#choosing between wine and gin is so hard

[blamemma]

19. dare

nsfw x

"I dare you to text Christian." Max says, his eyes narrow slits, gin & tonic clasped in his hand. His cheeks are flushed, but Daniel watches, in the moonlight eclipsing their Monaco balcony, as they become a slight tinge darker.

"Text him what?" Daniel asks.

Knowing Max, it could be something insane, stupid, dumb. Tell him you're abandoning the reserve driver role to replace Pierre at Alpine, is one thing. Offer to babysit his kids next race weekend, is another. Ask him how many more race weekends Checo has to fuck up till you're put in the car, is the one Daniel wants him to dare him to do.

Daniel could have sit for hours, drink another whole bottle of wine, and come up with thousands of things Max could choose to dare him to do. But when Max says, "A photo...of us," Daniel audibly gulps, feels his own cheeks become filled with blood, and blinks slowly.

Christian knows. And Daniel knows. That Max and Christian--used to. When Daniel left. Then Max won. And Daniel and Max started again. Max and Christian soon stopped.

Daniel has lain below Max, as Max has kissed has down his neck, over his chest, recounted the stories. Grasped both their dicks and jerked them off whilst whispering to Daniel all the lewd things they did together in Christian's office. Daniel left Red Bull, left Christian, left Max, left Max, and had felt king of the world, left his once loyal subjects shocked. But they had coped--without him.

Had found each other.

Then Max had found Daniel again. Daniel had come back home.

And it was in that first factory visit, when Christian had ordered the cameras away, that Daniel was faced with the starkness of it all. Looked around and thought --

You pushed Max to his knees right here and fucked his face.

Max has bent you over this desk and cum inside you

You both jerked off into Max's first WDC trophy over here.

Looked around and thought when will that be me.

He knows, sitting here now, he's been played, toyed with, by both Max and Christian. That the lingering touches at the small of his back as Christian guides him around the paddock were meaningful. That Max's continuous insistence they should fly out to Oxfordshire soon and visit Christian and Geri is purposeful.

"Which photo baby?" He asks. He wants to crawl under Max's t-shirt and feel his chest heat up, hear his heart beat impossibly fast, as Max has to explain he doesn't want Daniel to send a normal, innocent selfie of the two of them.

He settles for walking over to him, leaving his wine on the side table, and watching Max's legs opening wider instinctively, so that Daniel settle between them. He leans over him, kisses him harsh and fierce, feels Max moan into it, and then gets down on his knees, bites down on Max's thigh and relishes the sharp intake of breath Max takes, then lavishes his tongue over it.

"The one we took in front of the mirror Monday night?" Daniel asks, kissing further up Max's thigh. Daniel stood fully naked, Max on his knees, Daniel feeding him his dick. You can't see Max's face, but you can see the way his hands grip Daniel's thighs tightly, his perky ass, the way he sits so pretty whilst he takes it.

Daniel looks up, locks eyes with Max, and Max shakes his head, lip caught between his teeth.

Daniel moves to the other thigh, bites, licks, kisses.

"What about the ones from Miami?"

A triumphant win for Max. One to silent all the people who suggested Checo would ever be in with a chance of the championship. They'd both gone out together afterwards, swarmed into a party attended by influencers, engineers and DJs galore. Max had pulled Daniel into a private bathroom cubicle, bent Daniel against the sink, and whimpered when he saw Daniel had already prepped. The photo is a mirror selfie, Max rucking Daniel's shirt up and coming across his back.

"No." Max responds, his voice quiet and high.

Daniel nuzzles into Max's clothed dick, feels where it's hard. He sits back on his legs, hands resting in his lap and pretends to think hard.

"Australia, my place?" He finally asks, and Max's head moves rapidly, nods quickly.

"Yeah, yeah that one. He'll like that one. That one Daniel." Max looks so eager in front of him, so desperate. Daniel doesn't even question if this is the right or wrong thing to do, if it's fucking weird to send your boss a picture of you and his star driver fucking.

Just reaches for his phone, goes to his locked album, and selects the photo, clicks Share, and opts to text it to Christian.

A blissful week where Max had stayed behind after the Australian GP, let Daniel drive him around in his beat up truck and show him the sights. He'd re-applied sun cream every hour to Max's pale skin, even though Perth was entering Autumn. Had watched pleasantly as Max had eaten gloriously, ordered Daniel's favourite sandwich from Daniel's favourite cafe, got three scoops of ice cream from the best deli in town, devoured Grace's cooking and comfortably asked for seconds.

The photo--golden hour. Settled on Daniel's porch swing. Covered in golden sunlight. Both of them stark naked, Max's back to Daniel's chest, Daniel's hands wrapped around Max, one twisting his nipples, the other jerking him off. Max's arm around the back of Daniel's head, tangled in his curls, pulling him impossibly close. They'd been kissing, but in the photo, this one screenshot Daniel had taken from the video, Max's mouth is wide open, a loud shout of Daniel's name falling from his mouth as Daniel had hit his prostate perfectly. They look glorious, blissful, hot. Daniel only has to look at the photo and can jerk off to the memory of it all. Doesn't need to watch the full video.

He ignores Max in front of him, can see in his peripheral vision the way he's palming at his dick a little, a small wet patch coming through his shorts, knows he's remembering it all as well.

Daniel opts to just stare at the photo.

Watches Sent turn into Delivered. Watches Delivered quickly turn into Read.

Watches a grey bubble appear with dots.

My beautiful boys. He reads.

"My beautiful boys." He repeats to Max.

"Do you think he'd like the video?" He asks.

[delhidutyfree]

Libation Exploration: Your Guide To The Best Liquor Shops

You might require some assistance selecting the right alcoholic beverage when you go liquor shopping. Nothing beats the satisfaction of being well-stocked with libations for any event. If you had a good guide, you could choose the perfect alcoholic beverage. You can find a wide variety of alcoholic drinks at any given store. In this article, we will discuss the right liquor from the Best Liquor store for you.

Delhi Duty-Free offers you a wide variety of liquor. Discover the ideal option that suits you best. The most esteemed liquors are these: When it comes to premium blended whiskies, no one does it better than Johnnie Walker Black Label. Chivas is a twelve-year-old blend of various grain and malt Scotch whiskies. This velvety combination perfectly balances form and function, vintage and contemporary. The Dutch distillery 3 Kilos produces vodka that is quintuple-distilled. This spirit is velvety smooth and presented as a golden nugget.

Gin

Picking the perfect drink to celebrate a special occasion can be challenging. So, imagine you're in a situation where you can't decide between Gin and beer. You can purchase Gin, the price of which can differ depending on the brand. Many varieties of Gin are available, and the price might vary depending on the brand. On special occasions, it is a suitable beverage to have. You should sample a few different Gin brands before settling on your favourite.

Champagne

Toast the new year with your finest Champagne from the Liquor store as you make your resolutions. Sparkling wine creates an ecstatic atmosphere. If you want to get your year off to a great start, its smooth flavour is a solid pick.

Another lovely option for a wedding toast is Champagne. The happy couple can pop a bottle of Champagne to celebrate their marriage. The silky texture of a Champagne glass allows you to taste the effervescent bubbles.

Bloody Mary

Make a Bloody Mary if you want an alcoholic beverage to complement your Sunday brunch. It's salty, acidic, and powerful enough to give you the vibe you need for Sunday brunch.

Margarita

Did you say birthday? In the absence of that margarita, the event will lack excitement. Margarita’s smell and taste like a party. If you drank enough margaritas, you would lose track of time. Ignoring the difficulties, you may be experiencing, try to enjoy yourself on your birthday.

Red Wine

Having a glass of red wine from the best liquor shop with your special someone is the perfect way to set the mood for a romantic evening. Sipping it with your loved one would put you in a very romantic mood.

In addition, red wine is great for helping you move past a breakup. Stop by the liquor store and pick up a bottle of your preferred red wine. You can rely on it as a dependable method to overcome your ex-partner with minimal difficulties.

Scotch

Scotch is a great option for college graduates because it is hard. For your transition into adulthood, it's a great pick.

Tequila Shots

Something strong and resilient is required for spring breaks. It would be appropriate for you to have one or more tequila shots from a liquor shop. The aftereffects of the shots would discourage you from trying more during your break.

Conclusion

When you have the right drink, any occasion becomes more enjoyable. If you're looking for a general idea of what to purchase for a special event, our selections should help. Deciding which liquor to purchase can be a challenging task. Making the correct decision becomes much easier with the correct guide. You must check the best shop by searching "near wine shop." You can buy the best liquor from the Delhi Duty Free.

[zenasflower]

Gifts For Every Occasion

Gifting is a great way to show love and appreciation for family and friends. But sometimes, it’s difficult to find the right present for an occasion.

Whether you’re shopping for the minimalist friend who loves experiences over stuff or the creative person in your life, there are tons of unique gifts to choose from.

Birthdays

It’s hard to beat the excitement of opening up a gift. As adults, birthdays can still be a great time to surprise someone with something they’ll love and use.

For close friends, we recommend spending somewhere between $25-$75. This is a good guideline if you’re looking to show how much you care without going overboard.

For example, if your friend is a host, a stylish glass wine bottle cooler or a set of matching table linens could be just what they need to make their next party a success. If they’re a flower lover, you can even buy them an on-theme gift like a wearable sherpa throw blanket or a two-in-one flower press.

Anniversaries

Anniversaries are special milestones that mark the passage of time. They can be celebrated in a variety of ways, depending on personal preferences and customs. Gifts for occasion are a great way to honor this occasion and to show your partner how much you love them.

There are a lot of different gift options for every anniversary. Some are traditional and some are modern, but they all should be meaningful. For example, for the first year, the traditional gift is paper and the modern alternative is a clock.

For the couple that loves to take pictures, a stylish photo display would be the perfect gift. This one can store up to 30 photos and has a heart-shaped design that will make them smile every time they use it.

Diwali

The Diwali holiday is a celebration of light and prosperity. It’s also a time for family and friends to gather together. In preparation for this festive season, many Hindus clean and declutter their homes in anticipation of the goddess Lakshmi’s visit. She is believed to bring wealth and prosperity if she finds a clean, welcoming place.

Gifts that encourage creativity are always well-received, such as this art and craft kit for kids or adults that includes everything needed to make a beautiful handmade creation. Another thoughtful gift is a scented candle from Raw Nature that’s made with sacred petals.

This specially curated gift box comes with a henna hand-painted tea light holder, a clay diya for auspicious lighting, and a personalized card. Add a box of a favorite snack to round out the package, like barbecue peanuts, everything seasoned nuts, or sweet ‘n’ spicy snacks.

Baby showers

A baby shower is a unique celebration that honors a woman and her journey into motherhood. Traditionally, gifts for this occasion are practical, such as diapers or newborn clothes. However, many new parents also want to give their child a memorable gift.

A gift from the heart is always appropriate. Asking guests to bring a personal gift shows you care, and it can also help them find the perfect present. Alternatively, you can request no Gifts for occasion Liverpool on the invitation and let guests know that they are welcome to attend anyway.

For a fun, DIY activity at a baby shower, ask guests to write a wish for the mother-tobe on a small rock. These personalized rocks will be a lasting keepsake and make for a fun conversation piece.

Weddings

Wedding gifts are often a bit of a mystery when it comes to what and when to buy. According to etiquette experts, it's appropriate for guests to spend up to $200 on a gift. They also recommend sending it as close to the wedding day as possible, so that it arrives before or during their big day.

If you know the couple well, a personalized gift can be a thoughtful choice. You can choose from a variety of options that incorporate their initials or a special date, such as this engraved tumbler.

Gin lovers will love this subscription, which sends them a bottle of craft gin along with tonics, garnishes and sweet and savoury treats. Each box is a little surprise that will give them something to look forward to each month.

[violetrainbow412-blog]

Fluff ☼

Angst ►

Smut *

Under the rain ►

Sirius arrives at your house soaking wet after not knowing where else to go

Chemistry ☼

You and Sirius can't stand each other and during game night Remus decides to do something about it to prove it's not true

Puppy ☼

After a bad day you decide to talk to a cute puppy you find at home. After all, he can't tell anyone, right?

Baby ☼

Sirius is in charge of taking care of Harry for a few hours, but not everything goes as he expects

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! ☼

Just Sirius being a sexy bisexual ABBA fan

Stars ☼ (unfolds months after 'Under the rain', but can be read as a standalone)

Sirius tells you about the star for which he is named

Escape ☼

You are engaged to Regulus, but no one expects you to secretly kiss his brother, who comes up with an absolutely crazy idea

Like a rockstar (rock band!au) ►

Sirius wants to be a rockstar and tries too hard to be one, even if that includes being a jerk.

Fortune cookies ☼

Turns out someone messes with your fortune a bit, which conveniently includes Sirius

In the middle of the war ►

The wizarding war is taking too many people and you can't bear the thought that it might take your Sirius too

In the middle of the war part 2 ►

When Sirius finally wakes up, you talk about certain things that you may have inadvertently let slip when he was unconscious

Bad jokes, good kisses ☼

You need to study for your exams, but Sirius tries hard to distract you so you can rest

Hell and heaven (good omens!au) ☼

An angel and a devil cannot be friends under any circumstances… much less fall in love

Hell and heaven part 2 (good omens!au) ►

You have to make a difficult and horrible decision regarding your friendship with a demon. Can you do it?

Socks ☼

Sirius is all black clothes, except for one thing

She's not afraid ►

You are a bit afraid of commitment, so you always take a step back every time Sirius takes a step forward

Birthday (Slytherin!reader) ►

There are some problems between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. Sirius must choose between maintaining his prejudices and you

Birthday part 2 (Slytherin!reader) ►

You celebrate your birthday with a party that dear Regulus organized for you. Sirius wants to fix things

Always you ►☼

Sirius and you are looking for in other people what you have always had in you

18th June [letter to Sirius Black] ►

After a year of losing it, you write a letter to your lost love

Camp ☼

The marauders and company go camping. Sirius and you are fighting 24 hours a day and that trip was no exception, until you have to face something in the forest that you did not expect at all

Friday, I'm in love ►☼

Sirius lost Remus and he is devastated. Until he meets his new neighbor and things start to get a little better

Confessions ☼

You are a Death Eater who fights with Sirius. Until he says something, you don't know if it's just to distract you or because he really means it

Signs ☼

No way are you going to date a scorpio

Makeup (plus size!reader) ☼

You feel insecure about your makeup when you go out with your new neighbor Sirius, but he helps you with it

Tiktok star ☼

Sirius opens a Tiktok account. There's not much to explain

Home ☼

Just a sweet scene of you coming home from work to share a bed with Sirius

Reunion ►

Sirius and you stopped being something a long time ago. That doesn't stop him from calling you when he ends up at the police station. And that doesn't stop you from going for him either

Halloween 🎃

Sirius dresses up as Harry Styles for a costume party and hates everyone for not knowing who he is

Problems (good omens!au)

You are a demon and unwittingly you hear a very particular opinion of Sirius about yours

Only for the brave

Imagine Sirius embarrassed of his laugh

Do you want wine instead? gin makes you a little bitchy

Jealousy

Wedding

November third (headcanon)

I would not do that to you

Valentine headcanons

Kissing in a stairwell, giving them an artificial height difference + Deep kisses where they have their hands tangled in each other’s hair to pull them closer

[glowingbadger]

Hi…I came running as soon as the request opened. I just had my bday and would love a…Sylvain modern day nsfw / SFW fic about celebrating his s/o bday pls? Thanks a bunch.

Yes indeed! Sorry my requests are so backed up that it took me a while to get to this lol but I hope you had a lovely birthday!

Sylvain (FE3H) x AFAB Reader (no pronouns)

Birthday fluff & smut - Modern AU

NSFW 18+

"Hand over your controller, you're banned from the next round," Felix scowls with an intensity hardly suited to a game of Smash Bros, but Sylvain merely grins as he rolls his eyes.

"It's not my fault you can't time your shield properly," Sylvain says as he tosses his controller towards Mercedes, who fumbles it a bit on contact, "But fine, if you guys can't handle my masterful strategies, then go play in the kiddie pool with each other for a bit."

You give your boyfriend a skeptical grin as he wraps an arm around your waist beside you, seemingly oblivious to the stream of critical comments regarding his "masterful strategies." The general consensus is that they were cheap and repetitive at best, but Ingrid does remind everyone that they should have expected Sylvain to go to such lengths to win in front of you.

Annette leans back over the arm of the couch to look up at the two of you,

"Hey Sylvain, since you've been dishonorably discharged, mind grabbing us some refills?"

"'Dishonorably discharged,' c'mon-" he scoffs, looking to you for backup, but before you can chime in, Ingrid adds,

"Formally exiled?"

Followed by,

"Kindly instructed to piss off," from a still very irritated Felix. Sylvain throws his hands up and sighs,

"Fine, fine, another round of drinks from your humble servant," he nudges you on his way to the stairs, "Mind giving me a hand? We're looking at eight or nine drinks."

"And be an accomplice to a known criminal?" You reply with a smirk, though you do follow to help nonetheless.

You can't remember the last time you felt so naturally warm and giddy. Sylvain can be a terrible tease, and sometimes more flippant than you'd like- but there's no doubt in your mind that he cherishes you, especially given all he'd arranged for your birthday. By some miracle, he'd managed to get all of your mutual friends to schedule time that weekend to spend at a rented cabin ("cabin" only in the loosest sense of the word- it's more of a rustic mansion), sharing drinks and food, games and movies, and enough dumb jokes that your face is already sore from laughter. You hadn't expected him to go to such lengths for your birthday, and if you did dare to imagine how he would choose to celebrate, you'd assumed it would be something more traditionally romantic. But frankly, that he'd instead chosen to surround you with your friends showed that he understood you better than perhaps you'd even considered.

Not to say you haven't been quite pleased with the moments of alone time that the two of you have stolen among the celebrations. And judging by the sideways glance he sends your direction as you follow him up the stairs from the basement, he has something similar in mind for you right now.

As you reach the kitchenette area, you mumble to yourself,

"Okay, it was Pilsner for Ingrid and Dimitri, gin and tonic for Dedue-"

"C'mere, you," Sylvain says in a low and devious tone as he tugs you to him by the waist. He cuts off your coy laughter with his lips on yours. Strong hands run up your sides as he pushes you against the nearest wall, and the sound of your friends downstairs immediately fades from your mind. With a soft moan, you part your lips for his tongue, as skillful as ever as it runs against yours, sensually exploring your mouth. Then, you feel his hand grab at your ass, shamelessly enjoying the feeling of your flesh filling out his palm and then some. He gives a low groan, and his kisses begin to trail away from your lips and along your jawline. Already panting despite yourself, you cling to the front of his t-shirt and manage to say,

"Sylvain-! The... the others will notice- we don't have time..."

"No time to spoil the guest of honor on their own birthday?" he whispers against your ear, "Just try me. You won't last more than five minutes."

His fingers play coyly at the hem of your shorts, but his lips part from you as he awaits your go-ahead. You give a slanted smile and say,

"You win one round of Smash and get all cocky. Fine, just try it- but if it takes too long, we have to go b-"

Before you can finish, he's lifted you into his arms, only to set you down, sitting on the nearest countertop. Sylvain catches you in one more deep, impassioned kiss, pulling yet another gasping moan from you. Your thighs grip around his hips, but he suddenly breaks from you, leaving your very-kissed lips slightly parted. Then, he tugs your shorts and panties down your legs at once, and lowers onto his knees.

"Sylvain!" you gasp out, though you do lean back and angle yourself for him as his head dips between your parted thighs. Your boyfriend wastes no time- in an instant, the heat of his mouth is on your clit and the surrounding sensitive flesh. Throwing your head back, you moan aloud, glad that the TV downstairs is so loud and your friends are shouting and jeering their way through their next match. Without a thought, your fingers tangle through his fiery hair, urging him on as his tongue pulses eagerly against your stiffened clit. Sylvain's hands grip your thighs as he presses himself against you, servicing you near obsessively. It seems he meant to make good on that "no more than five minutes" threat.

The heat of his breath and the vibration of his voice send a shiver up your spin as he groans against you. For a moment, his tongue travels lower, teasing at your soaking wet entrance. You whimper, your hips pitching towards him subconsciously as he laps at your juices. He thrusts into you, and you gasp out his name, your fingers tightening in his hair. Still- he doesn't linger there for long. He can tell you're close. Returning to your aching clit, he buries himself between the soaked lips of your pussy, sucking at the tender flesh while the tip of his tongue flicks across the sensitive little nub.

Your eyes roll back, your legs tremble around him, and you swear that for a moment, you see white. With a final cry of his name, you grind your hips against him, urging him harder against your throbbing clit until you cum with a powerful shudder through your entire body. Panting heavily, face flushed, you watch him pull away from you with a smirk and a pleased hum. Once more, he drags his tongue along your slit, licking up your cum and savoring your taste and your little squeak of surprise.

"No... no fair..." you whimper out. Sylvain only chuckles as he rises to his feet with your previously discarded shorts and panties in hand.

"So? How long did you last, babe?" he prods with an absolutely insufferable smirk. You make an attempt at a disapproving glare as you snatch your clothing from him. At first, you ignore the question, sliding back onto your feet to dress yourself. "C'mon," Sylvain graciously allows you to make yourself presentable before urging you to look at him with a hand at your chin, "tell me how quickly I made you cum."

Your eyes dart to the nearby microwave clock, and you grumble,

"Just under four minutes..."

Sylvain's grin widens, and he places a sweet and soft kiss to your lips,

"Happy birthday, babe."

"That was... a hell of a present," you admit with a shy smile.

"Please, that was only a warmup," he says, amber eyes indulgently wandering your body, "Your birthday's not over yet, you know. You'll get the real present later tonight."

The mere thought causes that familiar warmth to bloom at your core, and you have half a mind to drag him away to the nearest bed here and now. But then, you both turn your heads at the sound of roaring cheers and boos, and the telltale banter of the end of another round. You and Sylvain exhale in unison, and he turns to the refrigerator while you take a moment to finish composing yourself.

"Right, so we're looking at two Pilsners, a gin and tonic, two rum and cokes, a cider, and... y'know what, let's just bring the wine down there with us for ease of access."

Sylvain rattles off everyone's drink orders as though he hadn't just interrupted his errand to drive you to a mind-numbing orgasm. You give an awkward half-smile and shrug, then come to receive as many drinks as you can carry. As he lists them off to ensure he hasn't forgotten anyone's order, you interrupt him by standing on your toes and planting a brief but tender kiss to his lips.

"Thank you, Sylvain," you see his eyebrow quirk upward and go on, "For- for planning all of this just for my birthday. And for the incredible orgasm," you add, since you can see him about to mention it, "but mostly for how fun this whole weekend has been."

Seeing Sylvain blush is a rare treat, but you're certain you can see that faint flush across his fair complexion at your praise. His gaze softens and he says simply,

"You know I'd do anything for you."

Soon enough, you're both headed back to the basement with arms full of drinks, moving slowly to avoid tripping or spilling. As you start distributing your cargo, Felix mutters something about the wait, to which Sylvain flippantly replies,

"Sorry man, beer can exploded, total mess."

"Dumbass," Felix mutters, though he receives his hard cider graciously. Sylvain glances over at you, and the knowing smirk he wears, tinged with genuine warmth and fondness, makes you all the more eager for the coming night.

[queenlua]

advice on cheapish liquor that i can just let sit open for maybe 3-6 months while i go through it, without it turning into a potion of regret?

pretty much every hard liquor will do this job nicely. no beer and wine really will, though, so uh, sorry if those are your preferred forms of alcohol

anyway, if you're interested in specific recs—

* bourbon: wild turkey 101 is my go-to affordable-but-perfectly-solid bourbon. it's very drinkable on its own, and obv you can always mix it if the mood strikes. my favorite in the "affordable-but-solid" category is eagle rare, but that one can be more hit-and-miss to actually find on store shelves. basil hayden's is also really solid, and has a bit more kick/spice to it than the others, and also, word about it hasn't gotten out to the bourbon nerds yet, so it's still reasonably-priced

* scotch: sorry, the scotch nerds bid all the prices up. i actually don't know many "value" scotches that are worth buying these days; have you considered getting into bourbon?

* gin: i keep a bottle of this in the freezer for an easy "cold drink at the end of a long day" kinda deal. i've tried a few kinds and i honestly can't tell the difference between most of them—i wouldn't go cheaper than beefeater but anything that-or-nicer is probably fine, especially served cold on the rocks, or as a gin & tonic. lately i've been buying aviator but that's mostly because the bottle is #aesthetic, lol

* vodka: it's not my go-to nowadays, but in general, so long as you're not buying the cheapest thing on the shelf, it's fine. like, don't get rubinoff, don't get the insanely sketch plastic-gallon-bottle regional brand that every college town sells, but smirnoff and up is fine. i tend to go for tito's personally, but choose whatever bottle's prettiest to you tbh

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Omertà👄4

Warnings: noncon sexual acts (sexual intercourse); tags to be added throughout series

This is dark!Bucky and dark! Loki and explicit. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your father was a bookie and taught you everything you know about numbers. After his death, you were taken on as a bookkeeper for Loki Laufeyson, resident crime boss in Manhattan. But can you keep your place in the background when a man from Brooklyn threatens to drag you to the forefront?

Note: You guys are awesome. Just thought you should know! Thanks for reading and following along. :D I am always so thankful for everything y’all do.

Hope you enjoy it. Thank you. Love you guys!

As always, if you can, please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

Aside from the colour, you were not a fan of the dress. The black number was little much for you; the long sleeves couldn’t make up for the length of the skirt or the strappy back. You were still unaccustomed to your new wardrobe and you doubted you ever would be. When you arrived that morning at The Attic, you’d felt like an idiot. 

After noon, you excused yourself if only to escape Loki for an hour. He hadn’t failed to remind you of the day’s meeting. Over a week and a half since the last. Just as long spent in dread. It was bad enough facing Loki each day but another to know you’d be book-ended between him and Bucky.

You went to a restaurant not far from the shop. You passed it now and then but never thought of stepping inside the ultra sleek bar. You did that day; a reluctant retreat. You sat by the window and ordered an organic juice and a salad. 

You rarely ate anything more than microwaves dinners and non-perishables. You often found yourself forgetting to stop and eat when you were at work and you gave little thought to what awaited you after.

You poked at the baby spinach and glanced out the window. The strawberry juice was a little too sweet and made your jaw twitch. You looked back to your bowl as you tried to hide your recognition. The man across the street; you’d seen him before.

It would be easy enough to shrug off his brief glance as coincidence as he walked casually along the pavement, but you hadn’t missed him as you emerged from The Attic. Or a few days back on your way home. His golden hair shone above his chiseled jaw and his bright eyes made him a beacon on the streets. He was following you and he wasn’t even trying to be subtle.

You left the last few leaves in the bottom of the bowl to drown in dressing. You took your last sip from the glass and folded the bills in the little leather folder. You stood and nodded at your waitress on your way out. The blond man was gone. For now.

You returned to the shop and slipped into the office. Loki wasn’t there and you were thankful. You sat and pulled out your phone. You pulled down the skirt which had a tendency to slip to your thigh. 

As you wiggled in your chair, the door opened and Loki appeared. He didn’t miss the little shimmy and smiled as he neared your desk. His eyes sparkled at you as his fingers rubbed along the edge of the wood.

“We should go soon.” He said. “But we should talk first.”

“Right,” You kept your phone propped up but spared him a brief peek.

“First, listen,” He reached over and tapped your phone. “Important. I tell you to do something, you do it. No back talk. It would be as bad for you as for me should you choose to undermine me in the presence of those men.”

You nodded and lowered your phone. You looked at him and squished your lips together.

“Play along. I know you’re not stupid so I know you can play your part well.” He grinned. “This man is simple; even you can rile him.”

You shook your head and swayed your leg as you crossed your arms.

“Is that all?” You asked.

“I shouldn’t have to remind you of what this world means; of the consequences of such repugnance.” He frowned. “Remember your father, perhaps that will keep you in line.”

“Perhaps,” You sneered.

“Well,” He drew away. “I’d rather this over with. I am not a fan of these places. Sad, really.”

You stood and tucked your phone in your purse. You slung it on your shoulder and sighed.

“Well, at least we can agree on expedience,” You said.

👄

The She-Wolf looked grim in the daylight. The neon sign flashed although the flicker was hard to notice so early. You followed Loki to the doors but he swiftly sidestepped a patron stumbling out. You watched the man, already drunk, as he wobbled away. 

You swallowed your discomfort and entered as Loki opened the door for you, the bouncers eyed both of you. He was greeted by a woman in a crop top and booty shorts. He looked at her as if she were a leper.

“Laufeyson for Barnes,” He announced. “Is there a man who I should--”

“Over here,” She interrupted him and his brows drew together. “Just by Tiffani.”

Loki hesitated but followed, his arm curled around you as he swept you along with him. There were only two stages in use and the bar was almost empty. Still the music buzzed and the dark room was swathed with coloured arcs of light. You sat along the half-moon stage as the woman offered you drinks. 

Loki sniffed as he peered around and refused. You thanked her but forewent the offer as well. Loki sat back and draped his arm behind you. He looked over at you and you didn’t miss his gaze as his hand flitted down to your dress. His hand snaked over and he caressed your leg just beneath the hem.

“Well…” He kept his voice low. “I am pleasantly surprised.”

“Stop,” You grabbed his hand.

“Stop? Ah, you know, I never expected to share tastes with Barnes but I might see a little of what he does.” He purred. “This might be more fun than I expected.”

“Loki,” You hissed as he flipped his hand and twisted yours back. “Enough.”

“We should’ve taken our time back at the office.” He slithered.

“I mean it.” You wrestled with him. “It’s not funny.”

“I am not joking, darling,” He rolled his R coyly. “And seeing as…” His eyes went to the woman spinning up on the pole. “He has such low standards… you’ve made this pleasantly easy.”

He shook you away and pushed his hand between your knees. He gripped your leg as he took a breath. He cleared his throat and rescinded his touch as he stood. Bucky appeared from a doorway along the back of the club and you rose too. He was flanked by two other men and they followed him to the stage as he smirked at you. He barely acknowledged Loki as he offered you his hand.

“Sweetheart,” He looked you up and down. “Mmm, you look wonderful.”

You thanked him softly and stiffened as you shook his hand.

“Loki,” He released you and extended his hand to the other man. “Early. As always.”

“We take our time seriously in Manhattan,” Loki gripped Bucky’s hand firmly. “It is, as they say, money.”

“Mmhmm,” Bucky withdrew and sat. His men stayed behind him, like statues. 

Bucky leaned his elbow on the table that lined the stage and gazed up at the now topless Tiffani as she hung upside down from the pole. He smirked and his eyes slowly fell to you.

“So, you thirsty?” He asked.

“It’s early,” Loki answered for you.

“Not that early,” Bucky insisted as he raised his hand. “What do you like? You seem like a scotch man.” 

His eyes never left you as the woman who greeted you returned. 

“Or whiskey,” Loki replied, annoyed that he was all but being ignored.

“And the lady?” He wondered. “Champagne?”

“That’s a bit much,” You sat straight. 

“Rose? Chardonnay?” He continued. “I have a rather extensive cellar. I could let you have a look if you wish.”

“We didn’t come here to peruse your wine collection,” Loki intoned.

“No,” Bucky slapped his hand on the table. “You came here to give me my money and to accept my hospitality. It would be rude to bite the hand, wouldn’t it?”

Loki’s jaw jutted out in anger and he nodded, a snarl slowly left his nostrils.

“Gin,” You said sternly. “Gin is fine.”

“Gin,” Bucky repeated as his expression softened and he turned to the waitress. “Scotch for my friend,” He waved to Loki, “And two gins. Top shelf.”

“Yes, sir,” She recited and her smile betrayed her attraction for the man. Bucky, despite his person, could not be called hideous.

“You know,” Bucky turned to Loki, his eyes strayed to you for a moment, “I was thinking of this new arrangement and while I appreciate that your men are working so hard, I would prefer a few of mine help out.”

“Help out?” Loki squinted.

“Allies, you said.” Bucky leaned back and pulled his thin lapels straight. “So we should work together. If I sent a few of my hands down to our warehouses, they wouldn’t be hassled, would they? Especially not if they were helping with our business.”

Loki swallowed. It was one thing to split up the take, but another to allow others onto territory he still felt was rightfully his. The compromise was temporary in his mind; a means to an end. A patient plot.

“Surely not,” Loki forced out. “I would make sure of it.”

“Very good,” Bucky smiled as he watched the waitress set down the drinks. “I will send them down tomorrow then.”

“I’ll make sure mine are aware,” Loki inhaled deeply and took his scotch. His other hand wandered over your thigh and he rested it there as he sipped. 

You grabbed your drink and swigged down a bitter mouthful before you could chide him. Bucky didn’t miss the movement and his eyes followed Loki’s arm to his hand. Loki’s long fingers squeezed and you winced. Bucky took a drink as he looked you over.

“I’ll take my money now,” He gritted out. “Drinks are on me though.”

Loki set down his glass and dragged his hand from your leg. He shifted your skirt as he did, enough to expose your upper thigh. You fixed it and Bucky hummed. You looked up as he shifted in his chair. He was focused on your lap and you pushed your legs together tightly.

Loki reached into his jacket and pulled out the bundle. He planted it on the table before Bucky who quickly took it and began to count. When he finished, he smacked the stack on his palm and then handed it over to one of his men.

“You like her?” Bucky pointed to Tiffani and Loki frowned. “The night shift is better. The girls are… skilled.”

“I’ve never been one for dancers. Or escorts.” Loki sneered.

“My girls are clean and I’d not call them escorts, they’re good company. Especially for men like us.”

“Men like us?” Loki huffed. “I don’t pay for my company.”

“So you must be lonely,” Bucky countered.

A tense silence followed as they stared each other down. Loki chuckled and finished his drink.

“Not that lonely,” He stretched his arm behind you. 

Bucky scratched his chin and nodded.

“It’s not always money you pay with,” Bucky mused. “Is it?”

“I have been told I am charming,” Loki’s fingers tickled your shoulder. “I’ve never wanted for much.”

“Is it charm or hot air?” Bucky challenged. “You talk a lot.”

“I won’t deny that,” Loki smirked. “But you know, a sharp tongue is truly a gift. Isn’t it, darling?”

Both men looked at you. You tapped your fingernail on your glass and chewed on your irritation.

“Truly,” You answered rigidly. “It must be.”

You lifted your glass and drank. Bucky watched you intently. Loki stared at him until he looked away and their gaze met. There was a moment of understanding; an unspoken challenge. You felt as if you were suffocating in your dress. You wanted another drink desperately.

👄

You left shortly after the pissing contest. You were glad to be away and didn’t stick around much longer at the antique shop. Loki was agitated and barely noticed when you left. Despite his well-honed veneer, he hadn’t been able to withhold his chagrin once free of the strip club.

The next day, you sensed little difference. He was silent, grumbly. He sat behind his desk and made the occasional call. He was impatient and bossy. He had Bucky’s men in his warehouses and he was talking his own down from igniting another war. Each call ended with a scribbled list of numbers for you to add to your ledger.

Your work was disturbed in the late afternoon. You heard Lopez in the showroom, his voice panicked as he neared the other side of the door. There was no knock as the squat man’s voice was left unmatched. The door opened as Loki reached under his jacket. He gripped his gun and watched the man who entered.

“No need for that,” The blonde man said coolly. He held a box and smiled as he looked around the room. “Just got a delivery.”

Loki scowled and reluctantly lowered his hand. “Delivery? Did Barnes forget something?”

The blonde’s jaw squared as he turned to you. He placed the box atop your open ledger. 

“Boss sends his regards,” He smirked. You said nothing as he nodded and glanced at Loki one last time. “To both of you.”

As quickly as he’d come, he was gone. You watched him go and frowned as Loki bid Lopez shut the door. You were silent as you shook your head at the box.

“Who was--”

“Rogers.” Loki snorted. “Barnes’ little lap dog.”

You were quiet. You wouldn’t let on that Barnes’ man had been tailing you. You didn’t think that would help with either of them. Or you.

“Well, open it.” He demanded.

You glanced at him and he lifted a brow. His eyes pierced you as you slid the box closer and let out a long breath. You rubbed your thumbs over the cardboard and carefully shook the lid free. The box fell to the desk and you set aside the top. You brushed aside the tissue paper and gaped at the swath of sparkling diamonds.

Loki sighed and tapped his fingers as he leaned forward.

“Do go on,” He said dryly.

You cringed and reached into the box. You hooked your fingers under the diamonds and lifted the glittering pair of panties. Your eyes met Loki’s over the top and his face paled with anger. Fuck.

[edenmemes]

peaky blinders sentence starters

❝ there’s no rest for me in this world. perhaps in the next. ❞  ❝ if i shall die, you shall die. ❞ ❝ did you know that madness sets you free? otherwise we’re all just peasants obeying the law. ❞ ❝ despite the bad blood, i’ll have none of it on my carpet. ❞ ❝ everyone fucking needs me. ❞  ❝ forbidding is forbidden to us. we can do anything. nothing can stop us. ❞ ❝ you know, it’s a pity. i was looking forward to killing you. you’re at the back of a long queue. ❞ ❝ the truth? you’re unlike any person i’ve ever met. ❞ ❝ i owe you a little something, don’t i? i do. ❞ ❝ the past is none of my concern. the future is none of my concern either. ❞ ❝ but there is a part of me that is unfamiliar to myself...and i keep finding myself there. ❞  ❝ i learnt long ago to hate my enemies, but i’ve never loved one before. ❞ ❝ who’s going to stop us, eh? nobody. ❞  ❝ don’t point the fucking weapon at me. ❞ ❝ why do you play games with people? ❞ ❝ i know your weaknesses. it’s freedom. madness. killing. ❞ ❝ i get really quiet when my mind is too loud. ❞ ❝ i’ve heard very bad, bad, bad things about you. ❞ ❝ am i laughing? ❞ ❝ you’re behaving like a fucking child. this is an adult’s world. ❞ ❝ i have found them. the person i can’t defeat. ❞ ❝ i’ll rekindle all the dreams you took a lifetime to destroy. ❞ ❝ it’s just myself talking to myself about myself.  ❞ ❝ those who fight by the sword, die by the sword. ❞ ❝ this is who i am! and this is all i can give you, for what you’ve given me. ❞  ❝ and i got close. i nearly got fucking everything. ❞  ❝ i’m not a fucking child. ❞ ❝ maybe it’s time you forgot about them. ❞ ❝ i’m glad i didn’t shoot you. it would’ve been a kindness. ❞ ❝ i will remember everything and forget nothing. ❞ ❝ but lately i’ve had a feeling. a feeling i can’t put into words. ❞ ❝ looking back, i have no regrets. ❞ ❝ you and i are opposites...but also just the same. like an image in the mirror. ❞ ❝ may you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead. ❞ ❝ i warn you, i’ll break your heart. ❞  ❝ i’m guessing that all the bad ideas around here, they’re you. ❞ ❝ look at yourself. take a long, hard, fucking look at yourself. ❞ ❝ i try not to fight. i try not to react.  ❞ ❝ my god. some devil gets into you, doesn’t it? ❞ ❝ it’s in the past. the past doesn’t concern me. ❞ ❝ don’t sit there in my chair and tell me i’m losing my war. ❞ ❝ don’t let two people teach you the same lesson. ❞ ❝ it’d be hard for you to walk anywhere with a bullet in each knee. ❞ ❝ who broke the mirror? that’s seven years of bad luck. ❞ ❝ it’s not a good idea to look at me the wrong way. ❞ ❝ i know that you want me to say that i’ll change. ❞ ❝ those bastards. those bastards...are worse than us. ❞  ❝ you have to listen to the voices you hear. ❞  ❝ intelligence is a very valuable thing, isn’t it? and usually it comes far too fucking late. ❞ ❝ i don’t have a fucking side. ❞ ❝ truth is, you’re going to be fucking dead soon. and then your starlings - they'll peck out your ___ eyes. ❞ ❝ all this time, our love still remains. ❞ ❝ you’ve got nothing to prove. you have got nothing to prove, and you’ve got a precious young life. ❞ ❝ look down on earth and see the seeds you have sown. ❞ ❝ yeah, there are rules for a reason. quite simply they have to be obeyed. ❞ ❝ i have responsibilities here, people i need to protect, and people who i love. ❞  ❝ if i had an important decision to make, i used to flip a coin; perhaps i will do it again. ❞  ❝ i just put a bullet in his head. ❞ ❝ from now on, you must do everything you want to do. ❞ ❝ i need you to be alright. i need you. ❞ ❝ you’ve got five minutes. ❞  ❝ i don’t think they trust me. ❞ ❝ what do i have to do to make people fucking listen to me? ❞ ❝ i found you. and you’ve found me. we’ll help each other. ❞  ❝ if you’re not gone from this city by tomorrow...i’ll kill you myself. ❞  ❝ i will never forgive you or accept you. ❞ ❝ feel sorry for me. it’s fine. ❞  ❝ i hear you want to kill me. ❞ ❝ you’ve got smart eyes, but you’re young, so you think that what we do is all right. it’s not all right. ❞ ❝ when we succeed, even the king will not be above us. ❞ ❝ you betrayed me. don’t be here when i come back. ❞ ❝ kill and kill...the only way to make people listen. ❞ ❝ the only thing that interests me is the truth. ❞ ❝ i know who you are. you’re a bit of a failure, aren’t you? ❞ ❝ listen, sweetie. ❞ ❝ look, i just wanted to say that you’re welcome to come home. ❞ ❝ who were you talking to? ❞ ❝ there is not a single day i spent without thinking of you. ❞ ❝ the end of a rope has been your destiny since the day you were born. ❞ ❝ i am emotional, i just don’t know what fucking emotion it is. ❞ ❝ those i can’t charm i can kill with my own hands. ❞ ❝ how soon did you know that i was not dead? ❞ ❝ walk like a king. or like you don’t give a fuck who’s the king. ❞ ❝ my fury is a thing to behold. ❞ ❝ men are less good at keeping secrets out of their eyes. ❞ ❝ someone’s responsible for all this fucking mess. ❞  ❝ let it hurt then let it go. ❞  ❝ it’s war you want, it’s war you shall have. ❞ ❝ you can change what you do, but you can’t change what you want. ❞ ❝ some nights it was you who stopped my heart from breaking. no-one else. ❞  ❝ when you’re dead, you’re finally free. ❞ ❝ i’ve told you to keep the doors locked. i could’ve been anyone. ❞ ❝ violent men are the easiest to deal with. ❞ ❝ who the fuck are you? ❞  ❝ the war is done. shut the door on it. shut the door on it like i did. ❞ ❝ he’ll wake up. granted he won’t have any teeth left but he will be a wiser man for it. ❞ ❝ did you know that madness sets you free? ❞ ❝ lies travel faster than the truth. ❞  ❝ you mother said: ‘it’s their cleverness that will kill them’. ❞ ❝ and i don’t care because i’m already dead. ❞ ❝ who wants to be in heaven when you can be sending men to hell? ❞  ❝ nobody works with me. people work for me. ❞ ❝ i never got used to seeing horses die. ❞ ❝ it doesn’t seem to change you. nothing seems to change you. ❞ ❝ that’s funny, don’t you think? a war about peace. ❞  ❝ you have your mother’s common sense but your father’s devilment. i see them fighting. let your mother win. ❞ ❝ today i killed three men. ❞ ❝ brave is going where no man has gone before. ❞ ❝ today it will be me dead. or you. ❞  ❝ do you think your repentance will mean you are forgiven of your sins? ❞  ❝ i will pour you some gin...distilled for the eradication of seemingly incurable sadness. ❞ ❝ my biggest problem? i notice everything. ❞  ❝ how many sons have you cut, killed, murdered? ❞ ❝ you crossed the line. ❞ ❝ you won’t tell anyone my secret? ❞ ❝ i heard you dress well. but now i see, not as well as me. ❞  ❝ fuck it. i’m not in the mood today. ❞ ❝ how far can we go with this beautiful dream? ❞  ❝ i’m not much good. you’ll find that out soon yourself. ❞ ❝ no, i’m not god. not yet. ❞  ❝ i think so that you don’t have to. ❞ ❝ we’re close. always within punching distance. ❞ ❝ i need you to understand that your best is not good enough. ❞ ❝ sorry about all that mud. and all that fucking blood. ❞ ❝ i was just explaining to everyone that, well, we’re fucked. ❞ ❝ when i do sleep, i dream. and in my dream someone wants my crown. ❞ ❝ the man we’re about to meet is the devil. ❞ ❝ there’s god. and then there’s us. ❞ ❝ i want you to acknowledge that your anger is un-fucking-justified! ❞ ❝ i am the first one who understands you. ❞ ❝ i won’t be on my own. i’m never on my own. ❞ ❝ i’m no gentleman. ❞ ❝ for those who make the rules, there are no rules. ❞ ❝ they’re not going to hang you. you’re going to hang yourself. ❞ ❝ last thing i want is silence. ❞ ❝ it’s not pleasant to look at and be around. i’m sorry. ❞ ❝ i am now able to just rise above those kinds of insults. ❞ ❝ today is for forgiveness. ❞ ❝ we don’t get to decide who lives and who dies. ❞ ❝ you don’t get what you deserve. you get what you take. ❞ ❝ i’ve dealt death. now death has dealt with me. ❞ ❝ so you shook hands with the devil? ❞ ❝ i am my own revolution. ❞ ❝ it’s in our blood. we live somewhere between life and death. ❞ ❝ i promised someone i would change the world. ❞ ❝ i will continue until i find a man i can’t defeat. ❞ ❝ sometimes death is a kindness. ❞  ❝ i may choose to stay here and just starve to death and choke on sapphires. ❞ ❝ i bet hundred to one...that you’re fucking lying. ❞ ❝ they are always hopeful, therefore they’re always wrong. ❞  ❝ oh, i do bad things. but you already know that. ❞ ❝ i didn’t choose this life. it chose me. ❞ ❝ you fucking stand there...you. judging me?! ❞ ❝ these hands belong to the devil. ❞ ❝ people thinking i’m going to fall, they start behaving in a different way around you. they start to circle. ❞ ❝ i wanted you to stay. and normally i get my own way. ❞ ❝ i don’t see the same thing in your eyes. you should get out. ❞ ❝ i came here not to make enemies. ❞ ❝ i love you and i promise i will keep us safe. ❞  ❝ you stay away from me, i’ve had it. ❞ ❝ you don’t understand the wicked way of our world. ❞      ❝ they say life is too short to hold grudges. i think life is too short to be letting people get away with the same shit. ❞ ❝ if only i could what? ‘if only you could change’. go on, say it. ❞ ❝ the thing is...i love you, not them. ❞ ❝ will you help me? with everything. the whole fucking thing. fucking life. ❞ ❝ why? because we fucking can, and if we can, we do. ❞ ❝ you remember that god spared you. but what did you do with the extra time that he gave you? ❞ ❝ if you take the king’s money, the king expects you to kill. ❞ ❝ do i look like someone who wants an easy life? ❞ ❝ and you...you’ve captured my curiosity. ❞ ❝ in all the world, of all the people, you alone i know i can trust. ❞ ❝ i know you like to be asked properly. can i have this dance? ❞ ❝ i rarely answer questions, is what i do. ❞ ❝ shut your eyes. go on, shut your eyes. now, come with me. this way. ❞ ❝ you want everything to be different. the whole world. ❞ ❝ there’s only one thing that can blind someone as smart as you. love. ❞ ❝ can you let me in sometimes? into your head. ❞ ❝ i’m not accustomed to being spoken to like that. ❞ ❝ and what fucking line am i supposed to have crossed? ❞ ❝ i know what i know, you know. if you don't know, then you don't fucking know, do you? ❞ ❝ drink the fucking wine and smile. that’s what i’m doing. ❞  ❝ you once said to me that people like us can never be loved. ❞  ❝ before the day is over, your heart will be broken. ❞ ❝ what do you think i am, hm? you think i’m a fucking idiot. ❞ ❝ we can walk away from all this. it’s so easy. ❞ ❝ to apply pressure on a person for this line of work you have to know their weaknesses and i know your weaknesses intimately. ❞ ❝ rule one: don’t punch above your weight. ❞ ❝ if i come for you, i will wear high heels so you can hear my approach on the cobblestones, and have time to repent. ❞  ❝ my brother and i are the same person. ❞ 

[i-am-just-a-kiddo]

Thank you @vishcount for tagging me once again, you busy bee 💞

This took ages but was fun

1. What is the color of your hairbrush?  black

2. Name a food you never eat. hard cheese? like cheese that is not melted, the only exception is mozarella and feta 

3. Are you typically too warm or too cold? both, my system is all over the place so it keeps varying between extremes. but i loathe heat so i am not a good summer person, i whine so much 

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? i watched this girl on youtube dragging onision’s book lol

5. What’s your favorite candy bar? hmmm i feel like i haven’t eaten one in ages but the one i remembered now is kaštan - the chocolate is so smooth, but i don’t have it often

6. Have you ever been to a professional sports game? i don’t think so? unless you count the gymnastics competions i went to when i was a child and still doing gymnastics

7. What is the last thing you said out loud? “enjoy your food” to my flatmate cooking in the kitchen 

8. What is your favourite ice cream? chocolate and lemon sorbet (or just any sorbet tbh) 

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? water

10. Do you like your wallet? yeah it’s cute, my dad bought it for me when i went through my kuroshitsuji phase - it’s fake-leather with the demonic sigil on one side and the japanese name on the other (also it’s hella battered rip)

11. What is the last thing you ate? pasta with spinach and feta (why is it with these i always eat pasta)

12. Did you buy any new clothes last weekend? nope

13. What’s the last sporting event you watched? am just gonna count street dance china here

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? just normal salty ones

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to? @vishcount as well, because i love them and i enjoy their screaming as well as screaming back at them 💞

16. Ever been camping? yes, my family and i used to go camping in italy all the time, it was so lovely. i miss those times sometimes. i’ve also been camping during festivals and the last time i went was denmark in summer 2019

17. Do you take vitamins? i take vitamin d’s during winter, and also eat oranges and lemons very responsibly

18. Do you regularly attend a place of worship? i do not, i only like looking at churches/mosques when they are empty so i guess i do that often 

19. Do you have a tan? no, and my mum keeps scolding me for my paleness

20. Do you prefer chinese or pizza? please don’t make me choose sob. i wanna say both, but i think pizza wins by slight margin

21. Do you drink your soda through a straw? not really, unless am at mcdonalds or somewhere else

22. What color socks do you usually wear? very colourful ones with patters!! since my entire outfit is black usually i love having cute/colourful/patterned socks (my recent treasure was provided by vishie and i sobbed)

23. Do you ever drive above the speed limit? i can’t drive

24. What terrifies you? the future

25. Look to your left, what do you see? my water glass, my crocheting, a pile of writing material

26. What chore do you hate most? emptying the dishwasher - it’s too noisy

27. What do you think of when you hear an Australian accent? steve irwin, i loved watching his show when i was little

28. What’s your favorite soda? coke or sprite 

29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? i can’t drive, so any other option

30. What’s your favorite number? i think eight but i don’t have strong feelings

31. Who’s the last person you talked to? my flatmate

32. Favorite meat? hmm fish and seafood (am 80% vegetarian so yeah) 

33. Last song you listened to? dragon tongue squad - chinese cooking (this song is so feel good and i love it okay) 

34. Last book you read? phew let me thing for a second. 

okay so i couldn’t remember the last book i read but i can name a longer dissertation called transformation and tradition: cataloguing chinese art in the middle and late imperial eras in by cheng yen-wen; and am working my way through an actual book called bronze and stone: the cult of antiquity in song dynasty china by sena yunchiahn c. (i feel like i don’t read anything else apart from uni lately - and honestly i am fine with that cause it’s fun) 

35. Favorite day of the week? friday maybe? 

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards? nope, we gotta sit here til tomorrow 

37. How do you like your coffee? black, in summer iced

38. Favorite pair of shoes? all my pairs of docs boots

39. Time you normally get up? hmm recently i have woken up somewhere between 9-10 but usually i take ages to get up so 11ish is a good time

40. What do you prefer, sunrise or sunsets? i loooooove sunsets in every form but i experience sunrises so rarely that it always feels very special and magical

41. How many blankets on your bed? one, and one for emergency

42. Describe your kitchen plates. bold of you to assume i have one set of kitchen plates and not just a jumbled mess of second hand plates and plates ppl have left in this flat ages ago. and honestly i wouldn’t want it any other way. (but i bought myself a pair of pastel pink and black plates from ikea)

43. Describe your kitchen at the moment. moderately tidy, for once it is not crowded and there are only some pots piling by the sink for drying

44. Do you have a favorite alcoholic drink? sparkling wine/prosecco, wine, beer, gin tonic

45. Do you play cards? no, only uno and maumau cause i suck at cards

46. What color is your car? invisible cause nonexistent

47. Can you change a tire? nope!!

48. Your favorite state or province? uhm. huh. i think where i live right now is good, the capital is its own province so that is nice

49. Favorite job you’ve had? i have only worked at one factory that produces measurement equipment and spirit levels for 5,5 months in total and i gotta say, it was surprisingly okay? i mean it was hell, because everyone is treated like machines, but i guess i enjoyed doing physical labour on my own without having to interact with ppl a lot; and with those i interacted they were really nice and you sort of connect through this atmosphere of being stuck there (though i guess i was most privileged cause i knew i would go to uni and wouldn’t be stuck here for the next 30 years like many others that worked there. i am angry about this, why is capitalism like this)

i am tagging @sassyassassy , @intyalote , @the-cloud-whisperer , @isabellaofparma (two in one day - i am sorry, my friend vishie is busy tagging me in all these so am just continuing this love train). no pressure though, as always

[need-a-fugue]

We Grow Together (22)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Tessa Sullivan (OFC)

Chapter Summary: Tessa finds a new opportunity... and Bruce gets wasted.

Summary: Relationships can be tough, especially when one person is a recovering-from-being-brainwashed-and-tortured former assassin and the other is an overworked mutant scientist. But hey, every couple has their struggles. Right?

The restaurant was nice. Tessa had been there only once before, and that was for a business meeting with Tony, Helen Cho, and a couple of potential investors. They never ventured out of the bar, though – Tony’s philosophy, Everyone deserves to be taken to a five-star restaurant. But it takes a lot to make it past the bar with me.

Well she had managed to make it past the bar. And it was amazing. “I really was fine with Cantelina’s,” she says as the Maître D pulls out her chair.

Tony scoffs. “Please. It’s your birthday.”

Bruce leans over to whisper to her. “Sorry. If I’d known he’d hijack everything, I wouldn’t have told him.”

“I can hear you,” Tony responds in a whisper of his own as he leans forward.

Pepper turns in her seat and looks to Tessa, ignoring the two men at the table. “You prefer white, right? Chardonnay?”

“Oh, um, yes,” Tessa replies, watching as the woman proceeds to order a $500 bottle of wine without a second thought. “Pepper,” she gasps, but is met with a silencing hand.

“Please,” the blonde laughs out. “This is the least that we owe you.” A serious look suddenly takes over her face. “Unless you really don’t want this. We can go to Cantelina’s… or wherever you’d like.”

“No we can’t,” Tony interrupts. “She’s wanted to have dinner here forever.”

“Yeah, but I can’t ask you – ”

“Ask? No, you’re not asking us to take you out.”

“Yeah,” Bruce intones, facing Tony. “You actually weren’t invited at all.”

Tony slowly turns to his friend. “You agreed that this was a good idea,” he explains as though he’s speaking to a small child. “We discussed this, remember?”

“We discussed taking her to dinner sometime in the future to – ow!” he lets out as Tony’s shoe connects with his shin…hard. “I’m just saying, you didn’t have to take over her birthday.”

“I’m not taking over. I’m picking up the pieces the Tin Man left behind.”

“Tony,” Pepper warns.

“Look,” Tessa interrupts. “This is all really nice…” She pauses briefly and looks longingly around the dining room. “And you’re right, I do really want to eat here. And drink that crazy expensive chardonnay…”

“Good,” Tony utters from across the table.

“But, you really don’t need to pay for all this.”

He waves a hand in the air absently. “It’s a business expense. I do this for all of the people I’m trying to woo.”

“Only the important ones,” Pepper says with a smile.

“You do know that I already work for you, right?”

“Yeah, about that,” he says, stilling suddenly as the wine is brought out and served.

Tessa literally sits on the edge of her seat until the waiter leaves. “About what?” she asks. “You’re not firing me, are you?”

“Not entirely, no.”

“Not entirely?”

Tony leans back in his chair and motions to her glass of wine, urges her with his eyes to try some. She picks up the glass and sips the dry, buttery liquid, lets the warmth flow down her throat, all while maintaining anxious eye contact with her employer.

Pepper watches the odd dynamic, notes Tessa’s agitation – and Tony’s amusement – and shakes her head. “Would you just tell her, please?”

“I was building up to it, creating a mood,” he says as he straightens upright. “But fine, sure, I’ll just tell her.” He turns to face Tessa and says without any ceremony at all, “I want you to run the medical research division of Stark Industries.”

Tessa wrinkles her nose in confusion. “There is no medical research division of Stark Industries.”

“There is now,” Bruce supplies from her left. She glances over to find him trying to hide a coy smile behind his glass.

“I don’t understand.”

“Next week, we are officially in business with U-Gin, which means we’re going to devote more time, money, and resources to that side of the business.”

Pepper interrupts to supply the business perspective that Mr. Idea Man often lacks. “We’re going to be restructuring the entire Research and Development sector. Robotics, Biomechanical Engineering, Innovative Design Technologies, and Genetic Medical Research. We would like you to lead the new Genetic Medical Research division.”

Tessa cocks her head, a completely dumfounded look on her face.

Bruce lightly lays his fingers on her forearm to get her attention. “Of course, this means your role with the Avengers may change a bit,” he says. “You’ll no longer be able to practice.”

“She hates practicing,” Tony blurts out. “I’m not a practitioner,” he taunts, repeating her all too often uttered phrase.

“You did an amazing job setting up the medical response teams,” Pepper tells her. “Now you’ll just need to select who you want to lead the tier one team in your stead.”

“But, you’ll still, officially, be the Avengers’ lead physician,” Tony assures her. “There’s a level of trust there – medical records and secret old injuries and such. You just need to… delegate more. Like I’m doing now.”

“This will also mean a lot more time in the city,” Pepper continues, eager to explain just how this position might affect Tessa’s life. “We’re going to redesign and reopen the lab in the tower. You’ll still have your personal lab at the compound though – ”

“For pet projects,” Tony supplies.

“For whatever projects you personally choose to work on,” she corrects. “We want you to continue your research. We just want to give you the platform to do it on a much larger scale.”

“But… why?”

“Why?” Tony mocks. Then, turning to Pepper, “Did she just say why?” Pepper only smiles in response, tilting her head in that I’m trying to be patient with you way of hers. He lets out an exaggerated sigh before turning back to Tessa. “Because you’re going to cure diseases. You’re going to find a way to clone tissues for transplantation. You’re going to help the human race… evolve. And I want my company to get all of the credit.”

She stares at him for a long moment, working to gauge his level of sincerity. “I don’t think I know what to say,” she finally utters.

“You should know, there’ll also be a ton of boring meetings, press conferences… board meetings,” Tony adds with a dramatic eye roll. “The bureaucracy is just awful.”

“Board meetings?”

Pepper gives her a soft, patient smile. “The head of each new division will have a place on the board.”

“The board? Of Stark Industries?”

“Tell me you’re getting this, kid. I picked you because I thought you were some kind of genius. Not me kind of genius. But some kind.”

She nods emphatically. “I get it. I get it. I just… I don’t really have the experience… or any experience.”

Tony scoffs. “You have plenty. And besides, I like to mold my people.” He pauses to take a drink of the wine in front of him, and he makes a face the moment it hits his palate. “Ugh. No. Need scotch.” He motions for a waiter. “Also, you know Dr. Cho and you’ve been in on the U-Gin dealings from the beginning. It just makes sense that you’d be the one to set up the new lab.”

“The new lab in the city?”

He turns back to her after ordering a drink and momentarily gives her a confused look. “No. That won’t be big enough. We just bought a 500,000 square foot building in Seattle. That’s where the new lab will be. Did I mention this job will require travel?”

“Only in the beginning,” Pepper says. “We’ll need you in Seoul for a few weeks to work with Dr. Cho and her team on the plans. And then it’ll just be some back and forth between New York and Seattle while it’s all being built and staffed. Though, of course, you can go there and check in as needed. And you’ll have access to the company jet.”

“One of the company jets. Probably not the nicest one,” Tony says.

“Your office will be in the city. But you’ll be able to remote in from anywhere, including your office at the Avengers compound.”

“Okay,” Tessa says simply. “I can do that.”

“Of course you can,” Tony says, clapping his hands together. “You’re a big girl now. You can do anything!”

“Tony,” Pepper breathes out as she shuts her eyes and shakes her head in embarrassment.

“What? It’s true. She’s finally an adult. You didn’t think I’d give a job like this to a twenty-something, did you? Hell, the last time a kid headed a division, he almost ran the company into the ground.”

“Just so we’re clear here,” Bruce begins, leaning forward, “that kid was you, right?”

At some point during the three or so hours they spend at the restaurant, Pepper orders some other crazy expensive wine, and despite filling up on the most delicious filet mignon ever made, Tessa is fairly tanked by the time she gets back from the city. Oh, wait, that might’ve also been the bottle of scotch that she split with Tony and Bruce after Pep left. Well, whatever the reason, the room is spinning like a damn dreidel the moment she steps inside.

“I got it,” she tells Bruce as he helps lower her to the couch in her apartment. She closes her eyes and leans back into the cushions. “I got it.”

“Yep.” He grabs two bottles of water from her fridge and returns to collapse onto the sofa beside her. Tossing one of the bottles into her lap, he lets out a long growl of a sigh.

“Ha!” Tessa barks out without lifting her head. “You’re drunk.”

He takes a long gulp of his water and simply repeats, “Yep.”

They sit in silence for several long moments, waiting for the world to settle around them. When she finally opens her eyes again, things are at least a bit less spinny. She turns to face Bruce. “Why aren’t you doing it?” she asks him, words only slightly muddled.

He blinks hard to focus – what had he done with his glasses? – and gives her a confounded look. “Doing what?”

“Running this new… thing. I know you’re Tony’s first choice.”

He leans back and gazes up at the ceiling. “I don’t think…” He sighs long and loud. “After my failed experiant… experent… ex-peer-ment… It isn’t in me. Not like you.”

“I’m in you?” she asks with a snorty giggle.

“You were made for this,” he breathes out. Sitting upright, he looks her in the eye, though he has to cock his head a bit to the side to dispel the slight double vision. “Don’t be nervous.”

“Don’t be nervous?” she asks incredulously. “Billions of dollars,” she exclaims, throwing her hands into the air. “One of the biggest companies… a board member?”

“Tony wouldn’t ask if he wasn’t sure.”

“He’s testing me.” She rises from the couch with a rather significant sway and looks down at Bruce. “It’s all a test.”

“Waxing poetical,” he murmurs with a sweep of his hand. “Life’s a test. You pass, you die anyway.”

She stares down at him for a long moment, unsure what to say. Then, “I’m gonna rock the shit outta this job,” comes out through gritted teeth.

“Yes!” Bruce jumps up excitedly… maybe more animated than she’s ever seen him. She stumbles back a few steps and lets out a raucous laugh. “Yes,” he repeats, less emphatically as he wobbles where he stands. “And I’m going to…” He slowly lowers himself back onto the couch. “I’m going to rock this sofa.”

[johaerys-writes]

Day 12: Watching the Sunset

For day 12 of @scharoux‘s @14daysofdalovers, featuring my OC Tristan Trevelyan and Dorian Pavus! From the as-yet-untitled Modern AU @oftachancer and I have been working on :)

**********************

The cold southern wind whistled through the narrow cobblestone streets, bringing with it smells of burning wood, damp pavement and fresh salt spray, mingled with Antivan spices from the many restaurants along the road. Dorian wrapped his coat tighter around him, shivering. He had been in Ostwick for months, and he had gotten somewhat used to the random bouts of rain, followed by bright sunlight, which was in turn followed by more drizzle. That drizzle was the worst; that slow, steady spattering, too light for an umbrella to make a difference, but that still managed to dampen his coat and the top of his head. It could go on for days- days that seemed grey and miserable and never ending, days that Dorian had become accustomed to. What he never thought he could get accustomed to was that wind. The wind that seemed to come from everywhere all at once, swirling about him, making the leaves and scattered papers on the street whirl in lazy, unfocused patterns. It froze him to the core, and made his eyes water and his lips crack, and disheveled his carefully combed waves. It irritated him to no end. How those dratted Ostwickers never seemed to mind that awful weather, and would walk about in the middle of winter with T-shirts and thin sweaters while he had to bundle up in layers and scarves was beyond him. Southerners. A bizarre lot. 

He muttered curses under his breath as he made his way to his flat, swerving past the throngs of people and laughing students. That part of the city was the busiest that time of day - the old Merchant district, that was now filled with bars and coffee shops and small restaurants, the scent of ale wafting from half open doors. Marcher ales were decent, if one liked that sort of thing. Dorian himself prefered wine, red and deliciously dry, for which the Free Marches were hardly renowned. Even so, the selection of Antivan and Orlesian wines was astounding, even in the tiniest bars. The Marchers were an odd assortment of people, that was certain, yet they seemed to know their liquor as well as any Tevinter. In that respect, Dorian had grown quite fond of the place. He wondered what else he might grow fond of, with time.

Muffled conversations and drifted from the bars and shops he passed by, and Dorian found his steps had slowed down as he glanced at the people gathered inside, chattering and laughing. He managed to spot a few familiar faces - students that showed up pale and weary at his morning lectures, dark circles under their eyes and steaming cups of strong coffee in their hands, yet were now rosy cheeked and merry under the influence of whatever brew they were sipping from tall glasses. His gaze swept over them all, never lingering on any particular one, when his steps suddenly stopped short before a small and rather dim bar, simply decorated and its chairs carefully arranged in a semi circle. The reflection on the glass window made it hard to make out details, but Dorian would recognise that hair anywhere. Light blonde, the highlights in it so pale they almost looked white, falling in soft waves around a high forehead and a sharp jaw. A strong nose, a stubborn chin, a small line in between brows furrowed in a focused frown. The soft curve of that bottom lip, curling downward, interrupted by the bite of white teeth, glistening as a rosy tongue was swept over it soon after. Glistening.

Dorian blinked, leaning forward to peer inside the bar. Yes, it was definitely him. Tristan Trevelyan. He hadn’t seen him in quite a while - not since Professor Walker had returned to the University, resuming the teaching of the Rune crafting course. Dorian didn’t miss much about teaching that course. Its preparation took up way too much of his time, time he needed for his own research, yet there was one thing in particular that he now realised he had missed. His TA meetings with the young Trevelyan had been entertaining, in a way that Dorian had never quite anticipated. Quiet and reserved most of the time, with a reticent gaze that always lit up when they talked about all the different elements of runes and their composition. Conversations about rune crafting could soon derail into deep discussions about history and philosophy, until they somehow found themselves talking about Rivain coffee and all the different reasons why it was preferable to Nevarran tea. Dorian had learned that Tristan was fond of pastries and gin, often in unusual combinations, that he disliked early mornings, that he abhorred scratchy sweaters, that he would much rather spend his summers by the beach than in the mountains. He seemed approachable, tangible, tactile, yet still so out of reach and understanding that Dorian’s thoughts couldn’t help but stretch towards him, almost obsessively. 

Without quite realising it, he pushed the door open, walking into the small bar. It hardly looked like a bar; there was no music playing from loud speakers, no overpowering smell of beer and whisky wafting off the tables. In the center of the semi circle was a small make-shift podium, where a young man was sitting on a dingy wooden chair, a book open in his hand. 

“...What is the true nature of the poet? What is the proper role of the poet in society? Is the artist a medium through which universal truths are expressed, or is art forged in the depths of the artist’s psyche, corrupted by flawed world-views and personal biases? What is the function of imagination and inspiration? Polmear begins by declaring that a poet has no self or identity. A poet, like a chameleon, absorbs the colorations of the outside world, becoming one with the things seen, heard, and touched. Poets should free themselves of their own limited experiences of the world…”

Dorian approached silently, taking a seat at the very last row, close to the door. There were only five or six people. Tristan was by himself, so far as Dorian could see, nodding absently as he listened to the man on the podium. When the man was finished, a woman was invited to the podium, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head, her eyes obscured by the thick rim of her glasses. 

"How many bards gild the lapses of time! A few of them have ever been the food of my delighted fancy,—I could brood, over their beauties, earthly, or sublime: And often, when I sit me down to rhyme, these will in throngs before my mind intrude…”[1]

Others followed after her, each one with a careful selection of poems. Some of them were quite enjoyable, that even Dorian could admit, others just sounded like pompous fluff to his ears. Soon he found his mind drifting, choosing to study the young Trevelyan instead. He hadn’t noticed him, his expression dreamy as he listened, gently nodding when one by one the poems finished. 

It seemed like an eternity later that the young man from before came to the podium. “Would anyone else like to read a poem before we finish for tonight?”

“I would.”

To Dorian’s surprise, Tristan rose from his seat. He shifted awkwardly on his feet for a breath, then made his way to the center of the semi circle. He sat at the edge of the chair, clearing his throat. Long fingers brushed over the outside of a small pocket book, its yellow pages contrasting the paleness of his skin. 

“We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon; How restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver, streaking the darkness radiantly—yet soon, night closes round, and they are lost for ever: or like forgotten lyres, whose dissonant strings give various response to each varying blast, to whose frail frame no second motion brings one mood or modulation like the last. We rest.—A dream has power to poison sleep; We rise.—One wandering thought pollutes the day; We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep; Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away: It is the same!—For, be it joy or sorrow, the path of its departure still is free: Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow; Nought may endure but Mutability.”[2]

Dorian’s skin prickled as he listened to his voice, smooth and slightly nasal, the soft timbre as it deepened, his tongue delicately rolling over the vowels and the consonants. Dorian was never one for poetry, but at that moment he would gladly listen to every poem in that book of his and more, if it simply meant listening to him. 

He was startled out of his thoughts by the quiet applause that echoed across the room as the poem drew to a close, and Tristan lifted his eyes, gaze sweeping over the faces there. And saw Dorian’s. And blushed. Dorian blinked a couple times, just to make certain, yet there it was. A rosy glow, climbing from his neck to his cheeks up to his ear, behind which a pale blonde lock rested. Tristan blinked back at him, his lips twitching in something that looked like smile -was it a smile?-, then he stood up, returning to his seat without ceremony. The poetry reading was concluded not long after, and Dorian found himself standing by the door, trying to suppress the flutter in his stomach as he watched Tristan sling his backpack over his shoulder and approach him. But why in the void would he be feeling fluttery? This was just foolish. Juvenile and foolish. 

“Of all the places I expected to see you, this must have been the very last,” Dorian said with a bright smile in the best imitation of a teasing tone he could muster. 

Tristan’s smile was reserved when he came to stand before him. “Likewise.” He glanced behind his shoulder at the people leaving the cafe. “You came with someone?” 

“No. I was just passing by and decided to drop in. It looked like an intriguing little assemblage. I couldn’t well resist.”

His eyes flashed with interest as he pushed the door open, gesturing for him to walk out first. “Are you a fan of poetry, then?”

Dorian licked his lips, stepping out into the chilly evening. He gave him a quick nod, and instantly regretted it when the fellow turned to look at him in awe. “Evidently, not as big a fan as you are,” he said quickly. “Although, I have to say, this was a very interesting reading. Which poet was it you were discussing, again?”

“It wasn’t a single poet,” Tristan said simply. “It was a feature on Blessed Age Free Marcher naturalist poets.”

“Ah.” Dorian shoved his hands into his pockets, looking ahead. “I lean more towards Tevinter poetry myself.”

Tristan hummed softly at the back of his throat, his steps falling alongside his. “Don’t ask, we may not know what the gods plan for you and me. Be wise, strain clear the wine and prune the rambling vine of expectation. Life’s short. Even while we talk, Time, hateful, runs a mile. Don’t trust tomorrow’s bough for fruit. Pluck this, here, now.”[3]

Dorian blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

Tristan blinked back at him, then frowned. “‘Carpe diem’. It’s one of the most well-known Tevinter poems here. I’m afraid I only know the modern translation. Did I say something wrong?” He stopped, searching Dorian’s face. Then, a small smirk curled the edges of his lips. The audacity. “You’re not a fan of poetry, are you?”

“Very well, you’ve rooted me out,” Dorian said with a soft sigh. “Poetry has never held too much interest for me, I’m afraid. Although I do see the appeal.”

Tristan’s smile widened just a hair before melting away, the tiny dimple at the corner of his mouth deepening for a blink of an eye. He walked on, his strides steady and confident, the wind blowing through his hair.  A faint scent of lavender and citrus flowers and… and something else that Dorian couldn’t put his finger on drifted towards him. He quickened his pace, catching up to him.  

“So,” he said decisively, “how are your runes?”

“They’re well. Multiplying, actually.”

Dorian huffed in amusement. “Enjoying Professor Walker’s lectures, I take it?”

Tristan shrugged. “They’re alright. She is quite knowledgeable. Although I prefer your methods.”

Dorian could have sworn his heart skipped a beat. So he prefered his methods, did he? Why did that make Dorian feel giddy like a besotted schoolgirl? And why did he suddenly feel the burning need to show him the full range of his methods, preferably while slowly peeling that snug dark blue coat off him, then that fitted black sweater that hugged the muscles of his arms, then those jeans that... 

He gave a minute shake of his head, swallowing thickly as he smiled. “I’m pleased to hear you found my method of teaching appealing, but I have you to thank for that. The lectures would have been significantly duller without your assistance.”

Tristan chuckled under his breath, that rosy blush returning to his cheeks. Or was it from the cold wind? “I doubt that. You have a way of captivating your audience.”

There it was again. That awkward little hop-scotch in his chest. “You flatter me,” he said, hoping his voice betrayed none of his emotions. 

“I’m not. I’m only stating the obvious.” 

His expression was serious, his tone as matter-of-fact as Dorian had ever heard it. “I see. Well, in any case, thank you for thinking so highly of me.”

Tristan shot him a sideways glance as he walked on, taking a step to the side to let a merry company pass them by. When they found themselves side to side again, his bottom lip was flushed, as if he had been biting it. “You’ve taught many classes before? In Tevinter?”

The mention of his country made Dorian bristle. He straightened, head held high as he walked. “I have. Quite a few different ones, in fact. I finished my doctoral thesis in only three years in Minrathous, but I assisted my mentors with many of their courses during that time.”

“Three years? That’s… bloody hell. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone finishing their PhD in less than four.” His gaze was thoughtful when it landed on Dorian. “How are you finding things here? Is Ostwick up to par?”

Dorian scoffed. “Up to par? Hardly. But I’d give them an A for effort. Or a B.” He paused for a moment, pretending to think. “An A minus?”

Tristan huffed a laugh. “Let’s settle for a B plus. That sounds fair.” Their shoulders brushed as the pavement narrowed, leading them down a small lane squeezed between two stone brick buildings. The sharp gust that blew through it smelt of sea spray and seaweed, and only then did Dorian realise that they had been walking towards the shorefront all that while. He had been so absorbed by the company of the man beside him that he hadn’t even taken a moment to think about where they were going. 

Dark grey blue waves frothed and crashed against the rocky shore as they stepped upon the wide promenade. Seagulls squawked and crooned above them, gliding with the gales to perch themselves atop the old carved railing. The sun was nearing the edge of the horizon, painting the heavy clouds in shades of gold and orange and violet. Dorian followed Tristan as he walked up to the railing, his coat stretching across his shoulders when he rested his elbows on the cold marble.

Neither of them spoke for a long moment. The wind swirled about them, thick and sticky with salt, while Dorian gazed out at the stormy sea, the side of his hip touching the railing. The way Tristan seemed so focused on watching the sea stretch before them, it seemed to Dorian that he had entirely forgotten his presence. 

“Do you miss Minrathous?”

Tristan’s voice drifted along a sharp gust, mingled with the susurrus of waves, was almost drowned out by the gull’s insistent squawking, yet Dorian heard it clearly. It was the last question that Dorian had expected him to ask, even though his time with the man had shown him that nothing about him was as it seemed. The question itself was simple. The implications behind it immense. Dorian wondered whether Tristan realised that. 

He always despised that moment, the dratted moment when the matter of his heritage came up. It always did, sooner or later, no matter who he was talking to. To the people around him he must have looked odd, unusual, outlandish even. It wasn’t like he could do anything to hide it, even if he had wanted to. The Imperium had been a looming threat on the whole of Thedas for centuries, and the tales that had been woven through the people’s consciousness were of charlatanism and blind fanaticism at best, horror and despair at worst. No one was bold enough to say anything to his face, of course, but Dorian could see their reservations plainly. He could see it in their wide, friendly smiles that quivered when they were finally able to place his accent, or after he had helpfully informed them where he had learned all the “fascinating things he knew”. He could sense it in the awkwardness that followed, thick enough to be sliced through with a knife. A comment would usually ensue, something about the weather in Tevinter, where it was summer all year round, apparently, or the fine wines that surpassed Antivans in quality and lay far beyond what their meagre salaries could stretch to. Idle statements, irrelevant, inconsequential, aimed at steering the conversation carefully around the elephant in the room rather than crashing head first into it, hastily changing the subject to something else. Something safer. More acceptable. As if the very fact that he came from Tevinter was a frightful affliction, and any mention of it had to be avoided at all costs. 

Dorian held his gaze on the crashing waves and the jagged rocks below them. “Occasionally,” he replied slowly. Cautiously. He stole a sidelong glance at Tristan, waiting. Another long stretch of minutes passed before the man spoke again.

“I’ve heard it’s a wondrous place. I always longed to see it.” He paused for moment, worrying the inside of his lip. “What is it like?”

Dorian’s ears pricked up, searching for the sarcasm, the apprehension, the hidden trap. There was nothing there. It was a simple, straightforward, guileless question. He took a deep breath. “It is indeed beautiful. It is unlike any other city I’ve ever visited.”

“How so?” Tristan turned to look at him, dark blue eyes glinting with interest. Once again, not a hint of mockery in them. What an odd fellow.

“The city inner is made almost entirely of white marble,” Dorian began, forgetting his hesitancy for a moment. “The marble spires of Minrathous were once the tallest buildings in Thedas. An architectural marvel. They’re still there, most of them. There are covered walkways all throughout the center, and entire markets held in loggias. There are hidden gardens everywhere, too, carefully tucked away. One moment you could be making your way through a crowded street, and the next you could turn a corner and find yourself in an oasis, with trees and fragrant rose bushes and fountains. And the bazaars…” He paused for a moment, not quite able to stop the fond smile that widened his lips. “The bazaars of Minrathous are the finest in Thedas. Of that I can assure you. There isn’t a thing you could possibly covet that you wouldn’t be able to find there. The gemstones, the exotic foods, the trinkets, the fabrics…” Dorian let out a soft sigh. “I could go on.”

“Please do.”

Tristan had straightened and was now facing him, his eyes wide with wonder, hanging from his every word. Dorian blinked, taken aback for a moment. He didn’t quite know what he had expected when he started talking, yet it certainly wasn’t it. He had been fairly certain that the younger man had only asked about his homeland out of courtesy, that he probably didn’t care a fig, yet here he was. Reciting Tevinter poetry, listening intently while Dorian spoke, eagerly awaiting more. Who was he, then? Where had he come from?

Dorian looked away, a breathless laugh escaping him. “Perhaps I should show you some pictures. I doubt anything I could say would do it justice.”

A smile, warm and slow spreading, blossomed on Tristan’s face. “I’d love that.” 

Dorian looked at him then, at the strands of flaxen hair carried by the salty breeze, catching in his eyelashes and his lips. Dorian returned his smile with one of his own, following Tristan’s gaze when it left him to focus on the setting sun, and its golden hues that fell upon the thrashing, violet waves. In the day’s waning light, Dorian could have sworn that his eyes had changed their colour to match that of the stormy sea below them.

“The sky puts on the darkening blue coat, held for it by a row of ancient trees; you watch: and the lands grow distant in your sight, one journeying to heaven, one that falls; and leave you, not at home in either one, not quite so still and dark as the darkened houses, not calling to eternity with the passion of what becomes, a star each night, and rises; and leave you (inexpressibly to unravel) your life, with its immensity and fear, so that, now bounded, now immeasurable, it is alternately stone in you and star.”[4]

The words were carried by the wind, whirled in lazily circles about him, cradling him, enveloping him. The promenade was now empty save for the wandering seabirds, and it felt to him like they were both standing at the edge of the world; two people connected by a deep longing for the unknown, and companionable silence. 

Dorian cleared his throat, swallowing through the knot that had found itself there. “Your ability to recite entire poems off the top of your head is truly astounding.”

 Tristan hummed in amusement, and the flush that crept up his cheeks was definitely not because of the wind this time.  

*****

 [1] How many bards gild the the lapses of time! - John Keats

[2] Mutability - Percy Bysshe Shelley

[3] Carpe Diem - Horace, translated by James Michie

[4] Evening - Rainer Maria Rilke

[averagemarvelbitch]

The Billionaire and The Mechanic / STONY

Summary: Steve is a billionaire who worked hard to get where he is. He meets Tony, the mechanic, and falls in love faster than he ever thought possible. But Tony has some issues to work through, and some secrets he’s clearly not ready to share, and Steve’s friends, ever so overprotective, are not really trusting of this strange mechanic who seems to have the billionaire wrapped around his little finger.

They soon find out that loving someone isn’t always easy, but it might be worth it in the end.

Chapters: 4/?

Tagging: @huntersociopathavenger @inmyownweirdworld

Read it on AO3

—

It was past eight when Steve finally managed to leave the office, tired and angry. His meetings had been a complete disaster and his head hurt from spending so much time with such egotistical, selfish people who cared about nothing but money. It never ceased to amaze him how awful these rich types could be. Maybe Tony is right, he thought to himself as he got in the car, slamming the door with a little bit more force than planned, maybe money really does turn people into fucking assholes. He sat there for a moment, hands on the wheel, just staring at nothing. A few weeks ago, after such an awful day, Steve would want nothing more than to go home, take a long, relaxing shower and just fall asleep watching old cartoons. That night, though, he found that his usual plans didn’t sound as good as they’d have weeks before. In that moment, all he could think about was burying his nose in Tony’s neck and holding him close. If he closed his eyes, he could almost smell the musky scent mixed with the accentuated smell of metal that exuded from the mechanic’s skin.

He opened his eyes slowly and found himself gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. Would it be too weird if he called Tony and asked to come over? They had talked about meeting on Friday because of Steve’s busy schedule, but… he honestly didn’t think he could wait until then. Maybe he shouldn’t. They’d been on one date so far and maybe calling today, just to sleep over, would give Tony the wrong impression and he certainly didn’t want that. The mechanic was special and Steve wanted to make sure he knew just how special he was to him. So, with a heavy sigh, he decided to just send him a text saying goodnight. He didn’t expect, however, to find an unread text from Tony on his cell phone. The message brought a huge smile on his face.

<<So, I don’t usually do this, but screw the rules. I miss you. Come over?

>>Coming right now.

Soon enough, Steve was spending more time at Tony’s than at his own apartment. It had become such a common occurrence that every day he would tell Happy to pack him a small bag with necessities like clothes, shoes and a toothbrush. He’d leave the office early whenever he could and go straight to Tony’s, where they’d shower together until all the hot water was gone and then eat dinner, talking about their day and their past and whatever they felt like it. Sometimes, they’d cook. Steve was a great cook, thanks to his ma who’d taught him everything he knew. Tony wasn’t all that great, but he was eager to learn. While cooking, they’d drink a glass of wine and feed each other pieces of whatever they were making. They’d laugh, kiss, and occasionally make out and forget something in the stove, almost causing a fire. It was fun, it was easy, and Steve loved every second of it, which was precisely why he was so damn worried about Tony meeting his friends.

Steve loved his friends. They were his family, the only one he had. They had been together for years now, always helping each other through the tough times and celebrating together when life was going right. He loved them, he really did. But Steve also knew them very well, he knew just how protective they were of him and he was terrified of what they’d do to Tony when they finally had him at their mercy. He knew they meant well, but… God, Steve liked Tony. In fact, he was pretty sure he was very much in love with the mechanic already. Even the thought of losing him made his insides twist in an agonizing way. The uncomfortable feeling must have shown on his face, because he soon felt Tony’s hand softly touching his leg.

“Hey, handsome. You okay?”

Steve forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just nervous”, he replied without taking his eyes off the road.

“Look, I know I’m probably not what your friends are used to, but I can play the part with the rich kids. Trust me”, Tony said in a mocking tone, although Steve was sure he could hear some apprehension on his voice.

“Sweetheart, you’re perfect. I’m not worried about that, I’m worried that they’ll eat you alive. My friends tend to be a bit… overprotective”.

“I get it. My friend, Rhodey, the one I told you about, he’s very protective of me too”.

Steve parked the car right outside the bar, still looking worried. “Just stay close to me, okay? And if they make you even a little bit uncomfortable, you tell me and we’ll get the hell out, okay?”

Tony laughed. “Okay. I have to say, I’m a little relieved”.

“Relieved?”

Tony shrugged, smiling. “At first I thought maybe you were embarrassed of me. You know, introducing the mechanic to your rich friends”.

Steve shook his head. He took Tony’s hand in his and kissed his knuckles. “You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. I could never be ashamed of you. Never”, he promised.

Steve and Tony entered the bar hand in hand. The blonde looked around for his friends and found them sitting on a big table in the back, Bucky waving his hands like a lunatic. Steve squeezed Tony’s hand, sending him a reassuring, although strained, smile. The mechanic smiled back at him, leaving a quick kiss on his shoulder before they made their way to the back of the bar. All conversation stopped as soon as they got close.

“Hey, guys. This is Tony Carbonell. Tony, this is everyone”.

A chorus of heys and hellos came soon after.

“Nice to meet you, Tony. I’m Clint and this is my husband, Phil”, the blonde man introduced himself, pulling his husband, an older man with brown hair, by the shoulders.

“This is Sam”, Steve said, gesturing to the dark skinned man, who promptly raised his beer in reply, “And these are Bucky and Natasha”.

“I gotta say, it’s nice to finally meet the guy who had my friend by the balls after just one date”, Bucky said, throwing his arm on Natasha’s shoulder. He looked relaxed, too relaxed.

Steve threw his friend a warning look. “Bucky…”

“Yeah, yeah”, he replied, “sit down, Tony. Hey, Steve, why don’t you go get your man a drink?”

“Actually, I was about to go there right now, so, Tony, what’s your poison?” Sam immediately chimed in, getting up.

“Uh, I’ll have a gin and tonic, please”.

“So, Tony, tell us a little bit about yourself”, Natasha asked, taking a sip from her drink.

“Well, I’m a mechanic…”

“That’s nice, that’s nice”, Bucky said in a tone that clearly meant it was not nice at all.

“… and I recently graduated MIT Summa Cum Laude. I was about to start my second PhD, but my parents died so I had to quit”.

A heavy silence fell on the table as they glanced at each other, unsure of what to say. Steve, who knew exactly what Tony was doing, smirked at his lover, his eyes full of mirth.

“But enough sad stories, tell me more about you guys. Steve talks a lot about you”, Tony added after a while, accepting the drink Sam had just handed to him.

Bucky was surprisingly well behaved after the whole “dead parents” incident. For hours, they shared stories, mostly about Steve’s childhood and army years and how they had all met.

“We met when we were kids. Stevie over there was my neighbor and he had the very bad habit of getting into fights he couldn’t possibly win. I had to save his skinny ass more times than I can count”.

“Skinny ass?” Tony had asked between laughs.

“Yep. He was half the size he is today, all bones and asthma”.

“We met at the army”, Natasha told him after, sipping her drink, “He was my Captain and one of the few men who didn’t treat me like I didn’t belong there”.

“We met at the VA. Bucky was getting his robotic arm; SI was choosing some candidates for it. He was the only one who actually passed the trials”.

At this point, Tony choked on his drink. “Your arm is Stark Tech?”

“Yep. Pretty good, too. But they shelved the program when it became Stane Industries. In fact, they shelved every single program that didn’t have weapons in it”, Bucky explained, flexing his metal arm, “I was lucky to get one before they did. It could use an update, but at least it’s still working”.

“I could take a look at that for you”, Tony offered, making Bucky freeze on the spot. “Improve it, if you want. My PhD is actually in robotics so…”

Bucky hesitated for a moment and Tony could swear he was going to say yes, but seemed to change his mind.

“That’s ok. It’s not giving me any trouble, so it’s fine”.

A loud buzzing sound interrupted the conversation. Steve took his phone out of his pocket and cursed loudly.

“Shit, I have to take this”.

“Go ahead”, Tony replied, touching his arm in reassurance.

“Come with me, it’ll only be a minute”, he whispered back to his lover.

“Steve, go! It’s fine. Trust me, I’ve had worse than overprotective friends asking intrusive questions”.

Steve still looked unsure, but in the end just took a deep breath, nodding to Tony. “Okay”, he got up, answering the cell phone while mouthing an angry behave at Bucky and Natasha.

“Ok, mechanic, so what’s your deal?” Bucky asked as soon as Steve was out of earshot, his eyes darkening all of a sudden, losing all the playfulness that had been there before.

“What’s my deal?”

“Yes. Let’s start with your name, shall we? Because we checked with some friends and Tony Carbonell doesn’t exist”, Natasha replied, looking untroubled as she sipped the rest of her drink.

Tony, on the other hand, was anything but calm. In fact, he was terrified. He couldn’t tell them the truth because, if he did, he’d have to explain a lot of things from his past that he was definitely not comfortable talking yet. Or, even worse, they could turn on him and tell Obie where he was, which would be a complete disaster. He took a deep breath, trying to come up with a plausible lie.

“I’m sorry, you checked with some friends and they said I don’t exist?”

“Our friends work for the FBI”, Natasha explained, “If they say you don’t exist then you don’t exist”.

Tony looked around the table. Clint and Phil were staring at him intently, clearly waiting for an answer. Sam, on the other hand, was looking down on his drink as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. The young mechanic felt trapped, like a wild animal locked in a small room. Before he could answer, though, Steve showed up and, probably sensing the tension, cursed loudly, glaring at his friends.

“Seriously? I leave for five minutes!”

“I’m sorry, Stevie. But Greg checked their database for an Anthony Carbonell and the only one he found was some Italian rich type who died before this kid was even born. So, forgive us for being overprotective of you, but this piece of shit is lying to you about who he is”.

Steve faltered for a second and looked at Tony. He didn’t look angry or upset, he just looked... confused. The mechanic didn’t know what to do. He was terrified that they would find out his secret, but he was also afraid that, if he didn’t come clean, Steve would leave him, and with good reason. And so, in that moment, he made a decision.

“I ran away from home. Well, not ran exactly. After my parents died, my legal guardian showed his true colors. My father left him everything we had, including the house, the furniture, and any and all inventions I had come up with. I had a robot, I built him myself from scratch. His name was DUM-E. He’s probably been destroyed now or sold for parts”, Tony told them, his eyes suddenly burning as the tears began to fill them, “My guardian threw me out right after the funeral. All I had were the clothes I was wearing at the time, nothing more. I couldn’t afford MIT anymore, so I had to leave there too. My friend Rhodey helped me out, let me stay at his mother’s place for a while”.

“That’s all very sad, but it doesn’t explain why the hell you’re using a fake name”, Bucky interrupted, earning a glare from Steve as soon as he opened his mouth.

“I created something during my MIT years”, technically not a lie, Tony thought to himself, I did create the Jericho while at MIT, just not AT MIT, “I put a code on it, something not even the best hacker in the world could crack. It was important and expensive”, and dangerous, “and I wanted to keep it safe from the wrong people. My guardian angel found out and he wanted the code. He came after me, tried to drag me home. I refused. According to my father’s will, though, I had to give him the code because everything I had was his property now. He said he would come back with some lawyers, get things straight. So I ran away”.

“Shit”, Clint whispered, grabbing his partner’s hand and squeezing it.

“So I moved to NY and changed my name. My friend Rhodey is the only person who knows where I am because he helped me rent the house I’m in. I’m afraid of what would happen if my legal guardian found me, so that’s why I changed my last name. Now, if you don’t mind”, Tony said, getting up and putting on his jacket, “I’d like to go home. Nice meeting you all”.

“I’ll take you home…” Steve tried, but the mechanic outright refused.

“No, I’ll call a cab. I’d like to be alone tonight. I’ll talk to you tomorrow”, and with a final wave, Tony left the bar leaving a brokenhearted Steve behind.

---

>>Hey, how are you feeling? Text me when you wake up, sweetheart ― sent at 6am

>>Tony, sweetheart, I’m so sorry about last night. Please, pick up the phone ― sent at 7.30am

>>Hey, it’s me. I understand if you need some time, if you’re mad at me for putting you in that situation, but please just tell me if you’re alright. I need to know you’re safe ― sent at 9am

“Knock knock”, a soft voice came from the door. Steve recognized the voice immediately. He knew he was behaving like a child, ignoring Bucky like that, but he couldn’t help it. He was just too angry to have a proper conversation with his best friend.

“Come on, Stevie. I’m really sorry, ok? I couldn’t have known…”

“No. You’re right, you couldn’t have known, so you shouldn’t have exposed him like that”.

“I was trying to protect you”, Bucky tried to explain, getting closer to Steve’s desk.

“FROM WHAT?” Steve suddenly shouted, making his friend shrink a little. He took a deep breath to compose himself once more before continuing. “Bucky, what were you trying to protect me from exactly?”

“I just didn’t want to see you hurt again”.

He laughed. “Look at me! I’m hurting! Tony won’t answer my calls or my texts. He probably wants nothing to do with me anymore and I can’t say I blame him!”

“Look, I just worry, okay? Or did you forget what happened the last time…”

“OH MY GOD! This again! I was stupid, I fell for the wrong person, I got my heart broken, BIG FUCKING DEAL! It’s happened to everyone. Or do I have to remind you of Connie?” Steve replied before covering his face with his hands, “How many times are you going to remind me of that? I fell in love, I got played, I was sad and I moved on”.

“Oh, come on, Stevie, it was more than that and you know it”, Bucky immediately countered, looking angry, “You were a mess! You didn’t leave your house for almost a month, you didn’t eat, you didn’t talk to anyone! You were a goddamn zombie! I know you like to see the best in everyone, but some people are just bad, okay? And when I found out Tony was lying about his name I got mad because I thought ‘great, here’s another Ophelia to tear him apart’. I was wrong about that, and I’m sorry, but I only did it because I care about you”.

“I know. I know”, Steve sighed. “Did I tell you my first date with Tony was not so good?”

That took Bucky by surprise. “No. No, you didn’t”.

“I showed up with a very expensive car, took him to one of the most expensive restaurants in New York. I booked the whole place just for us. And that’s not even counting the huge bouquet of flowers I sent before, or the chocolates”.

“See, that’s what I’m saying”, Bucky interrupted, pointing at Steve, “That right there. You fall too hard too fast and they take advantage of you”.

“Tony looked uncomfortable the entire night”, Steve said, ignoring his friend’s words, “so I finally asked him what was wrong, if I had done something that he didn’t like. And he told me that he’d had some contact with rich people before and that the only thing they really cared about was money so he wasn’t sure if I was worth dating. He asked me to tone it down with the expensive shit”.

“That doesn’t mean anything, he could be playing the long game with you, Stevie”.

“Why is it so hard for you to believe that someone could actually love me for me and not for my money?”

Bucky shook his head, “That’s not true and you know it”.

“I like him, Bucky. In fact, I’m very much in love with him. I’m happier than I have been in a very long time. And if you’re right, if he’s this horrible person you’re so convinced he is, if he does play for a fool and breaks my heart, then I’ll deal. Please, just… give me the respect of making my own decisions”, he pointedly said, knowing what that phrase meant to both of them.

“That’s low, Stevie”.

“She was always right. You said so yourself”.

Bucky unconsciously touched his metal arm, squeezing it lightly. “Yeah. You’re right. I’m sorry”.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to try and get some work done so I can leave early to go beg Tony to forgive me”, he said, turning back to the computer, but not before glancing at his cell phone, where the screen was still empty, with no new messages.

Bucky nodded and got up, shutting the door behind him. He then turned to Hill. “Maria, I need Tony’s address. You have it, right?”

She nodded, raising an eyebrow. “Maybe I do. Why exactly would you like that most valuable piece of information, Barnes?”

He sighed, glancing at the shut door of his best friend’s office. “I just want to fix the mess I made”.

Leave a comment and/or ask to be tagged // Feed my caffeine addiction

[sadienita]

Moonlight in Atlanta

Namjoon x Reader

Word Count: 922

Moonlight in Atlanta by Russ

And now im getting lost in time I ain't really got much on my mind Other than I knew it when I first saw you

It was rare that you got evenings like this. It was rare that Namjoon had free time. It was rare that he would relax.

But he had set aside this night to spend with you. No schedules, no events, no song writing, no producing.

Just you and him.

And a bottle of good wine.

You settled yourself in the living, admittedly excited as thunder rolled in the distance. You understood of course. Namjoon was busy and his music was extremely important to him. You’d never take that away from him and you always reminded yourself that it was hard for him to be there all the time for you. These moments still excited you, getting the chance to be with him, just the two of you for even a little while was precious to you. You’d gone out during the day to grab all of his favourite snacks and had probably bought too much but you would finish them off eventually. You had spent a while thinking about if you should leave the TV on or put on music and after deliberating for an embarrassingly long time you decided on music.

As you surveyed the living room waiting for him you braced yourself. Normally these sorts of things got cut short. Despite his best efforts to clear even a few hours he often got calls he had to take or situations to attend to. You understood even if you felt upset watching his sad, apologetic smile as he left early. He had made a promise that tonight was for the two of you even though you had told him not to in case something came up. He didn’t usually make those sorts of promises in case he couldn't keep them but he seemed confident this time.

A knock at the door pulled you out of your thoughts and you nearly knocked a glass off the coffee table in your dash for the door.

“Good evening, my dear,” he greeted you brightly with a smile, though he seemed to wet from the rain outside. You threw your arms around him anyway and gave him a tight hug which he returned, chuckling. “I missed you too,” he mumbled into your hair.

You led him to the couch to get settled and rearranged some of the snacks while he popped open the bottle of wine and poured you each a glass.

“It feels like it’s been forever.”

“Ahh, I’m sorry,” he mumbled apologetically.

“No, I know you’re crazy busy. I’m surprised you find any free time at all.”

He sighed. “I wish I had more…”

“I know you do. Your vacation always seems few and far between.” You lifted his face to look at you and surveyed it closely. “Some days I wonder if they even let you sleep.”

He chuckled. “Only on occasion.”

“Well you know you just worry,” you fussed. As much as he somedays rolled his eyes at it you know he appreciated that you cared.

“How did I get so lucky?” He asked, sipping back some wine.

“You’re going to get all sappy now?” You asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“I really am though. How you manage to have endless patience and be so understanding all the time is beyond me. With the amount that I cancel and flake on you-”

You shushed him. “I love you, I know you love me. I also know you love your job. What kind of a person would I be to make you try and choose?”

He pulled you in for a sweet kiss and when he pulled back he was smiling. “You’re really someone special.”

Your blush got swallowed, first by the quick, bright flash that came through the window, and then by the darkness that followed along with a roll of thunder. After a moment to adjust you reached for a nearby light and tried to switch it on.

Nothing.

You sighed, feeling defeated. You had planned such a nice evening and now it was all going down the drain. You ran your hand through you hair, taking a deep breath before Namjoon grabbed you by the waist and pulled you onto his lap. You squealed as he wrapped his arms around you tightly.

“Geez, Joonie you startled me.”

He hummed. “But even in the darkness I know that look. The evening isn’t ruined. We’ll just light a candle or two.”

“Correction,” you said, pushing yourself up off his lap. “I’ll light a candle or two. You’ll probably burn yourself.” You grabbed a few candles from around the apartment and carried them to the living room. Halfway through lighting them Namjoon’s phone rang. You tried to keep your face even as your heart sank.

“Hel-” he held the phone away from his face and all you could hear on the other end was screeching.

“Okay, calm down… No light some candles or something… You’ll all be fine… No, I won’t be back for a while…” he chuckled. “Goodnight.”

“Namjoon, you could ha-” He cut you off with a finger to your lips and pulled you back into his lap as another crack of thunder made you jump.

“I made you a promise and they’ll be fine without me.”

“But-”

“And besides. The only place I want to be right now is with you.”

Bottle of gin makes the mood right Babygirl you're looking like the Moonlight in Atlanta

[josephbreed84]

Speakeasies In Downtown Colorado Springs

The term speakeasy was originally coined back in the 1920’s during the prohibition era. Because alcohol was illegal, patrons had to “speak easy” or quietly while drinking at these mostly unknown and illegal establishments. Other unspoken rules and tradition often included exiting through a different door than you entered and perhaps even having a code word when arriving at the discreet entrance.

Today, some bar owners have kept the theme running, with hard-to-find bars tucked in alleys, behind a closed door of a shop, or underground with limited signage. Colorado Springs will surprise you with these local cocktail bars, and you’ll be sure to impress out-of-town guests by visiting one of the downtown speakeasies.

BROOKLYN’S SPEAKEASY | Photo Courtesy of Twisted Alchemy

Brooklyn’s on Boulder, 110 E Boulder St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

As the longest running and most established downtown speakeasy, Brookly’s is a local favorite. Perhaps because it’s one of the hardest to find because unless you know what you’re looking for, you could walk right by it over and over again.

Pulling back another term from the past, they’ve set up as a fake haberdashery (men’s clothing) store front on Boulder Street between Tejon and Nevada. The small display-window vestibule is the entrance that only about 5 people can cram into at a time. Ringing the small white doorbell will soon beckon an employee to slide open the small slot in the black door and ask how many in your party (don’t worry, there’s no need for a code word). It’s a popular attraction and limited room, so you’ll probably end up waiting on weekends.

BROOKLYN’S ON BOULDER Photo Courtesy of Twisted Alchemy

But perhaps what makes Brooklyn’s even more unique is that it’s actually the tasting room for a small local distillery called Lee Spirits (small in distilling square footage, but growing quickly throughout the state and nation). Lee Spirits makes gin and whiskey (a recent addition), so Brooklyn’s primarily has creative gin concoctions that will make you question if you’re actually drinking gin. However, that’s all they serve. No beer, wine, or anything else – just craft cocktail drinks. But don’t bust it until you’ve tried it. Their staff is amazing at helping you find a gin drink you’ll love based on what type of spirits and cocktails you typically enjoy. And don’t forget to go out the back entrance to the alley so no one knows you were there!

The Archives, 15 S Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO 80903

THE ARCHIVES SPEAKEASY Downtown Colorado Springs

After decades of being open, the popular Ritz Grill finally closed and gave locals two new options within the space on Tejon St. Upstairs is now Colorado Craft Social, a unique Colorado fare restaurant and bar. Downstairs became a trendy speakeasy called The Archives, “serving craft libations and late night food” according to their website. Their drinks tend to have roots in classic cocktails, but a talented mixologist twist make these libations modern day favorites. It’s the largest of the speakeasies in Colorado Springs, and probably the best place for food as most others serve light snacks, cheese boards, etc.

Although you can enter through Colorado Craft upstairs while it’s open, during the late night you’ll have to use the alley entrance just around the corner off Tejon Street from Colorado Craft Social.https://www.thearchivescos.com/

Allusion Speakeasy

Allusion Speakeasy, 323 N Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Tucked in the back of Rooster’s House of Ramen Restaurant, you’ll (hopefully) find a discreet door along the back wall. Formerly the location of Sakura, a Japanese themed cocktail bar, Allusion is the smallest of all the speakeasies in Colorado Springs both in staff and square footage. Because of this same reason, Sakura abruptly closed when the head bartender left to work at The Archives and even took some staff along with him. Now, Allusion has twisted the same small space into a totally new concept. In fact, Allusion has one of the best concepts for keeping customer coming back. The theme and concept change every quarter including new cocktails and even decor. Whether you like fantasy, fiction, folklore or much more, you’ll find a theme you like at Allusion. If not, check back in 3 months! https://www.allusionbar.com/

SHAME & REGRET SPEAKEASY | Photo Courtesy of Twisted Alchemy

Shame and Regret, 15 East Bijou Street, Suite C, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

This alley-only access cocktail bar was formerly the 15C Cigar and Martini Bar, which was only recognized by a small blue light over the door. Now, additional windows and signage have been added, but it still only accessible from the alley on Bijou Street, between Cascade Ave and Tejon St.

The low-lit bar (now smoke-free) includes red upholstered booths, which brighten up the mostly black-wall space. Local art decorates the walls (much of it from the Modbo Art Gallery located directly across the alley). Think trendy and classy, but also secretive and intimate like a place you might feel shame and regret later that night based on how many cocktails you indulge in. https://www.facebook.com/shameandregret/

No matter which Colorado Springs speakeasy you choose, reservations are highly recommended, or at least be sure to check their hours. Some speakeasies are only open on certain days as well. As with any craft cocktail bar, take time to enjoy the quality and the art of creating custom cocktails. Most of all, discover something new and bring your friends to one of these hidden gems.

Source: https://www.peakdream.com/2019/05/speakeasies-in-downtown-colorado-springs/ from Berkshire Hathaway Rocky Mountain Realtors Colorado Springs https://peakdream1.wordpress.com/2019/05/15/speakeasies-in-downtown-colorado-springs/

[barinacraft]

Valentine's Day Cocktails - Romantic Drinks & Love Potions

What's The Most Romantic Drink For Valentine's Day?

That depends on your Valentine and what you're both in the mood for. Champagne and wine paired with chocolate and strawberries are some of Cupid's classic choices as amorous aphrodisiacs for V Day. However, the names, colors and/or ingredients in the collection of romantic drinks listed below make all these love potions potations great choices as Valentine's Day themed cocktails too.

Valentine's Day Cocktail Ideas

Affinity - [uh-fin-i-tee] A natural liking or attraction to someone which may have already, or will, result in falling in love and getting married to that person. That textbook dictionary definition is synonymous with Valentine's Day couples subject to Cupid's arrow. The modern version of this cocktail is a marriage of French and Italian vermouths to scotch whisky dashed with bitters. How sweet it is.

Barbara - This decadent dessert drink is a creamy, chocolaty cocktail mixed with vodka, white creme de cacao and cream.

Bellini - Is your Valentine as pretty as a peach? Then complement her beauty with this brunch favorite made with peach puree and Prosecco Italian sparkling wine.

Between The Sheets - This sensually suggestive sip is a Sidecar for sweethearts with equal parts rum, brandy, orange liqueur and lemon juice.

Cherry Blossom - The bright red from grenadine's pomegranate syrup and the brandied cherries form a flowering beverage blooming in crimson color for passionate picnicking under the celebrated Japanese tree.

Cupid Cocktail - Named after the Roman mythological god of desire, attraction and affection, this erotic love potion is a Sherry Flip spiced with red hot cayenne pepper instead of nutmeg.

Jayne Mansfield - This blonde bombshell was the February 1955 Playboy Playmate of the Month and her signature drink combines rum with strawberries and champagne. Just add a gift box of milk chocolates for a taste trifecta.

Love Potion #9 - You'd think that when you heard the Clovers sing about Madam Rue bottling this drink in her sink that some bathtub gin would be portioned into her potion. That's not the case though. There are so many to choose from that it's hard to decide, but a few of the formulas we love feature vodka and peach schnapps with either blood orange or pink grapefruit juice. Suggest you pour your favorite in a ratio of 3:1:3 and garnish with a strawberry for sip starters.

Niagara Falls - Are you proposing marriage on Valentine's Day? Then raise a toast to your bride to be with this drink. It honors the collective name for the three waterfalls that border the United States and Canada between the province of Ontario and the state of New York, one of which is Bridal Veil Falls. Made with vodka, orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and ginger ale, this misty mixer will shower her with additional tears of joy after you've popped the question.

Old Fashioned - If you love old fashioned romance and courting then you should value this drink as part of your date night with your valentine.

Poinsettia - The combination of orange liqueur, cranberry juice and champagne are a perfect pairing for passion. Why would you leave this red cocktail only on your list of Christmas holiday drinks?

Rose - “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet...” ~ Juliet, in reference to Romeo's house, Montague. Along with hearts, cupid, lovebirds, doves, love knots, laces and more, roses are a popular Valentine's Day symbol which you can include as flowing flowers with these romantic recipes.

Valentino - Although it sounds like its related to Valentine's Day, this cocktail actually honors Rudolph Valentino, the Italian born silent film star known as the Latin Lover. However, the Campari in this Negroni variation gives this modern classic its bittersweet flavor and ruby red color which paired with the actor's on screen reputation is perfect for the occasion. The Americano which is minus the gin with a splash of club soda is a lighter version of the two.

What Valentine's Day drink does your sweetheart love?

[jasperwoke]

Sarri

“That’s the last one Sarri”

“You sure? You only have, let’s see, three more I could def-“

“Look man - god - I really gotta get going. I appreciate it and all but I actually got people to be attending to”

He shrugged. I didn’t mean to rub it in his face but Sarri got ridiculous sometimes. If I was immortalized for four thousand years, and counting, Id probably add some of my timeline onto my worshippers. Not splurge their minutes on whisking eggs that I don’t even - I wouldn’t waste other people’s time. I can see why people gave up on Sarri. He gets pretty tiresome, not just for one lifetime but for generations on end.

I had a shipment coming in an hour. Had to be down by the docks. Was really wishing everything would go smooth. Two in the morning, middle of the week, we were in the clear. I just took care of transport, I did no cutting, sorting, just the middle man. I was really hoping I could just call it a night, especially since I made that moron the pancake batter he needs. I realized the more you pray to a god, the more shit you gotta pull for yourself.

Five ski masks and three M4 carbines, at the Newport river docks, at three in the morning, Tuesday. Life has really funny jokes sometimes.

“Hey Sebastian, long time no see”

I’ll be damned, I knew that voice. It was Old Pete that lived two towns over. He was the one that introduced me to Sarri, colloquially speaking. Showed me what incences to burn, what kind of fruits Sarri like. I was two days into the ritual when Sarri showed himself to me and told me he actually liked gin more than apples.

Sarri wasn’t the type of god that was well known or renowned; the kind that had people going to church every Sunday. He was the god that people would drink with on Friday night. The kind you prayed to every once in a while when you run low on gas and don’t have change. He had a few handfuls of people across the world, I’ve met two personally. Old Pete one of them. His followers were all shady, we all had our vices and needed protection. That’s what Sarri was there for, a tool for protection.

“Praying’ are ya? You think Sarri gonna come and save ya? I was here first kiddo. I was the one that put you on the job. I was the one that put you on him. Put you on your life. And I could take it away right now Sebastian. You know that. Tell that ship to start unloading right now.”

“Or what” the words slipped before I could think. I never had to fear for my life but Pete was the original. He was right, Sarri wouldn’t be here this time.

He snickered “you start unloading or I start unloading. I’ll give ya a minute to think. No rush” The men behind him shifted a bit.

I prayed hard as hell, harder than ever before. I knew Sarri probably didn’t give a shit what happened to me, he was nearly dead himself. Small town kid like me with my prayers and hopes don’t mean jack to a deity like him. But still I prayed. I put everything on that night, if he would just save me instead of Pete. I told him I’d clean his dishes. Buy him the best Soju our liquor store had. Hell I’d even give him a bit of my soul just let my body live let my blood stay inside.

“Times up”

I felt the metal guard press against my chest. I opened my eyes. The rifle pointed straight into me, square between the ribs. I guess this was it

/*click/*

There he was, with his smug grin and Hawaiian sandals. Piece of shit I wanted to knock him out if it weren’t for the fact he just saved my ass.

Pete and his men lay on the floor, shuddering. Deep crimson pools formed around their bodies, flowing from their orifices. I could see his hand still pressed to the trigger. Fingers clenched and knuckles white. Eyes blown clean out of their sockets, a gaping skull.

“Surprise! You didn’t finish my eggs so it took me a while cuz I was cookin up the-“

“Yeah I get it. Sorry, thanks. What do you want now”

“Aw come on man, don’t be like that. You know I messed with Pete pretty heavy, atleast show some appreciation of what I did. Definitely took some debating.”

“And what made you choose me? You don’t even care about yourself let’s not kid ourselves, why’d you give a shit here”

For a second I saw some hesitation in his eyes. A slight wince in his unfaltering demeanor. Cleared right up into his goofy nonchalance though.

“Heard you were gonna buy me some Soju. Can’t pass that rice wine up”

Yeah he probably takes up too much of my weekends. And yeah his inability to get drunk makes him a shit drinking partner. But I’ll be damned if I catch myself praying to a god that has to oversee 7 billion other nobodies like me. I’m pretty satisfied spending my life on this one. Saved me a lot of taxi fare after the bar.