As they walked around the zoo, Tony could see the excitement in Steve's eyes as he watched the zookeeper fed the tigers, he watched as the seal balance on the ball, he watched the penguin walking in a straight line, then he turned to Tony, with a huge question mark above his head.

[frostedfaves]

Rosa Diaz x Reader going to a concert headcanons ✨ maybe they’re not officially a thing yet so the reader is super nervous when she gets invited? You know it best Queen 👑

A/N: sorry I tried to save this for later and then completely forgot about it 🥲

join my 1k party!!

-

So we know that Rosa is into some pretty heavy metal music, but let’s assume here that that’s not your thing. You’re pleasantly surprised when she invites you to a concert, and the name of your favorite band is printed on the tickets

“You listen to them? Since when?”

“You don’t know anything about my life.”

To your surprise again, Rosa goes all out for the night: hiring a driver to take the two of you to the arena, buying you drinks when you arrive early, and even buying you a hoodie while you’re in the bathroom

She won’t let you touch your wallet all night, and practically threatens you every time you mention paying her back

The tickets get you as close to the stage as possible, and her eyes are constantly watching for anyone trying to push in front of you, but you can’t help noticing her glances toward you in between and it makes your heart race

The lights dim suddenly and your nerves are momentarily replaced with excitement as the band finally appears on stage. You’re grinning and cheering with the rest of the crowd, trying not to make too big of a deal of hearing Rosa do the same beside you

You spend the next two hours singing and dancing and cheering, as well as attempting to ignore the little voice in your head screaming about the fact that you get to share this experience with the woman you’re quickly falling in love with, and she apparently knows the words to some of your favorite songs

Toward the end of the last song, you feel Rosa’s hand slip into yours and your heartbeat triples in speed when her thumb skims across your knuckles. As soon as the band says their farewells, she tugs on your hand and pushes her way through toward the exit

“Sorry. Trying to beat the crowds.”

You’re still in a bit of a daze even as the fresh breeze hits you, and just when you expect Rosa to release your hand, her grip tightens as she leads you across the street to a restaurant

“Order whatever you want.”

“Rosa, am I getting fired soon or something? Why are you being so nice to me?”

You immediately regret asking when an unreadable expression appears on her face, and a silence washes over the two that’s quickly broken by your server. Once your meals are ordered and you’re alone again, Rosa finally answers

“This is a date. I hope it is, anyway.”

“Oh.”

You can hear Rosa’s foot quietly tapping under the table, but before you can say anything to ease her nerves and hopefully yours, she comes to sit on your side of the booth and leans in to press her lips against yours

“Sorry.”

She goes to stand up and return to her side and you quickly grab her arm to pull her back down and into another kiss