#he commits to his new job at C&R

[foldingfittedsheets]

One of my earlier jobs in life was at a little pizza place. I worked there when it was first starting up. It’s the only job I’ve ever been fired from and it was because a new manager came in and cleaned house. Because my state requires a reason to be fired he said I used too much pepperoni. So now on job applications I get to write that I was fired for “excessive use of pepperoni.” Never fails to get a laugh.

Anyway! For this story to make sense I’ve first got to set the stage. This pizza place started out as the Wild West of management but one of the original investors was super committed to work programs through the prison. We hired a ton of ex convicts and they were all, to a one, super hyped on Christianity. Like born again for the sole purpose of lauding Christ with their every breath.

I hadn’t been working there long but I’d definitely noticed the Jesus bug had gone around, and as I’ve never been religious at all I tried to steer clear of the topic for my own safety.

The day our story takes place, I was folding boxes. Anyone whose ever worked pizza can attest, there’s so much box folding. It’s something that happens at every lull, the pizza machine demands box folding on a grand and epic scale.

On my right folding his stack of boxes was a guy wider than he was tall, made of pure muscle, Corey. He was newer on staff, and due to a stutter he didn’t talk much. All I knew about him was that he got hired through the rehabilitation program and had done time.

On my left folding was a tall middle-aged woman who loved to yell at me, Cindy. She and I rubbed each other the wrong way and had nothing in common, leading to a tense working relationship.

We folded boxes in silence. This was really my best case scenario as a quiet Cindy was a Cindy not riding my ass, and Corey intimidated me.

But the weight of the silence grew too much for Cindy, who finally said, “I really want to go to bible school.”

I folded a box. I had less than no idea what bible school even was and I didn’t want to get sucked into a religious topic.

On my right Corey said, “W-why, Cindy?”

“Well, cause I believe what’s in the Bible, but I just don’t know it all.”

He nodded sagely to this.

Cindy continued, “And every time I sit down to read the Bible I get real sleepy. And I know it’s the devil.”

It’s so hard to convey her tone in written format. It was delivered with the emphasis and exasperation of an inevitable inconvenience. Like, I just know it’s the squirrels eating the bird seed.

I froze in place at this pronouncement. My only exposure to Lucifer was Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics and I was trying to mentally twist into a frame of mind where The Morningstar cared enough about this one middle aged lady expanding her knowledge of the Bible that he followed her around cursing her with sleepiness when she picked it up.

I think I expected Corey to say, “Well that’s silly,” or something to acknowledge what a bizarre thing Cindy had just said.

Instead he said, “Yeah!” In a tone of complete agreement.

I didn’t look up. I tried to keep my face neutral at this development.

But something must have shown. Corey said, “You don’t believe in God?”

I shrugged casually and said, “If I did I wouldn’t talk about it at work.”

“C-cause it’s t-true. If y-you t-ry to r-read the B-bible on unsanctif-fied gr-round the d-devil m-makes you s-sleepy!”

I made a noncommittal sound and fled into the back room.

Over the next week it drove me crazy though. The logic of it wouldn’t leave me alone so finally one day when it was just Corey and I in front, and the restaurant was empty, I said, “Hey man, I have a question.”

He shrugged and listened.

“I really don’t mean this with any disrespect, I just genuinely want to know about the logistics-“

“J-ust ask.”

“Okay, so if Cindy gets tired when she reads any book, is it only the devil making her tired when it’s the Bible?”

His face went purple with fury and he yelled, “F-fuck you!” at my retreating back as I fled once more into the back room.

It will forever remain a mystery.

[emevergreen]

OC lore time (weird boygirl edition)

thank you sm for the tag @zoroarkthief!! I'm always happy to share about my wol :'))

Khed'a Dakwhil

—B A S I C S

Name: Khed'a Dakwhil

Nicknames: His adoptive mother called him cicada :> The scions will sometimes call him khedy (tataru started it and then everyone else followed). Aymeric calls him angel as a term of endearment.

Age: 28 at the beginning of ARR

Nameday: Second Astral Moon, 16th Sun

Race: Keeper of the Moon Miqo'te

Gender: Nonbinary, Genderfluid

Orientation: Bisexual with a slight lean towards guys

Profession: He's held every odd job you can think of but predominantly considers himself a white mage.

—P H Y S I C A L     A S P E C  T S

Hair: Dark brown bob

Eyes: Orange-Brown

Skin: light skin tone

Tattoos/scars: He has a scar of hardened skin in the center of his chest. He also has crystalline streaks going up his forearms. Both are a result of prolonged exposure to earth attuned aether.

—F A M I L Y

Parents: His birth mom is [redacted], and he doesn't know who his father is. His adoptive mother, Aria-A-Yan, was his conjury mentor when he was taken in as an orphan to the conjurer's guild. She was really supportive of him and helped him open up.

Siblings: None!

Grandparents: He heard stories of his grandmother but never knew her.

In-laws and Other: I really like him with Aymeric and considering the end of Heavensward, he's not on good terms with his father-in-law. Lol. As for other relatives, he's very close with the brother of his adopted mother, E-Sumi-Yan, and considers him like an uncle.

Pets: He has a little bird that follows him around named Thistle. He befriended it on the road to Ishgard.

—S K I L L S

Abilities: Khed'a has precise aetheric control as a highly skilled white mage. Due to the condition with his body, he has to keep a careful eye on his aether. During his time with the padjal, he learned how to properly manage and control the aether in his body. He is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to healing. He learned self-defense techniques while among the padjal that later served him when he moved on to pick up lancer/dragoon as a job.

Hobbies: He enjoys collecting and brewing different teas. He also really likes going on walks, especially when he is in a new place or just needs some time to think. Khed'a has a journal where he takes notes on the local flowers, plants, and insects of an area (and will sometimes press flora in it). He also likes to keep plants, though as a traveler he's found that difficult to maintain. He has a plant in a small pot that he's kept alive by propagating every so often. Khed'a also enjoys birdwatching.

—T R A I T S

Most Positive Trait: His resilience and commitment to making the best of things in any given situation. He doesn't get discouraged despite it all.

Most Negative Trait: He's sometimes too willing to help others, to the point of stretching himself thin. He has issues with being objectified/being treated as a tool for others. He still falls into that role and struggles to properly adovcate for himself since it's a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior he's unlearning.

—L I K E S

Colors: Deep green, earthy browns, red, deep blue, smoky gray.

Smells: Freshly fallen snow, bergamot, chamomile, freshly washed sheets, a warm fire, flowers in bloom.

Textures: soft fabrics like silk and satin, freshly polished wood, the steadiness of a lance, leather, smooth pieces of metal (like jewelry or trinkets).

Drinks: He likes tea most, especially bergamot. He will also drink juices and lemonade. He enjoys hot chocolate as well.

—O T H E R    D E T A I L S

Smokes: Nope.

Drinks: He doesn't drink alcohol but he will enjoy tea :3

Drugs: Nope.

Mount Issuance: Black Chocobo gifted from his friend Haurchefant. He will also use the unicorn he befriended as a conjurer, or the witch's broom mount.

Been Arrested: Yes (Post ARR :) Aside from that he hasn't run into too much more on that front.

I tag @freckledfemme @redgemwink @eirikaily @lululeighsworld @cogentsummoner @gnusnoteunuchs & anyone else who wants to talk about their wol/oc in general :3c

[hb-writes]

Ch. 2 - Doesn't Mean It's True

Just because a pretty girl tells you a story doesn't mean it's true.

"It's Charlotte Specter. C-H-A-R-L-O-T-T-E space S-P-E-C-T-E-R," Charlie repeated herself for the third time, her frustration coming out as she let her head fall against the marble counter of the lobby's security desk. "Maybe she listed it as Charlie Specter. Do you have Charlie Specter listed?"

It wasn't the type of mistake that Donna tended to make. She always registered Charlie with her government name, the one listed on all of her identification cards. It was easier that way, but you never know. Even Donna was allowed an off day, and at this point, Charlie was ready to give out her middle name, date of birth, and social security number—whatever it took to gain access to her brother's office.

The man across the desk shook his head even as Charlie passed her school ID across the desk to the bored-looking suit on the other side accompanied by a New York Public Library card and the credit card that held both Charlotte and Harvey's names—for emergencies.

"Come on," Charlie groaned. "You've seen me here a million times before. My brother works at Pearson-Hardman. Harvey Specter. Senior Partner. Big corner office…kind of an important person in the building."

Harvey wouldn't like hearing her using that description to get her way and part of her even cringed as she muttered it, feeling like just as much of an entitled brat as the words made her sound, but she and the security officer had been at it for over ten minutes and a line was forming behind her.

"I'm sorry, miss. Mr. Specter doesn't have any visitors registered for this afternoon," he answered, barely concealing the shrug of his shoulders. "I can't let you up there without an appointment."

Charlotte groaned, pulling her forms of identification back and stashing them in her bag.

"That's probably because he wasn't expecting me to get out of school so early and he's been busy in meetings so he hasn't gotten any of his messages yet. I swear I'm his sister. I come here at least once a week. I have to be in your stupid system."

Charlie's fist slammed down on the counter. She wasn't usually like this. She usually treated the security team well. But this guy…he just stared back at her, eyebrow raised, unimpressed.

"You know what? Why don't you just call Donna, then. She'll verify. Donna Paulsen."

Charlie started to list off Donna's direct line, which she had committed to memory years ago but the man held up a hand to silence her while he dialed the number. Of course he already knew Donna's number. He didn't need her to tell him. Charlie didn't even utter a thank you as he waved her through to the elevators less than a minute later.

Charlie let out a frustrated huff, dropping her bag to the floor when she finally reached her brother's office. Donna glanced up from the computer screen for a moment while she continued typing, assessing the girl in a mere glance.

Charlotte's school blazer was slung carelessly over her shoulder, her white oxford shirt pulled out of the top of her maroon plaid shirt, the sleeves carelessly rolled up to her elbows, purposefully slouchy. The top few buttons were undone, revealing the lace-lined tank top beneath, and she wore sheer black tights with her black booties. Donna smirked. Charlie Specter had changed so significantly from the little girl in pigtails Harvey had introduced her to years ago, now skirting along the edges of her school's dress code as if it was a sport.

"Nice shoes," Donna commented.

"Thanks," Charlie answered, admiring them herself as she pulled her heel up off the ground. "I just got 'em."

Donna hummed. "Dress code changed recently?"

Charlotte shrugged and Donna smiled before sighing. "I know you know better than to irritate our good friends in security, Charlie. They do a very important job down there."

"He was the one irritating me," Charlie answered. "Must be new. And a complete goddamn imbecile."

Donna hummed again. The guy was new, but he was far from an imbecile. Donna liked him, actually. She momentarily directed her attention back to her computer screen, glancing at an incoming email.

Charlie leaned into the desk, pressing the heel of her palm against her cheek as she watched Donna read. "So, I think it's a good thing I got out early. I'm actually not feeling so well. I think I might be a little feverish."

"You poor thing," Donna murmured as she pulled her eyes from the email, her fingers still busy typing a quick response before she turned to look at the girl again. Her gaze tracing the contours of Charlie's face. "You're feeling feverish?"

Donna knew it was bullshit, but she didn't fault Charlie for trying.

"A little," Charlie answered, nodding her head.

Donna frowned at the computer screen once more before turning her chair to face Charlotte completely. "I already spoke to Oliver. You know that, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know." Charlie loosened a breath, putting her head down for a moment before looking back to Donna. "I was there…but don't you think Harvey has enough to deal with without us adding a silly little thing like this to his schedule? We could just let it go."

"You know what, Charlie?" Donna said, nodding her head, considering it before offering Charlie a smile. "I think you're right."

Charlie sighed. "Donna, I knew you would—" Charlie started, only to be halted in her celebration when Donna stood from her chair and leaned over the desk, causing Charlie to pull back.

"You are absolutely right," Donna continued. "Your brother's schedule is demanding enough right now without adding your careless behavior to it. He's been booked this entire week, and to tell you the truth, I wouldn't be surprised if this puts him right over the edge. Do you think I've been looking forward to telling him about this? His day is already full, Charlotte. Completely full."

Donna looked pointedly at the girl. She had an endlessly growing soft spot for Harvey's sister, but Donna was protective of Harvey's professional life—their shared professional life. When it came down to it, Donna supposed she was probably just protective of Harvey in general. She tried to spare him most inconveniences when she could. And dealing with Charlie when she did things like this was certainly an inconvenience. One that always put Harvey in a funk. A mood. One she'd be dealing with for days, at least.

"I'm sorry," Charlie answered honestly. "Really, I am. And isn't that all the better reason to just keep the message to ourselves then?"

The eye contact she held with Donna was so intent, so pleading that Charlie didn't notice as her brother approached, passing behind her on his way to his office. Without a word to either of them, Harvey tapped Charlie on the shoulder, beckoning for her to follow in his wake.

Charlie shut her eyes for a moment and then turned to watch her brother, unable to get any true sense of his mood from his body language alone. By the time she glanced back at Donna, the woman was back at her computer.

"Better get in there, little chick," she offered without sparing Charlie even a glance.

Charlie sighed, but rushed to pick up her bag and follow after her brother into his office.

"Why are you here and what message are you begging Donna to keep from me?"

The door hadn't even closed all of the way, but Harvey was already leaning against the front of his desk, arms folded across his chest as he watched his sister take a few tentative steps forward.

Fuck. Charlie stopped a few paces away from him, his question left unanswered for a few seconds longer as she checked over her shoulder to see that Donna was still at her desk, seemingly uninterested in their conversation. Charlie knew she was listening in, but she didn't really mind that. She was more concerned about the prospect of Donna joining them.

"Just um…" Charlie turned back to her brother as she hiked her bag up over her shoulder. "I got sent home early. I'm a little…a little sick to my stomach. I just didn't want to bother you with it. I know you're busy."

"You're a little sick to your stomach?" Harvey asked, the words sounding so stupid to Charlie now as she heard them repeated through her brother's doubtful lips. Harvey pushed off the desk to close the distance between them and placed the back of his hand to his sister's forehead. He silently transferred his hand around the back of Charlie's neck, the skin there easily accessible because her long hair was pulled into a messy bun on top of her head and the tie typically wrapped around her collar was nonexistent, stuffed into her bag. As Harvey held his hand to Charlie's skin, he noted that his sister's cheeks were a bit flushed. She felt warm to her brother's touch, but not by much. Certainly not enough to warrant getting sent home. Harvey left his hand resting on the back of Charlie's neck as he studied her face.

"You really don't feel well?" he asked, trying to catch her gaze though she wasn't looking up to him. If anything, she was avoiding him.

Charlie nodded, her eyes held closed for a few moments, her stomach flipping, making her wonder if she'd actually manifested a sudden illness.

Harvey continued studying her for a few breaths, letting the silence stretch on between them. Harvey sighed. "Alright," he said. "You can take a nap here. I'll have Donna order you some soup and maybe Mike can take you to the doctor on his lunch break."

Charlie gave a quick shake of her head. She wasn't eager for Mike to lose his lunch break and she knew Donna wouldn't be happy about ordering soup for her. She also wasn't eager to see a doctor who would diagnose her as nothing more than a liar.

"It's okay. I think I just need some rest. Maybe Ray could just drop me off at home?"

She looked up at him then, Harvey's face a bit unreadable, though his voice was gentle when he asked. "Is that what you want?"

Charlie nodded, something like relief coursing through her, but then Harvey let out something close to an amused snort and Charlie tensed up.

"Yeah," Harvey said, rolling his eyes. "I'm sure that's exactly what you want." He raised his voice a bit to call Donna's name as he glanced at her through the glass, asking for his messages.

There was no response from the secretary. Donna was still seated at her desk outside the office, but Charlie knew she only had a few seconds at best before Donna complied with her brother's wishes in one way or another.

Harvey glanced down at his sister again, his hand still settled on the back of her neck. "Anything you feel inclined to tell me before I listen to those messages?"

Charlie didn't answer that. She shrugged out of her brother's grip and tossed her bag on the couch, a sulk finding its way to her face. She wasn't entirely certain if there had been a right way to play this, a way to handle it where she wouldn't have been found out, but if there had been a way, this clearly hadn't been it.

"Take a seat," Harvey said as he headed toward his own chair. Harvey stared at her as she settled, waiting for her gaze to find his. "Are you going to tell me the truth from the start or should I just go ahead and get Oliver on the phone right now?"

Charlie hesitated for a second too long and Harvey shifted, his hand inching towards the phone, spurring Charlie's tongues and lips to start moving, those parts of her body working to save her even if her brain wasn't quite caught up with or approving of the plan. "Harvey, it's stupid, really. I swear. I actually—"

Harvey chuckled, but pulled his hand back from the phone. "Kid, I'm going to stop you right there."

"But Harv—"

"No, Charlie." Harvey shook his head. Just once. Just enough frustration sowed in the movement that Charlie didn't interrupt him despite the pause in his words, a clear way in, "I want the truth. Not just your version of it. Not a story. The truth."

"Well, it's actually a funny stor—"

"I don't want a story, Charlotte," Harvey interrupted. "I want the truth."

"Same thing," she offered, knowing even as she said it that there was some type of difference between stories and truth, or there could be. Stories could be true. Or they could be embellished a bit. And there was something to be said about the way it was all delivered. She knew that well as Harvey did, so Charlie wasn't surprised when her brother shut her down once again, his tone a bit sharper this time.

"It's not," Harvey snapped. "Just because a pretty girl gives you a story, doesn't mean it's true. Especially when it's someone as clever as you."

It was a backhanded compliment and it caught Charlie up for only a moment as Harvey placed his hand on the phone once again. Charlie pushed herself out of the chair, clapping her hand down on his phone before he could do anything.

Harvey lifted one of his eyebrows and snorted, but leaned back in his chair.

"Alright, then. Go ahead," he said, gesturing toward her with a hand. "Just keep in mind that I'm a lawyer. And I'm your brother. And I know you better than anyone, so don't perjure yourself."

Charlie removed her hand from the phone, taking a small step back to her seat. "I'm not under oath, but I won't," she said as she once again settled herself in the chair, allowing herself a moment to plan. To figure out where to start.

"You can start by not fumbling with your skirt."

Charlie's fingers immediately released her skirt. She looked up to find her brother's baiting grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he watched her. Charlie looked away and forced herself to take a deep breath. She willed herself not to be bothered.

"Confidence is key, kid."

Charlie dragged her eyes to him again and Harvey winked at her. He winked, and something broke loose in the depths of Charlie's already withering sense of control. A hot white flash of anger flowed through her.

"Fine," she nearly shouted, her hands slamming down on the arms of her chair. "You know what? I don't even care if you get mad."

Harvey leaned forward in his chair no longer feigning his interest in what his sister had to say, but Charlotte didn't continue right away. If she'd continued, he wouldn't have been getting what he wanted anyway. She wouldn't start off with telling him what had happened at school. She'd start off with a few choice words about him goading her. And they were well deserved, maybe. Harvey had been taunting her a bit, but wasting her sudden loose lips on a few well-placed insults wasn't productive, so Harvey let her compose herself just a bit.

The older Charlie got, the more frustrating she found the depth to which her brother knew her, knew people in general. He could read a room. He understood behavior and habits. And he understood her. Harvey was—and always had been—a great predictor of Charlie's moods and behaviors, her intentions. And to be that well understood—to be so thoroughly anticipated at every turn—was at once a great comfort and a great frustration.

Harvey often knew what Charlie would do before she knew she would do it. He could put words to the thoughts being considered in his sister's head before they became completely molded. And in moments like these, that keen awareness of his didn't serve Charlie well.

"Alright, let's hear it then," Harvey finally said, chuckling as his sister's eyes darkened.

Harvey hoped that his sister would learn to control her frustration and act with a little less impulsivity as she approached adulthood. Both traits served him well now. They served him well in moments like these, but Harvey knew she would need to make herself into less of an easy read if Charlie didn't want to be taken advantage of.

"Harvey, my office, now."

Jessica poked her head in Harvey's office, her gaze sliding over the pair of them. She smiled for a moment when she saw Harvey's sister sitting across from him and she offered Charlie a greeting, her voice much warmer than it had been when she summoned Harvey just seconds before.

Harvey pulled his eyes away from his sister long enough to acknowledge Jessica's presence, but not so long as to miss Charlie make a conscious shift as she wiped the doom and gloom from her face to greet the managing partner.

Charlie smiled as she said hello and Harvey gave a light snort and shook his head, gestures Jessica narrowed her eyes at. Jessica liked the girl, an assertive thing. She had a lot to learn, but Jessica liked that Charlie gave her brother a hard time. Harvey dealing with Charlie was like Harvey having to deal with a little dose of himself, and Jessica had noted on more than one occasion that Charlie made Harvey a little more human. It was good for him.

"How's school?" Jessica asked.

"Good," Charlotte answered quickly. "Straight A's."

"Very good. Keep it up." Jessica nodded before shifting her gaze across the desk. "Harvey, I'll be in my office."

Harvey nodded and Jessica let the door close while both Specters watched her walk down the hall. Harvey promptly stood while buttoning his jacket. Despite his interest in whatever his sister had to say, his work had to come first. He couldn't, and wouldn't, let Jessica wait for too long.

"We're not finished here," Harvey said as he took a step around the desk, stopping beside his sister and waiting for him to look up at him. "Stay here. Get started on your homework."

Charlie didn't answer him. She turned her face away from him, probably to roll her damn eyes so Harvey gave her something else to roll her eyes about before stepping out to meet with Jessica.

LTLB Masterlist (Everything)

LTLB Masterlist (Chapters)

Chapter 3

[the-daydream-archives]

FOOD SIM # 23 SUNNY SIDE-UP 🍳👑🏰

Living independently, Sunny Side-Up (nicknamed Sunny for short) has been adjusting surprisingly well to his current situation. Raised as the oldest prince from a foreign country, Sunny was taught that he was to inherit his father’s throne one day. As a child, that promise felt like a dream come true. As a young adult however, that responsibility felt like a rope around his neck that was tightening every day. Suffice to say, Sunny doesn’t want to rule their kingdom and would rather give the throne to his younger siblings. In order to escape his fate, he left his country and had taken up a fake civilian identity. Now-on-the-run, he moves from place to place to avoid being found and ended up taking small jobs in order to provide for himself. It’s been a rough road but Sunny is not complaining. He relishes the freedom he now has and loves every new experience that comes his way. While this is the most exhausted he’s ever been in his life, he looks forward to what his new life has in store. He had just moved to this large new city and had decided to stick around longer since the new call center that he applied to pays better than any of his previous jobs. He even has a small group of friends (Pancakes, Bacon & Omelette, and French Toast) who invites him out to eat after work. He shouldn’t get attached to them since he’ll be moving again soon but there’s no harm in hanging out with them in the mean time right?

Traits: Adventurous, Proper, Cheerful

Aspiration: City Life

Aaanddd that’s the last one of the Breakfast Special Gang :D Before I post any new food sims, I’m changing the photos of some of the older food sim photos since their initial quality is terrible. So if you guys are attached to some of the older edits, please save them since I don’t plan on saving them any longer. Also ngl, I’m much more attached to Sunny’s casual look than his prince form. Even though it can’t be seen in these photos, his short ponytail on the back of his head gives me life. Also if anyone has questions about my food sims feel free to ask :D A lot of them actually have a semblance of a story in the back of my head but I just don’t have the time/commitment to do them atm. But yeah hope you guys like this edit :D

Special thanks to the following!: @pralinesims @eleven-seventeen @suzuesims @simandy @ddarkstonee @viviandang2206 @solistair @adedarma @fendudu-dt @o--b-s-c-u-r-u--s @sugarowl @sammi-xox @zouyousims @lamatisse

[octagledestroyer]

Good Omens Episode 2

Ok so first of all

...that first post blew up. Or at any rate it’s become more popular than any post I’ve ever made before so THANK YOU to my new followers and everyone who liked or reblogged it! 

I start the episode and the first people I see are Gabriel and Sandalphon- what an encouraging opening.

Also, forgot to mention yesterday but Aziraphale’s bookstore is a LOT bigger than I had imagined and I want to live there. 

Gabriel’s so friggin oblivious he has absolutely no idea what pornography is and I am cacklingggg

that side-eye from the other guy in the shop

“You can’t have a war without War” ah yes very clever. 

oooh I love Crowley’s flat. Wouldn’t want to live there, but it’s cool. 

the red-haired chick is War, isn’t she. Oh, yeah, here come the guns. 

I still don’t get the theme song, but I like the music

Agnes’ letter to the milk-man is so matter of fact

oh no, she cured people of diseases and thinks running is good for you, she must be a horrible satanic person

gonna be honest, this isn’t how I expected Agnes to look. I didn’t have a specific idea, mind you, this just isn’t it

well I wasn’t expecting THAT. I don’t think Mr. Adultery did either

pppft she wrote a prophecy about a phone company. Stocks 101 with Agnes Nutter. 

aaaand of course I haven’t been pronouncing Anathema right either. See kids, this is why you watch the show first. 

oohhhh cool, Agnes’ descendant and Thou-Shalt-Not-Commit-Adultery’s descendant end up together. Hm. Well, at least I got Newton right. 

Oh Newton, you poor boy. Also Anathema’s hilarious and hot. 

whoa Anathema’s cottage is cute

“I’m not mad, I’m disappointed.” How did they get the plants to tremble like that?

Poor Newton’s so confused and flusteredddd. I don’t like anyone that way but I just want to protect him. 

Now I’m starting to think Mr Thou-Shalt-Not-Commit-Adultery Pulsifer might not have had that strange of a name for a witchhunter 

“You’ve lost the boy-” “WE’VE lost the boy.” “A-a child has been lost” nice use of the passive there

Did Brian just BITE his ice cream? Who BITES their ice cream?

I love the introductions, although Brian’s shirt and face are sending chills down my spine

Does this happen a lot? Aziraphale makes some grand speech on philosophy and theology and then Crowley just slices through it with logic?

pppft Anathema’s so concerned about their game she’s like “Inquisition? TORTURE?” and its a tire swing

She’s looking so hard for the AntiChrist and he’s right there 

That is a TERRIBLE parking job and as a permit-holder it is making me            c r i n g e 

He’s so obvious trying to get Crowley to get the stain off his coat 

Lol Norman with his tie around his- oh. Wait, no, I read about this, those guns don’t actually kill, right? ...right?

Right. Oh, he’s gonna call him nice, isn’t he? And then we’ll have the classic pinned-to-the-wall scene. 

“This is because most books on witchcraft are written by men.” If that isn’t the truth... 

oh my god it would have broken her armmmmm also they act exACTly like an old married couple 

“Open thine eyes and read, foolish principalite, for thy cocoa doth grow cold” how very useful. No sarcasm here, for once. 

Literally I want Aziraphale to look that shocked all of the time it’s fanTAStic

Alright, that’s the end of Episode 2 and my ramblings which people seem (for some reason) to be interested in. The next post should probably be coming out sometime tomorrow. 

[multifandomfix]

Tony Stark Smut Alphabet

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Asleep. The man is desperately sleep deprived and he gets his best sleep after sex.

B = Body part (favorite body part of their partner’s)

Tony adores your ass. Has his hands on it as often as he can.

C = Collar (do they mark you as theirs in some way?)

He’ll joke that he ought to have you branded or tattooed with “Property of Stark Industries” or something, but unless you wanted a symbol to show off that you’re his, he wouldn’t take it too seriously.

D = Dominant (do they prefer to dominate, or be dominated? are they a top or a bottom?)

He’s good with either or really. He’s the kind of guy that expects to be in charge, but is both surprised and pleased to let you take the dominant role from him.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Oh he knows what he’s doing. Doesn’t mean he’s not going to be a bit selfish sometimes, but when he puts in the effort, he is amazing!

F = Fuck (do they prefer to fuck or make love?)

Fuck. It’s what he’s accustomed to as a playboy, but damn if it’s not the absolute best when he’s head over heels and really making love rather than just fucking.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Serious? Tony? Never. Not even in bed. He can’t help but laugh and play around.

H = Hot (what turns them on, gets them going)

Smiling and teasing really get Tony going. When you show off a bit, especially covertly while some of the other Avengers are around, you know you have his interest.

I = Insatiable (how do they act when they’re desperate to have you?)

Tony gets very handsy, no matter who’s around. And, if you don’t set aside the time to give him what he wants, or very firmly tell him no, he’s going to be a pain in your ass until you do one or the other.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

He’ll jack off every once in a while, just to let off some steam, but he’s more than willing to let you finish the job should you catch him in the act.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Tony’s a bit of an exhibitionist. He likes the possibility of being seen in the act, and he’s also a fan of recording the two of you together.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Pretty much anywhere is fair game to Tony. If the mood strikes, and you allow it, he’ll do it wherever.

M = Mood (what’s the foreplay like? how do you get them in the mood?)

It really doesn’t take much to get Tony in the mood. Shake your hips, tell him you want him, put your hand on his thigh. Anything like that and he’s ready to take you in a moment’s notice.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Knife play is going too far for him. He’s not opposed to leaving some bite marks and scratches, but bringing weapons in the bedroom is just too much.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He’s not an expert at giving, but with a little bit of practice, he could be damn good at it, yet he still prefers to be on the receiving end.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

He’s usually on the faster, rougher side of things, but he can take his time if he wants to. But if you’re good with getting a bit rougher, so is he.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

God yes, give him a quickie and he’ll be in a better mood for the rest of the day. He’ll take them as often as he can get them.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

He’s game to try anything once. That’s led to some major regrets, as well as some new kink discoveries.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Two is his usual. One doesn’t seem to quite be enough for him and three can sometimes be too much.

T = Tryst (are they into casual sex or one night stands?)

He is. He won’t deny it. The playboy lifestyle has been his for a long time. Once he commits himself to someone, he’ll put it in the past, but until then, he’ll still want to play the field.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He doesn’t tease much. He prefers to get right down to the quick and dirty of it.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

A good mixture of moans and grunts are what you usually get out of Tony. Never really loud, a fairly medium volume.

W = Wait (how long do they wait before having sex with their partner for the first time?)

Not long. As soon as you let him into your bed, he’ll be there in a second.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Tony’s fit. Arms and chest with nice definition, strong. Overall, he’s rather a remarkable sight to behold when naked.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

High. Very high. If he’s not fucking, he’s thinking about fucking.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Pretty quick. A good fuck really tires him out. And he is in desperate need of rest.

Tony Stark: @unexpected-character, @lilyontheloose, @shyposttree, @marinarashakeyobooty, @marvelgeek09, @thegirlwhoistrying, @music-bird, @chaotic-mushroomz, @mbruben-stein, @fxnfandxmmp4, @underoostarks, @harryisatomlinsun, @sunflowergurlsposts, @danimorgan1708, @onlykeres

[outrunningthedark]

The way I can tell the strikes have been delaying things to long for some of the buddie bloggers who can’t separate the characters from the actors is by how they recently have handled this wedding and Ryan and can clearly tell they need some to spec about. Acting like everything is a big puzzle with hidden meaning. I saw one person say Ryan wore dark glasses outside to hide the sadness behind his eyes. Someone else pointed out it was probably just because they were outside and the sun was bright and not that deep and then got immediately attacked and mocked because if it’s not that deep why do they need to say it’s because of the sun and not to hide his sadness . Another person said he was wearing black at the wedding to symbolizing (yes they actually used the word symbolizing) the death of his and c’s marriage ☠️ just today I saw someone say Oliver got the actress who played Natalia her job and C started following the 911abc page so the two events are related and now Ryan is getting C a job on the show as Eddie’s love interest because Oliver did it. Like blows my mind a little. Like they see clues everywhere ☠️

I- What. I'm not gonna call anyone names because I'm sure I can guess where these comments originate and op is just posting other people's opinions - opinions that they won't own on main, at that. Let's break it all down. o1. Unless someone discloses information about the *actual* dynamic between themselves and their partner who is not a good fit, they are making a CHOICE to stay. R is not a victim in any of this. Pointing out faults or bad behavior reflects on him and his choice to start a family with her. Trying to spread rumors about the behind the scenes happenings won't change what's led up to this point to make many of us realize where his ideals and priorities lie.

It's not on the same level because he's no where near as famous, but the R apologists sound just like Captain America's followers who pick on his new bride in order to avoid addressing what committing to a much younger white woman means re: separating fact from fiction. o2. There is zero evidence to support the claim that Oliver got anybody a job, and if there had been we'd know about it because those stans are always waiting around for content. Now, if you want to say he maybe got her into the audition process? Maybe offered her name as a suggestion? Fine. But she still had to audition. And they still chose her. As far as a "lack of chemistry" is concerned...I'm withholding judgement because, lbr, you can't build or find chemistry when one of your appearances is about your boyfriend's past relationships. Also, #unpopularopinion, but if the show wasn't gonna go with Buddie, I don't care who Buck ends up with 'cause he's never been my favorite. If working with Annelise makes for a more pleasant experience compared to completely ignoring BT as season five got going...good on Oliver for having fun this time around. o3. What is the obsession with writing the wife into the show? In five seasons all he got her was a background role for one of Eddie's fights. They did the same last season when we heard about filming the bodybuilding comp - "Do you think C is gonna have a guest spot since she's been doing that irl???" It's like people WANT something else to happen so they can twist the truth and say she "forced" her way onto set rather than him *asking* if there's something for her to do. And btw, she doesn't need to be in an episode to stay close. "Take wifey to work day", remember? I may not care for the wife, but if he truly were the "better person" as fandom as declared, he's the one looking dumb for forgetting who he is as soon as he found her on ig. She hasn't lost anything yet because he won't leave.

[chickensarentcheap]

Never Gonna Be Alone- Chapter 92

Title: The Call

Warnings: angst, some profanity

Tagging: @secretaryunpaid, @c-a-v-a-l-r-y, @tragiclyhip, @youflickedtooharddamnit, @jvstjewels, @raith-way, @asirensrage @residentdormouse, @arrthurpendragon, @ocappreciationtag​

Link on Ao3:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/28860450/chapters/100229529

Incessant pounding on the bedroom door jars her awake; heart hammering in time to the fist that repeatedly smashes against the wood. Her sleep had been restless at best; tossing and turning as she fought back waves of nausea and a persistent headache. The latter is a troubling mixture of things; her overwrought nerves, fragile emotions, and the withdrawal from the drugs keeping both her and the baby healthy. It’s what worries her the most; the complications that could arise without taking the proper precautions. The fear that her blood pressure will sky rocket and the preeclampsia will return; bringing with it the very real possibility of miscarrying. She can’t allow that to happen; the frequent kicks, squirms, and flutters within her belly help her stay strong and optimistic. She has no doubt that Tyler will find her; such a personal attack will drive him in a way no other job or motive has ever done before. He won’t give up; laying waste to any obstacle or person that gets in his way or hinders his progress. Fiercely determined and committed even when it isn’t his own family being threatened; always throwing himself headlong into each mission and often running on pure adrenaline alone. With her life on the line -and that of their unborn child- he’ll be unstoppable; leaving a trail of bloody and mangled corpses in his wake.

“Rise and shine!” The fist is replaced by the toe of a heavy work boot; slamming against the door with enough force to crack the wood.

She knows it’s simply to unnerve her; the acts of aggression and the vile names she’s called and the threats that are spewed in her direction. Pregnant or not, she doesn’t intimidate easily; her time on the job strengthening both her resolve and her confidence. Tyler -a man more than twice her size and possessing immense strength- had learned quickly; making the mistake of assuming -because her tiny stature- that she was fragile and weak. In fact, she was anything but; shockingly resilient and assertive and unlike any woman he’d ever encountered before. It had only been eighteen months since she’d left Mark, and the disappointment and disgust she’d felt in herself for not escaping sooner had turned her into a different person. No longer anyone’s doormat, she refused to be pressured into decisions; holding firm on the choices she made and never backing down no matter how big the threat. She hadn’t liked his heavy handed approach to protecting her, and didn’t waste time calling him out on it; she wasn’t going to let a man tell her what to do. And she sure as hell wouldn’t put up with being treated like some fragile piece of china. 

He hadn’t expected her to push back and her unwavering defiance had only served to make the situation worse; his eyes darkening and his jaw clenching as one of his large, powerful hands snatching her by the throat. To this day she can still feel it. Not just the way his fingers pressed into her flesh and constricted her airway, but how his entire body shuddered against hers. A mixture of anger and desire; enjoying the fight that she put up and the rush that came with testing the limits. She was small and feisty, and being challenged was something new for him. He’d grown used to getting his own way when it came to women; filling the lonely nights with those melted under the weight of those haunted blue eyes and the calloused palms and fingertips. Finding it impossible to turn him down; intrigued by the darkness he possessed and the scars that marred his body.

They’d both been fighting the immense attraction and sexual tension since the day they met; bubbling just under the surface and then growing in intensity. The night in the hotel bar had been proof enough that they were interested in one another; the flirty comments and the easy flow of their banter and the deeper conversations they shared. The way his body would initially stiffen when her toes brushed against his shin; followed by the shudder and uneasiness of touch starved man that was finding himself far out of his comfort zone. 

Yet he hadn’t resisted or backed away, and she can remember the weight of his hand upon the small of her back as he escorted her through the crowded bar. And his scent; crisp and fresh and mixed with a hint of sweat. Everything about him had been intoxicating; the rumble of his voice deep within chest, the broadness of his shoulders and the thickness of his forearms, the way his eyes would sparkle and the corners of his mouth would twitch whenever she playfully teased him. Even those strands of hair that would tumble across his forehead; an almost boyish charm attempting to peek through the many layers he’d long ago erected in effort to protect himself. A man that hurt and been hurt; a life spent seeing and hearing and doing things that continued to haunt him. But there’d been that touch of humanity that he’d possessed; the alcohol and his obvious comfort with her bringing it to the surface. She’d catch a glimpse of it whenever he’d laugh or he’d tease her in return; a far cry from the mercenaries she’d come in contact with over the course of the last eighteen months.

Admittedly, she’d been out of her comfort zone as well. Her disastrous marriage to Mark had ended less than two years prior, and the trauma and the memories were still so fresh; eighteen months spent alone and insisting to herself -and anyone that would listen- that she’d never trust a man EVER again. The last one she’d given her heart and body to had put her in the ICU, and there was no way she’d ever get over that. The complete depletion of her trust had rendered her unable to love or to be loved; believing him when he said no one would ever want someone as pathetic as her. So it had been scary as hell that night in front of her hotel room; her pulse racing and heart hammering in her chest. The thrill that came with knowing someone wanted you as much as you wanted them; startled by the intensity of her feelings and cursing her brain, body, AND heart for betraying herself in such a fashion. It wasn’t supposed to happen after all. She’d convinced herself that she’d become immune to the needs and desires of others, and that she’d successfully managed to stifle her own.

Until that fateful afternoon in Dhaka.

Perhaps it was his rejection that had made her become so defiant and antagonistic. Her feelings had been hurt and she’d been angry; pissed that he’d led her on and had gotten her hopes up and then simply walked away. Further damaging her already shredded confidence; Mark long ago transformed her into a tattered and broken mess that believed she wasn’t worthy of love. But she’d been more upset at herself. Disappointed that she'd trusted Tyler and had almost lost control of herself; vowing that she would make his life as miserable as possible for the duration of the job. Only the spite and resentment had been nothing more than a bandaid; subpar coverage of the emotions that she’d sworn no man would EVER make her feel again. Feelings that came at an intensity she’d never experienced before; both exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. And she had successfully pushed him to the brink; her stubbornness and defiance managing to make the last of his will power crumble. It had been too much for both of them to bear; too difficult to ignore when you’re starving for touch and longing to feel the hands of another upon your body. Desperate to see the desire and want and need in someone else’s eyes; to feel the rush that comes with knowing that you’re the one that makes them lose complete control.

So much has changed since then; no longer the broken and empty girl with nothing to lose. Those five days in Dhaka turning into thirteen years; growing a family and strengthening a marriage and loving someone with a ferocious, overwhelming intensity.

She closes her eyes and covers her ears as the pounding at the door continues; growing in intensity as she attempts to ignore it. Wanting nothing more than to just hide under the covers; sleep the rest of the nightmare away and wake up to the beautiful familiarity of her everyday life. The protection and security provided by the strong, solid body pressed against her own; warm, moist breath wafting against her skin as calloused fingertips graze along her spine and over the curves of her hips. Her entire body shuddering at the rough scrape of beard combined with the soft brush of lips; feathery kisses peppered across her shoulders and along the sides of her throat and against the nape of her neck. The softness in his eyes when he pauses his ministrations and pulls back to look down at her; his features soft and boyish and all of his love and adoration written so painly upon his face. The gentle smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth when she reaches up to push wayward strands of hair off his forehead; a smile that -for the past thirteen years- has been reserved solely for her. That long, slow kiss that follows; the sinuous movements of closed mouth upon closed mouth and the brush of naked limbs against one another. And the aftermath; bodies -slick with sweat- pressed tightly together as her head rests upon his chest; his fingers combing slowly through her hair as her head rests upon his chest.

It’s always then that the reality of what they’ve gone through seems to hit her; as she listens to the beat of his heart and his body rises and falls with each slow, steady breath. Already vulnerable from the overwhelming pleasure and its accompanying release, she’d find herself in tears thinking of the times she’d come so close to never hearing or feeling those things again. Dhaka had nearly taken him before he was ever really hers; the time spent in that tiny, squalid hotel room not nearly long enough. Likewise, Nathan had almost destroyed everything they’d built together; a life created that was far beyond anything either thought possible. Discovering both comfort and happiness within domesticity; growing their family and putting in the work required to strengthen their marriage and become better individuals, partners, and friends.

Tyler always found her sudden emotional outburst somewhat amusing; teasing her about how’d he spent the last half an hour ‘fucking her brains out’ and how dare she have the nerve to reward with tears of disappointment,. Couldn’t she at least PRETEND she enjoyed it?. And while she’d manage a laugh, he’d tug playfully on her hair and chuckle; a rich, beautiful sound that reverberates deep within his chest. Dropping a kiss on the top of her head before his fingers slip from her hair; strong, protective arms engulfing her tiny frame and pulling her close. Although used to her ‘moments’ and her neurotic tendencies, he always does his best to offer comfort no matter how silly the moment seems. Holding her as tightly as her much smaller body will allow; his voice remarkably and tender as he assures her that everything is fine now. They’ve gone through the worst things and have somehow managed to come out --relatively intact- on the other side.

“But I AM here,” he’d gently remind her, when she’d lament about how close she’d come to the exact opposite. “I’m here and this is where I’m staying. I’m not going anywhere.”

The worry is always there; gnawing at her chest and turning her stomach. The constant wondering about how he’s handling everything; attempting to recover from his injuries while focusing on the kids and trying to mount some kind of search and rescue plan. It’s his worst nightmare after all; something happening to her whether it be at the hands of someone else or from an accident or an illness that is way beyond their control. And this kind of scenario has always been in the back of their minds; the chance that someone he’s wronged in the past would seek revenge and start by using her as leverage. She’d gone into a life with him knowing the risks; the possibility that past jobs could come back to haunt him. A mercenary burns a lot of bridges and steps on a lot of toes after all. Especially one with such an enormous reputation. His successes and his near death experiences elevating him to legend status; the guy that everyone else in the business wants to emulate.

She never stopped to consider that someone from HER past would be the one putting targets on their back. The High Table had released her from their clutches years ago; a privilege very few in the game are ever granted. Those she’d crossed had never known her true identify; her real name and whereabouts and those she worked with never being made public knowledge. Once she’d gotten the information she needed and passed it along to those entrusted to finish a job, she simply vanished; seemingly disappearing off the face of the earth without leaving even the smallest trace behind. The chances of anyone discovering just who and where she is are minimal; her social media accounts kept under tight security and her path rarely crossing those of the clients Tyler provides services for. The safety and privacy of his family first and foremost; sharing very little details about his wife and children and only allowing her to meet those that he’s carefully vetted.

But she also never considered her ex husband would come back from the grave. She’d spent years believing he no longer existed; sent to a gruesome yet well deserved grave and taking all the horrible things he’d done to her with him. It had helped with the last pieces of the healing process; a long and arduous journey that her husband quietly and stoically supported her through. She had often felt guilty about the burden he’d taken on; spending eight years attempting to right the wrongs of another man. Always possessing the utmost patience and understanding with her; wanting nothing more than to prove to her that love…REAL LOVE…doesn’t hurt. Real love is patience and sacrifice and it’s often putting the other person’s needs and feelings above your own. Something he’d always been so good at it; shelving his own shit in order to help her through hers.

“Quit pissing me off,” her captor growls from the hallway; abandoning pounding on the door in favour or rattling the padlock entrusted to keep her prisoner. “You don’t want to do that, sweetheart. Believe me.”

The room spins as she sits up; nauseous and lightheaded as she goes through the withdrawal from the much needed medication. She has to figure something out; the meds ensuring that both she and the baby stay healthy and strong and the pregnancy continues. It would be too much for Tyler to bear; managing to rescue her but not able to save their child. He’s already suffered enough; losing his first born to cancer and then helping her through the trauma of miscarrying their daughter in the seventh month of pregnancy. The latter had been devastating and had contributed to his downward spiral in Colorado; in charge of making the final decision that had spared Esme’s life but had taken their baby’s.

“You don’t want me coming in there and waking you up. If I gotta come in there, it won’t be pretty, Princess.”

Rolling her eyes, she flips the middle finger in the direction of the door and then kicks off her blankets, wriggling her way to the edge of the bed before swinging her legs over the side. It seems like a monumental effort; the simple act of standing leaving her breathless and causing beads of sweat to gather across her brow and at her temples. She’s certain it’s simply just the withdrawal; her body needing the medication it had come to desperately rely on. Panic hasn’t started to set in; the baby’s movements remain strong and frequent, but are never frantic or constant. And it’s been the one thing that’s given her an ounce of happiness; feeling the flutters and the kicks that will only grow in strength as long as her little one stays safe and healthy.

“Hang in there little bean,” she whispers, as she pulls down the bottom of her t-shirt; allowing it to skim the tops of her knees and adequately hide her bump. “Daddy will come for us. Soon. We just need to give him some time. And you…” She places a hand on either side of her stomach. “...just have to hang in there. Stay nice and calm. He’s coming, I promise.” The most worry and stress is centred around her pregnancy. Time is running out; each passing day puts her one step closer to her captors finding out the secret she’s so desperate to keep. She has seen the brutality they’re capable of, and she’s terrified of just how far they’ll go in their quest to ‘serve their master well’. Women and children -even unborn babies- mean absolutely nothing to them; nothing more than collateral damage in their twisted and depraved minds. There’s no doubt that they’ll antagonize her; emotionally and physically drive her to the point of illness. And she’s especially vulnerable without her medications; each hour that passes without it puts both her and her little one at incredible risk.

“I swear to God, sweetheart,” her captor growls. “If you don’t get up and open this fucking door…”

“I AM up,” Esme retorts. “And don’t ever call me sweetheart. I shot your buddy’s balls off, didn’t I? So don’t think I’ll hesitate when it comes to separating YOU from YOURS.”

A pregnant pause. Followed by a chuckle. “I like ‘em feisty.”

“You can’t handle this type of feisty. Now just the put the fucking food on the floor and walk away. I don’t want to look at your face. Gross ass piece of shit.”

“You’re just playing hard to get. It’s always the little ones, yeah? That put up the hardest fight. And that’s what makes it so much better in the end. When you finally get the upper hand.”

“You’re not going to get shit. Now put the food down and go. I’m not going to tell you again. If you value your balls attached to your body…”

“Alright…alright. You’re not in the mood to play right now. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. But if you ever get a little lonely in there and want some company…”

“I’ll never be that lonely. Or that desperate.”

“Could be just the thing you’ve been looking for. I could be just the man you need. One that can get the job done, if you know what I’m saying.”

“I have seven kids. I think it’s pretty safe to say I already have a man that ‘gets the job done’. Now are you going to fuck off and leave me alone or…”

“Hey!” K’s voice from another room; uncharacteristically booming and threatening. “Knock that shit off. No reason to be egging her on like that. Isn’t she going through enough already? Without you adding to things? Don’t be a dick. You heard what she said; give her the food and leave her alone. “

“Oh I see what’s been going on here,” the other man drawls. “Your dick is hard for her too. Don’t think we all haven’t been noticing the extra time you’ve been spending with her. The way you bat your lashes at the pretty little thing. And she doesn’t seem to mind having you around, either. Just what are you two up to in there? When you go in and shut the door and…”

“I’m keeping an eye on her. Like the boss asked me too. He knows none of you assholes are capable of doing it. You heard what he said; doesn’t want her stressed out and traumatised and taking it out on him. I treat her like a human being. She's not some piece of ass that's going to be passed around. Now, put the food down and just fuck off. Leave her be."

"Someone doesn't want anyone getting attention from their girlfriend."

Another chuckle. So demented and vile that Esme has to hold herself back from throwing open the door and puching him in the face. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s resorted to violence; many a mark earning themselves a punch in the face or a knee to the groin and even a pointed at their crotches or their throats. If the horrors Mark had inflicted on her had done anything, it had been strengthening her resolve and teaching her how to defend herself. Gone are the days of being treated like a doormat or a punching bag; determined to stand up for what’s right, whether for herself or someone else. And she certainly isn’t afraid to inflict pain and suffering on those who deserved it the most. Tyler had been the one to bring the last of that confidence out; teaching her fighting and survival skills that even the Marines had never instilled in her. And always reminding her of the things she’s managed to survive; stronger and more resilient than she’s ever given herself credit for. And if anything fuels your ego and your passion to do the right thing, it’s the unwavering support and praise from the person you love more than life itself.

“Boss ain’t going to like it, you know.” There’s a clatter of silverware and plates as the tray of food is placed on the floor. Followed by the rattle of the padlock; a key being inserted and twisted and granting her freedom. At least for the seconds it takes to retrieve her meal. “You having a little soft spot for his, girl. He finds out you got a woody for her…”

“I’m just doing what he asked,” K interjects. “No sense getting her all riled up. Quit being such a sick fuck and leave her alone. She isn’t doing anything to you. She hasn’t been hard to take care of. You think he’s going to like you taunting her like? Getting her upset? She’s never going to give you the time of day. And if you even think about doing anything, he’ll have your ass and you won’t make it out of here alive. So how about you just back off. Leave her alone. Keep the peace.”

Her captor finally relents, and she presses her ear to the door and listens for his footsteps; the creak of floorboards as he turns on his heel and then saunters down the hallway. Only when the noise ceases to exist does she open the door; slowly and cautiously, prepared to slam it shut in case anyone is lying in wait. The man who’d been taunting her long gone; his raucous voice overpowering all of those gathered in the living room. Only K remains. Standing at the end of the hallway with his hands on his hips and his eyes glued on the door; his eyes narrowed and his jaw tightly clenched and his brow furrowed. And he gives a small start when he realizes Esme is staring back at him; his face and eyes softening and a small, reassuring smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

She manages a smile of her own and then hurriedly picks up the tray of food; allowing the door to close behind her as she steps back into her room.

******

Food helps. Even the meagre helping of dry toast and plain oatmeal that had been served to her; filling her empty and grumbling stomach and helping ease the near chronic nausea. Even the black tea had seemed delicious; a much desired ‘luxury’ after being given nothing but bottled water since the afternoon before. And just as she takes the last swallow, she hears the front door bang upon and then a gathering of voices on the front porch; a handful of the men preparing to head into the nearest town for supplies. And she quietly sits her mug down on the nightstand and slips from the bed, tiptoeing to the nearest window and pressing her ear against the glass. Waiting for any name to drop that she recognizes; the hope that they’ll reveal -within a close proximity- her exact location. If she can narrow it down and then somehow find a way to access a cell phone…

She’s startled by a knock on the door; giving a small jump before scurrying back to the bed. Careful to hide her bump under both the enormous t-shirt she sports and the heavy quilt she pulled from the closet the night before. The latter will become stifling and uncomfortable; the bedroom the only room in the entire cabin not being cooled by a window air conditioner. It’s a small price to pay; uncomfortableness in lieu of keeping herself and her baby.

“It’s me.” A familiar voice from the hallway. “K. Is it alright to come in?”

“Are you alone?”

“I wouldn’t force any of those guys on you, believe me.”

“If you’re alone, come in. If you’re not…”

“I’m alone,” he assures her, and she hears the rattling of the padlock as it’s opened. “You decent?”

“As decent as I’m going to get. I’d feel better if I had some proper clothes and a little bit of makeup. And REAL food.”

“I can help with that last one,” K says, as he slips into the room; using the bedside chair to keep it propped open before gathering his offerings from their resting place on the floor. And a smile plays on his lips as he holds the items a loft; a peanut butter and jam sandwich in one hand, and a glass of milk in the other. “It’s not a feast by any stretch of the imagination, but…”

“Right now it might as well be a five coarse meal with extra dessert. I know accommodations aren’t supposed to be luxurious when you’ve been kidnapped, but plain toast and unflavored oatmeal?” She gags dramatically. “Prisoners in maximum security get fed better than that.”

“I’ll see what I can do. About getting better stuff on the menu. For now…” He sets the plates down on the side table, then takes a seat on the edge of the bed. “...that's the best I can do.”

Smiling, she reaches for the sandwich first; taking a bite and then closing her eyes and moaning as if it was the most delicious meal she’s ever tasted. And for several minutes they sit in silence; K absentmindedly fidgeting with the silver rings he sports on his right hand and she continues to enjoy the mid-morning treat. The milk cold and refreshing and going down smoothly; effectively settling the lingering gnawing in her stomach.

“You alright?” K asks, finally breaking the silence. “Rick is a real fucking asshole. I warned him before about giving you a hard time. About just shutting the fuck up and doing the bare minimum. I don’t think he’d actually come here and hurt you, but…”

“If he’ll do what he did at the cabin, he’ll do it here too,” Esme reasons. “Guys like that? The real unhinged ones? They get a kick out of tormenting people. Gives them some sort of thrill I guess; having all that control and being able to instil fear in someone. I don’t intimidate easily. Just ask my husband. He learned it the hard way, believe me.”

“Gave him a run for his money, did ya?”

“Something had happened a couple days before I really put my foot down. It pissed me off. I felt rejected and embarrassed and I was hurt. I took it as a slight and I told myself that I’d make his life hell. That if he was going to do something like that to me, I was going to make him very uncomfortable.”

“Sounds like something personal. That something almost went down between the two of you and he had a change of heart or…”

“We got drunk. At the hotel in Dhaka. Just on the city outskirts. We’d been there for a couple days. Team stuff. And we met up in the bar and we had a lot to drink and we were flirting back and forth and there was a lot of touchy feely stuff going on and a lot of sexual innuendos being passed around.”

“But…”

“He turned me down. Right in front of my hotel room door. And it’s not because he didn’t want something to happen. Believe me; all the evidence was right there poking me in the stomach letting me know he was ready, willing, AND able. But, he stopped. Pulled away. Told me he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t hurt me like that.”

“He was afraid of hurting you? Why…?”

“It wasn’t a physical hurt. And it really had nothing to do with me and everything to do with him. I think I knew it at the time; he had a lot of bagging weighing him down and a lot of hurt and sadness in his eyes. It’s hard to explain; the things that I saw on his face and I heard in his voice. But I knew. That he was a mess. Still didn’t stop me though. I still wanted him. None of that mattered to me.”

“So what happened? Things must have worked out ‘cause you've been married all this time and have tons of kids and…”

“Eventually he told me why he did it. Why he backed away like that. He felt he was TOO messy. And that I deserved better than that. He was worried that we'd be so caught up in things…in EACH OTHER…that we’d ignore all the warning signs and convince ourselves that things would be okay. And in the end, he’d fuck up and I’d realize just how messed up he was and I’d cut my loses. He was worried about hurting me. And himself.”

“Would you have? If things had gone differently and he hadn’t backed away and things got serious, would you have cut your losses? If he was too messy?”

“No. I wouldn’t have. Because he wasn’t as broken as he thought he was. He wasn’t a lost cause. He was hurting and grieving and hating himself for choices he’d made and things he’d done. And yeah, he WAS a wreck; he was an alcoholic and he was addicted to Oxycontin and he was stuck in this horrible place of self loathing. But he wasn’t nearly the monster he thought he was. He wasn’t a monster at all. And he’s never hurt me. Intentionally. That’s not who Tyler is. Tyler doesn’t hurt people. Well, unless they deserve it.”

“It’s a hard life to get yourself mixed up in. Being with a merc. Not many would choose it.”

“I guess maybe I understood it because I was caught up in it too. I’d been working alongside mercenaries for almost two years. It’s not like I was just some normal girl off the street that met him in a bar and got all caught up in things before I knew who he really was.”

“And it didn’t bother you? The things he’d done? The things he’d taken money for?”

“No. Because I knew it wasn’t Tyler’s identity. It was part of him, but it wasn’t ALL of him. You know, people always think he’s nothing more than a bad ass; he’s big and he’s strong and he’s got all these scars and tattoos. You know how many people just look at him and are scared of him? Especially other men? Tyler’s bark is way worse than his bite. The only time you should be scared of him…truly scared…if when you’ve crossed him. If you done something to get on his shit list.”

“Like kidnapping his wife.”

“That’ll do it. But I’ll talk to him. He’ll listen to me. I’ll tell him that you’re on our side. That you helped me. You’re still planning on it, right? Helping me? Getting me out of here? Because that’s all that’s keeping me going right now. Knowing you’re going to help me.”

“Of course I am. I gave you my word. I won’t go back on it. That’s not who I am.”

“Tyler is a good man. And maybe that sounds weird considering what he does for a living. People hear ‘mercenary’ and automatically think the worst. Tyler doesn’t do this job because he enjoys it. He doesn’t like killing people. He doesn’t get a rush from it. He’d rather NOT do it. But if it comes down between him and them? He’s doing whatever he has to get home. To me and his kids.”

“You know, I’ve heard so many stories about him. I’ve never known which ones were true.”

“He’s great at what he does. He’s just as good as all those stories make him sound. And then some. But he IS a good man. He’s a good man with a heart that’s bigger than his body. And that body is pretty damn big. If you help me, he’ll spare you. But if you don’t…”

“He’s the last guy I want to cross, believe me. I’m going to get you out of here. I’m going to help you get home. I just need some time. It’s not as easy as just walking out of here. I wish it was. I just need a few days. A week at the most. To come up with a plan. You can give me that, yeah?”

“I don’t really have a choice, do I? I can’t get out of here on my own.”

“Something tells me you’d be able to. You’re a lot stronger than you think you are.”

“Normally, I’d agree with you. But this is a little more complicated than just saving myself. I’ve got a whole other person depending on me and I…” Sighing heavily, she runs a hand over the front of her shirt; resting a palm on the side of her stomach. “...I’m pregnant.”

K’s eyes widen. “You’re what?”

“I’m having a baby. I’ll be five months in a couple of weeks. I’ve been doing my best to hide it but I’ve always carried pretty big. That’s what happens when you make babies with a giant, I guess.”

“Jesus Christ…” K rakes his hands through his hair. “...I can’t believe this…what the fuck…”

“I had some complications. At Christmas. Preeclampsia. We thought we were going to lose the baby but the doctors were able to get me on some medications that stabilised things. But those meds got left behind. In Tasmania. And I need them. To survive. If things start to go wrong and my blood pressure acts up, something really bad could happen. To me or the baby. Or both.”

Sighing heavily, he briefly closes his eyes and drops his chin to his chest.

“I NEED those meds. Desperately. Without them…”

“How do I get them? Everything has been cleaned up in Tasmania. It’s not like I can go back to that place and grab it. And I can’t just walk into a drug store and ask for them. Or steal them. I wouldn’t even know what to grab.”

“Call Tyler. Call him and tell him…”

“Esme..”

“Tell him that I told you to do it. That I need the medications. He’ll find a way to get them to you. Maybe arrange a drop off. Meet up with him somewhere and…”

“So I can lead him right back here? You know what will happen? All hell will break loose. It’ll be bloody. Damn bloody.”

“Maybe he can leave them somewhere. And you can just go and grab them. Or he can get my sister to meet you somewhere. Or my friend, Clover. She’d be more than willing to help. I need those meds. The baby needs them. I know you don’t want that on your conscience; if something bad happens to either one of us.”

“Of course I don’t. That’s the last thing I want.”

“Think about what else could go wrong. Imagine how Mark will freak out? If he went to all this trouble to get people to grab me, only to find out I wasn’t taken care of properly? That won’t go over well. At all.”

“And there’s no other way I can get them? You can’t write down what you need and…”

“And what? They’re prescription meds. So unless you plan on walking into a drug store and forcing them at gunpoint to give you them...”

“Definitely not the best scenario, to say the least. There’s nothing you can take over the counter? Something I can just walk in and buy? You can’t…”

“These meds are what will keep me and my baby alive,” Esme firmly interjects. “ And if you refuse to get them and something happens to either one of us or even both, nothing you say or do will save you from Tyler. If I or this baby dies and he finds out you had a chance to prevent it, he’ll make you suffer. He’ll leave you to the last so that he can make it as slow and as painful as possible. All those stories you’ve heard about him? They’re all true. He CAN be savage and brutal. Especially when it comes to his family. Something happens and you could have stopped it? He won’t show you any mercy.”

Heaving a heavy sigh, he stands and removes his cell phone from the side pocket of cargo pants, chewing on his bottom lip as he stares down at the screen.

“You know it’s the right thing to do. And you’re all about doing the right thing now, right? About helping me? I won’t survive without those pills. And neither will my baby. Tyler will make you pay. It'll be brutal and vicious and he will enjoy every second of it. And just when you think he’s had enough and he’s going to finally kill you? He will stop and start all over again. Is that really what you want? To cross him? To try his temper? Because if there’s one thing he will happily kill for, it’s his wife. Is that really the hill you want to die on? Do you really want to try your luck with him? You may have been able to bring him down once, but it won’t happen again. He CAN be a monster. And I don’t think that’s a monster you want to face.”

“And you’ll talk to him? Tell him about how I’m helping? You’ll let him know?”

“Do you promise to stick to your word? You’re not going to totally screw us? You’re not going to turn around and help Mark instead?”

“I gave you my word. And I never go back on it.”

“I want you to let me talk to him. After you do. He deserves to hear my voice. You telling him that I’m okay won’t be enough. Let him hear my voice. It’ll go a long way when it comes to sparing you, believe me. Just let me talk to him. Please.”

“I hope I don’t live to regret this. I really don’t. I hope it’s not gonna come back and bite me in the ass.”

“The only thing it’s going to do is help SAVE your ass. Do you want to get on Tyler’s good side? You want to get out of this alive? You let me talk to him. Hearing I’m fine from you will do nothing. He needs to hear it from me. I know him; better than anyone else. He’s my husband. The father of my children. I know what he needs. And he needs to hear my voice.”

“Fine,” K relents, and presses a button on the side of his phone; bringing the screen to life. “What’s the number?”

*****

He finds solace in a nap; stretched out on the backyard hammock with Takota snuggled tight against his side. The four year old has been more needy and clingy than usual; profoundly missing that hip that he’d been constantly glued to over the past six months. Mumma has become his favourite person; following her around the house and insisting on ‘helping’ with chores and out in the garden despite only slowing her down and getting in the way. Always seeking out extra hugs and affection; Esme barely able to get the fruit and veggie plants watered without him continuously wrapping his arms around her legs and seeking endless supplies of hugs. She has taken it all in stride; accepting that house and yard work is going to take twice as long with her littlest bug firmly clinging to her apron strings. Tanner had been the same; the trauma of living in a volatile and toxic home during his parents’ darkest and trying of times turning him into a bonafide ‘mumma’s boy’. Wanting to both comfort and protect her while turning her into his ‘safe place’; mumma always able to give him the love and attention needed to chase his fears away.

Rest had come easily. Lulled to sleep by the motion of the hammock, the sound of the waves rolling up onto the shore, and the weight and the warmth of his son’s body against his. Takota had been weepy and inconsolable on the drive home from the bookstore; lamenting about how much he missed his mother and how he was worried he’d never get to see her again. Spending time with her at work had always been an extra special treat; helping her decorate for birthday parties and assisting in stocking the shelves and allowed to feed Clementine and the fish. And mummy would always put the closed sign on the door so they could have a break together; sitting out on the patio eating some of the fresh baked goods and sipping ice tea. To Takota there’s nothing better. Sharing his mother’s ‘special place’ is considered a tremendous honour in his books, and not having her there to even visit had eventually hit him extremely hard. No mum to run to and hug, no one lifting him up onto a chair behind the register so he could give change to customers, no one to gush over the crafts he’d make in the kids’ area. And his tears had started to flow the moment they got back to the truck; his entire body stiffening as he clung desperately to his father and made it impossible to be placed in his car seat. For half an hour Tyler had battled just to get the four year old to settle down and buckled in; alternating between tight hugs and whispered words of comfort and reassurance and moments of pleading and bribery. His temper and patience wearing thin with each passing moment; trying desperately to reason with his son while battling crippling mental and physical pain.

Upon returning home, he hadn’t had the heart to turn down Takota’s request to nap together; that lower lip and chin quivering and those enormous, tear filled eyes staring up at him. He had reminded Tyler so much of Esme in that moment; recalling the many times over the past thirteen years that he’d been in charge of drying HER tears. Those emotional moments brought on by pure happiness; holding each of their brand new babies for the first time or the moment he’d told her their offer for the house in Cooktown had been accepted and he’d made good on his promise to get her back to Australia. And the times where he’d been solely responsible for making her cry; their darker moments in Colorado and the horrible things he’d said to her in fits of rage and the difficult decision she’d made herself and their children her first priority and kicked him out of the house. And those nights the loneliness and the heartache became to much to bear and she’d invited him over; sex the one thing that they’d always been amazing at and the only thing they weren’t at each other’s throats. The emotions would often be too much for her to bear and she’d cling to him afterwards; caught up in both the blissful afterglow and the gut wrenching reality that despite tumbling into bed together, the distance between them still seemed so great. Their problems seeming out of control and insurmountable; a very real fear that even while lying in one another’s arms, things just weren’t going to work out,

He’d thought about those nights as he lay with his son in the hammock; the palm of one hand rubbing Takota’s back in slow, smooth circles as the fingers of the other moved through the little one’s hair. Vividly remembering the phone calls or text messages that would come long after the kids had come to bed; a mixture of little too much wine and a lot of loneliness and heartache that would prompt her to contact him. He’d been unable to resist the visits; desperately missing her and aching for her and wanting more than to lose himself in that time together. It meant that for one night at least, things were okay between them; no harsh words or slamming doors or hurt feelings. Able to escape the troubles that were plaguing them and threatening to tear them apart; the physical attraction and connection still as strong and overwhelming as it had always been. Finding solace in lust and passion; their bodies -as usual- responding so eagerly and willingly to one another.

It had been so good to be back in his bed. THEIR bed. His senses on fire; breathing in the familiar scent that clung to her hair and skin as his mouth burned from her hungry kisses and his body enjoyed the familiar weight hers resting against it. And despite her vulnerable and emotional moments, they’d fall back into old and comfortable routines; her head resting upon his chest as they talked into the wee hours of the morning. Never concentrating on the issues threatening to destroy their marriage, but focusing on the good times they’d had together; that little apartment outside of Sydney and their tiny and modest wedding -yet perfect for them- wedding and the trips to the beach with infant Millie. The way their daughter…barely a month old…had reacted the first time her daddy had ever dipped her toes in the ocean; a tiny gasp escaping her lips and those brilliant blue eyes widening in both shock and enjoyment.

“A natural,” Esme had beamed. She’d still been carrying some of her pregnancy weight and had filled out her bathing suit in ways she never had before. A bubble gum pink two piece that tied at the nape of her neck; the material and the cut accentuating her heavier breasts and her fuller hips and ass. Sexiness mixed with a bit of cute; her hair worn in braided pigtails and her toe nails painted in purple polish that sparkled in the sunlight. “A beach bum. Just like her daddy. Your genes really ARE crazy strong.”

For once in his troubled life, he’d felt at peace and proud of himself. Somehow…despite all of his issues and his mess…he’d managed to snag a beautiful wife and had played a part in creating an incredibly, tiny human. Since his horrible decision surrounding Austin’s illness, self loathing and guilt had stripped him of any semblance of pride; he viewed himself as a monster and lived in a constant state of disgust and disappointment. But sitting there in the surf with the love of his life beside him and his baby girl cradled protectively in his hands, he’d felt as if nothing bad could possibly touch him. He was living his best life; making good on the second chance he’d been given. And there wasn’t a damn thing or person that could sway him back to the dark side.

He’d been so wrong.

The ringing of his cell phone peels away the final layers of sleep, and he mutters profanities as he fumbles through the side pocket of his cargo shorts. Kota stirs against him yet doesn’t fully wake; mumbling and whimpering and then nuzzling his face further into his father’s ribs. Worn out from the intensity of the emotions he’s been feeling; confused and scared and desperately missing his mumma. And consumed by the fear and worry that his father will be the next to leave; disappearing without saying goodbye and never being seen or heard from again.

Tightening his hold on Kota, he repeatedly pats his palm against his son’s rear end; a soothing technique they’d discovered years ago when he was an infant. And when he’s satisfied that the little one will remain fast asleep, he finally looks at his phone; frowning at the ‘unknown name, unknown number’ plastered across the screen. Part of him is tempted to just let it go to voicemail; keep his attention focused on solely on his son and his own need for rest. Yet another nags at him to answer it; a voice in the back of his head that yells about what a mistake it would be.

He listens.

“Yeah?”

“Is this Tyler Rake?”

“Depends. Who’s this?”

“Someone you’ll want to talk to. It’s about your wife.”

His entire body tenses; his hold on Kota on tightening as his shoulders become painfully rigid and and his jaw cracks as it clamps shut. A mixture of emotions flooding through him; profound fear and intense worry and overwhelming rage. It’s a potent and extremely dangerous combination; an explosive cocktail of fury, concern, and heartache. And it will prove deadly for anyone that dares to get in his way.

“What about my wife?” He waits for it; the confirmation of his worst fears. The words that he dreads the most; the news his wife is no longer breathing and his entire world is about to crumble around him.

“She’s here. With me.”

He briefly closes his eyes; trying desperately to get his anger under control. His son’s slumbering body serves to keep him grounded; the reminder that seven little humans are relying on him to keep himself together. They’re innocent and vulnerable and completely dependent on him; scared and worried and missing their mother beyond all comprehension. In their eyes, dad can make everything; there’s no monster or demon he can’t defeat.

“Where is here? And who the fuck are you?”

“I was there the other night. At the cabin. In Tasmania. I was the one that was supposed to kill you. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go through with it.”

“What am I supposed to do? Kiss your ass for that? I’m supposed to thank you? I’m supposed to forgive you and say it’s okay and…”

“I don’t expect any of that. What I did was wrong. Taking part in any of that? I regret it, believe me. But I’.m trying to make things right here.”

“How can you make things right? You have my wife. She’s there with you? Where is there?”

“I can’t tell you that. It’s too soon. Things are messy here. Very messy. But she’s safe. I’m keeping an eye on her; making sure that no one hurts her.”

Tyler smirks. “A little too late for that, don’t ya think? I think it’s safe to say that she’s been hurt enough. Tell me where you are. So I can come and get her. That’s all I want. Her. So tell me where you are and…”

“I can’t. You can’t come here. It’s too dangerous. The things these people are capable of? The training they have? The things they can do? If you come here, things are going to get way out of hand. And she WILL get hurt.”

“Things are already out of hand. They got a hand three nights ago. The second any of you decided to even touch her. Now tell me where you are and…”

“She needs her medication. The ones that keep her and the baby alive. No one else knows; about her being pregnant. I’m the only one she’s told. And both of us want to keep it that way. So if we can just arrange something where I can get these meds for her and…”

“How am I supposed to get them to you when I don’t know where you are?” Tyler counters. “If I have no clue where the hell to take them to…”

“I’ll come there. We’ll meet somewhere. But I meet you alone; no one tagging along, no one watching us. Just the two of us. Like buddies meeting for a beer. I can’t let you lead people here. I just can’t. ‘Cause I know how bad it’ll get and I’m trying to avoid that.”

Takota stirs against him; mumbling in his sleep and then releasing a long, slow sigh before nuzzling his face into Tyler’s ribs. HIs free hand returns to soothing his child; palm softly and repeatedly patting the little one’s backside.

“I’m trying to help,” the man on the other end of the call continues. “I’m trying to make amends. For what I did. Trust me when I say that I’m protecting her. I gave her my word; that I’d keep her safe and get her the hell out of here. And I’m going to keep that promise.”

“Don’t think it’s going to spare you. The damage has already been done. Second you laid a finger on her.”

“I’m not expecting forgiveness. Or mercy. I’m just trying to do the right thing. I fucked up; getting involved with these people. All I can do is try and help make things right. That’s all I want. To help. I wouldn’t be calling you if I didn’t. This is fucked up. Way beyond anything I ever agreed to.”

“Then don’t let it drag on any longer. Just let her go. Take her somewhere and drop her off and then let me know where she is. Let her come home. This is where she belongs. With her kids.”

“It’s not that easy. I wish it was, believe me. I’m trying to do what’s best for Esme. I’m trying to…”

“What’s best for Esme? What’s best for Esme is her being home. Where she belongs. With me and our kids and…”

“I’d bring her here there right now if I could. If it were that simple. You think I want this to go on? You think I want things to get worse?”

“I think you’re a sick fuck. And I think you’re hoping that this is going to save your ass; helping her out and getting her home. But you’re just as guilty as the rest of them. If you were really trying to help, you’d let her go. Now. You wouldn’t drag this out. So you either let my wife go or…”

“Tyler?”

His chest tightens; heart leaping up into his throat and the tears threatening once again. It should be a relief to hear from her; finally receiving confirmation that she’s alive and well. But the sound of her voice guts him; tiny and scared and lost and a far cry from her usual self. She’s always been the bright light in even the worst of situations; possessing a bubbly and outgoing personality that not even the horrors of the job could manage to strip away.

“Esme?”

“I’m okay,” she quickly assures him. “I’m alright. I’m not hurt. Just some cuts and bruises, but nothing major. I’m fine.”

“The baby?”

“So far so good. But I do need those meds. If I don’t get them…”

“Just come home. Tell him to let you go. If he’s helping you…”

“He IS helping me. And he’s telling you the truth. He DID promise to protect me. And to get me out of here.”

“Do you trust him?”

“I do. I don’t have a reason not to. He’s already stepped up and taken care of me. Kept me safe from the others. But you’re going to have to trust me. And him. This is the best way to do these things; take it slow and plan stuff out and…”

“Me…I can’t…”

“You HAVE to trust me, Tyler. These people? They’re horrible, awful people. We need time. Just a little time. To come up with something. Figure out how to get me out of here. Please trust me, Tae. I need you to trust me.”

“I do trust you. You’re the only person I DO trust.”

“You have to get that medication to him. You know how badly I need it. If I don’t get it and something happens to me or the baby…”

“I’ll figure something out. I’ll get it to him. Somehow. You sure you’re okay? That you’re feeling alright? You’re not just saying shit, right? To make me feel better?”

“I’m alright. I wouldn’t lie to you. Are you okay? Because the last time I saw you…”

“I’ll be fine,” he assures her. “Just a little banged up. Nothing I can’t bounce back from.”

“I was so scared. I thought for sure they were going to kill you. I thought you were dead. I thought I’d never see you again. Or talk to you. So to hear your voice…”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” he chides. “I’m sorry, Esme. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. And I’m sorry I told you to calm down. To just listen to them and do what they say. I didn’t have a choice. If you’d kept fighting, they would have killed you. That’s why I said those things to you. That’s why…”

“I know. I know you wouldn’t have said them if you didn’t have a good reason. And you did what you could, Tyler. None of this is your fault. You DID protect me. The best you could. There was nothing else you could have done. Please don’t blame yourself, okay? I don’t want you doing that. Because I know how hard you fought and I know you don’t give up easily. So please, don’t do that. Hold onto that guilt. Promise me you won’t.”

“You know it’s not that easy for me. For my brain.”

“I love you.” Her voice cracks with emotion. “I love you so much. I’ve always loved you. I always WILL love you.”

“Don’t you do that. Don’t you say your goodbyes. Not yet. Not until you’re an old, old woman, warm in her bed.”

“There’s never been a time I didn’t love you. Even when things were really bad. I just want you to know that. That I’ve always loved you. And I’ve never regretted you. Or how things happened between us. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I just wanted you to know all of that. You know, just in case…”

“There’s no ‘just in case’. Everything’s going to be okay. I’m going to find you and I’m going to bring you home and…”

“I have to go. This is dangerous. They could come back at any time and…”

“No!” He objects. “Don’t don’t hang up. Please don’t hang up.”

“I have to. We’re on borrowed time as it is. And if I’m caught…”

“Please don’t.” The tears flow freely. “Don’t hang up. Please.”

“I’m sorry. I have to. I love you, Tyler. So much.”

“Esme…”

“Tell the kids I love them, okay? That I’ll see them soon. And that I miss them.”

“I miss you. So much.”

“Soon,” Esme promises. “Very soon. I’ll see you when I see you.”

He manages a small smile. “That’s my line.”

“I beat you to it. He’ll call later; to talk about getting those pills. Please don’t blame yourself for this. You have no reason to.”

“I love you, Me. More than you’ll ever know. More than I’ll ever be able to tell you.”

“I’ve never doubted it. Not once. I can't talk anymore. I have to go.”

“I WILL find you. I WILL come for you.”

“I know. And you know what? I’ve never doubted THAT either. Soon, okay? We’ll talk again soon. We’ll SEE each other soon. I have to go.”

“Don’t,” he pleads. “Please don’t. Don’t hang up. I’m not ready for you to hang up. Please…Esme…don’t…”

“I’m sorry,” she chokes out, and then abruptly disconnects the call.

[dicmondskies]

☆ & * .   ♡   i n t r o d u c t i o n  …

[          ◟  KAY. ◝           ]     ⸻     have  you  ever  heard  glamorous by fergie ,  well  it  is  ATHENA DUONG  to  a  tee  .  the  twenty six  year  old  tik tok makeup influencer  has  been  spotted  wandering  down  portobello  road  markets  just  last  sunday  ,  do  you  know  them  ?  would  you  say  she  are  more  materialistic  or  more  creative ?  anyway  ,  they  remind  me  of  the beverly hills aesthetic, brown doe eyes, the color pink, fresh eucalyptus and lavender bundles tied to the shower head, strawberry milk with two blue berry bagels, lavender scented sheets, the roller rink days ,  maybe  you'll  catch  them  around  yeah ?     ⸻     [          ◟  JESSICA VU. ◝           ]

tw: parental abandonment, white collar crimes, fraud

athena’s mother dearest unknowingly married a white collar criminal which by definition refers to financially motivated nonviolent crimes committed by business and government professionals. fraud being the main acts committed by dan, her mothers new husband and her uptight step father.

when athena was six, her father left one day for work and never came back. no explanation, he just disappeared and soon after they found out he’d started a new family. it’s one of athena’s biggest wounds and causes her a lot of grief and stress even still in her twenties. 

athena’s mother became extremely depressed when athena’s father abandoned them and athena picked up a lot of the slack and was made responsible for her mother’s well being. and then dan came along and their entire lives changed, again.

 the family’s wealth is all based on lies and if it weren’t for his nifty skills, dan,  would be in a jail by now, but he’s very high profile and knows how to cover his tracks. the family knows nothing of his crimes, and up until recently he had no worries about the federal government catching onto his schemes. he started to get anxious though when men in suits were brought in to investigate his company internally and as a result he’s taken a new job offer and relocated with his family to none other than nottinghill.

before that, they lived in pretty luxurious home in london and now they have significantly downsized, though, they still live in a ridiculously nice home. 

athena has somewhat caught onto dan’s shady behavior. she finds it extremely strange that they up and relocated so swiftly and smoothly, she started trying to dig around but still hasn’t found out exactly what dan is hiding, but she’s determined to find out. 

athena is a tik tok makeup influencer, she has 1mil followers and also does youtube tutorials sometimes. this is mostly how she makes money. instagram sponsorships are part of her income as well.

athena is also really talented at drawing and painting and would probably rather make money from her art than makeup and tik tok. it just so happens that a makeup tik tok she posted is how she went viral and started becoming an influencer. 

[cmlawson994]

House Republicans flailed through a second day of multiple balloting Wednesday, unable to elect their leader Kevin McCarthy as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority.

For a fourth, fifth and sixth time, Republicans tried to vote McCarthy into the top job as the House plunged deeper into disarray. But the votes were producing almost the same outcome, 20 conservative holdouts still refusing to support him, and leaving him far short of the 218 typically needed to win the gavel.

In fact, McCarthy saw his tally slip to 201, as one fellow Republican switched to vote simply present.

Seeing no quick way out of the political standoff, Republicans voted abruptly late Wednesday to adjourn as they desperately searched for an endgame to the chaos of their own making. They were due back at 8 p.m.

“Well, it’s Groundhog Day,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot.

She said, “To all Americans watching right now, We hear you. And we will get through this — no matter how messy.”

But the right-flank conservatives, led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Donald Trump, appeared emboldened by the standoff — though Trump publicly backed McCarthy,

“This is actually an invigorating day for America,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was nominated three times by his conservative colleagues as an alternative. “There’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.”

McCarthy, the California Republican, vowed to keep fighting despite the grueling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new majority into tumult a day earlier. Animated private discussions broke out on the chamber floor between McCarthy supporters and detractors searching for an endgame.

The House gaveled in at noon, but no other work could be done — swearing in new members, forming committees, tackling legislation, investigating the Biden administration — until the speaker was elected.

“I still have the most votes,” McCarthy said at the start of the session. “At the end of the day, we’ll be able to get there.”

But the dynamic proved no different from Day One, as Democrats re-upped their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, for speaker, and Donalds offered his challenge to McCarthy in another history making moment. Both Jeffries and Donalds are Black.

“This country needs leadership,” said Rep. Chip Roy, the Texas Republican noting the first time in history two Black Americans were nominated for the high office, and lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud.

It was the first time in 100 years that a nominee for House speaker could not take the gavel on the first vote, but McCarthy appeared undeterred. Instead, he vowed to fight to the finish.

The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House.

President Joe Biden, departing the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, said “the rest of the world is looking” at the scene on the House floor.

“I just think it’s really embarrassing it’s taking so long,” Biden said. “I have no idea” who will prevail.

Tensions flared among the new House majority as their campaign promises stalled out. Not since 1923 has a speaker’s election gone to multiple ballots, and the longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged out for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.

A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda, want to upend business as usual in Washington, and were committed to stopping McCarthy’s rise without concessions to their priorities.

But even Trump’s strongest supporters disagreed on this issue. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a firm Colorado conservative who nominated Donalds the second time, called on the former president to tell McCarthy, “`Sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.”

Earlier Wednesday, Trump had done the opposite, urging Republicans to vote for McCarthy. “Close the deal, take the victory,” he wrote on his social media site, using all capital letters. “Do not turn a great triumph into a giant & embarrassing defeat.”

As the spectacle of voting dragged on, McCarthy’s backers implored the holdouts to fall in line for the California Republican.

“I do think members on both sides of this are getting a lot of pressure now,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. “So I think the message from home is, ‘Hey, sort this stuff out, we don’t have time for the small stuff and the egos.’”

The standoff over McCarthy has been building since Republicans won the House majority in the midterm elections. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront Biden after two years of the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing he’s neither conservative enough nor tough enough to battle Democrats.

To win support, McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of the Freedom Caucus, who have been agitating for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and-file members more influence in the legislative process. He has been here before, having bowed out of the speakers race in 2015 when he failed to win over conservatives.

“Everything’s on the table,” said ally Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. — except, he said, having McCarthy step aside. “Not at all. That is not on the table.”

Democrats enthusiastically nominated Jeffries, who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker. He won the most votes overall, 212.

If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority.

It’s a strategy former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Speaker John Boehner had used when they confronted opposition, winning the gavel with fewer than 218 votes.

One Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present on multiple rounds, but it made no difference in the immediate outcome.

___

AP writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking contributed reporting.

[jacobivarson]

(JACOB IVARSON) who looks an awful lot like (SEBASTIAN STAN) has just been seen around Port Whitley!  Rumor has it that they are (KITCHEN STAFF). Apparently (HE/HIM) is/are a (35) year old (MALE) born on (OCTOBER 25th 1987) and has been in the city for (2 years) living in (OAKBROOK) and is a (REPAIR MAN). If there is a quote to describe them it would be “IF BLOOD IS THICKER THAN CONCRETE ALL IS NOT LOST” - But we have yet to make up our mind if that is accurate.

wanted connections | about jacob

B A S I C S

FULL NAME: Jacob Ivarson

AGE: 35

BIRTHDAY: October 25th 1987

ZODIAC SIGN: Scorpio

GENDER: Male

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Pansexual

RELIGION: Non-practicing Christian

A P P E A R A N C E

FACECLAIM: Sebastian Stan

EYE COLOR(S): Blue

HAIR COLOR(S): Brown

BODY BUILD: Muscular

HEIGHT: 6’0”

WEIGHT: 175 lbs

SCARS/BIRTHMARKS: a lot of scars from various incidents

BODY MODIFICATIONS: various tattoos

ADDICTIONS: cigarettes, former drug addict (cocaine was his drug of choice)

B A C K G R O U N D

HOMETOWN: Queens, New York.

LIVING CONDITIONS GROWING UP: Grew up in a small apartment with his mother and siblings in Queens.

LIVING CONDITIONS NOW: Lives in an apartment in oakbrook with two of his siblings

PREVIOUS OCCUPATION(S): drug dealer, car jacker

CURRENT OCCUPATION(S): Kitchen staff at Planet Of The Crepes (repair man)

R E L A T I O N S H I P S

BIRTH ORDER: Oldest of six children

SIBLINGS: Ben Ivarson, 30, currently in jail. Channing Ivarson, 25, artist. Macy Ivarson, 22, works at a coffee shop. Cassie Ivarson, 18, attending NYU. Peter Ivarson, 8, lives in Connecticut with their aunt and uncle’s family. *Only Jacob and Ben have the same father, the rest of the Ivarson siblings have different fathers who didn’t stick around which is why they all carry their mother’s last name.

FATHER: Jesse Anderson, 50. Alive, currently in New York, minimal contact.

MOTHER: Laura Ivarson, 48. Dead, overdosed on drugs a year ago.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER(S): n/a

PET(S): Toast, mixed breed dog. Jam, short-haired black cat.

P E R S O N A L I T Y

POSITIVE TRAITS: intelligent, charming, scrappy

NEGATIVE TRAITS: impulsive, stubborn, aimless

LIKES: chocolate covered anything, fast cars

DISLIKES: the police, cat hair, teslas

FEARS: losing his sense of family

Jacob got all his charm from his father the politician, but all his strength and stubbornness from his mother the drug addict. With that combination, most people find him quite lovable the more they’re around him. He’s easy-going, always cracking jokes, and the type of person that makes others feel welcomed. Despite his smartass routine, Jacob is very intelligent. He was scoring above everyone in his classes before he dropped out of high school to pursue car jacking and drug dealing, so despite his lack of formal education, Jacob isn’t as stupid as the company he tended to keep back in New York.

B I O G R A P H Y

Trigger warning: drug use, overdose

Jacob was the result of a one night stand between his mother Laura and a politician named Jesse Anderson. Jesse paid Laura to get an abortion but she pocketed the money and had the child anyway and that’s how Jacob came about.

He lived in a small apartment in Queens with his mother and five siblings.

Jacob started to get into trouble at a young age. He went from stealing from the corner market to grand theft auto and stealing credit card information and it only progressed from there until he was dealing drugs and boosting getaway cars.

Jacob spent a lot of his time on the streets with his brother committing petty crimes for quick cash and has had a few prison stints on his rap sheet.

His brother Ben is serving a 2 year prison sentence for possession of drugs, aggravated assault, and attempted robbery after a job went wrong.

Jacob never went to college but is overflowing with street smarts. He is good with his hands and can fix pretty much anything from door hinges to industrial kitchen appliances. However, his specialty was cars. He always had a steady and quiet hand even when doped up, and could get into just about anything with wheels.

His mother overdosed on prescription drugs 2 years ago in New York which is the main reason why he has left his life of petty crime.

After his mother’s death, being the oldest, Jacob had to step up and bring his family together.

Jacob tried to gain custody of his youngest brother but with no real source of income or fit living conditions his youngest brother Peter was released to their aunt and uncle in Connecticut.

Jacob decided he would get his younger brother back no matter what so he got clean, cashed in his favors and got his hands on enough funds to move himself and his two sisters to Connecticut so they could be closer to their little brother.

Jacob has been in Connecticut for 2 years and is hoping to win back legal custody of his younger brother within the next few years. His aunt and uncle don’t think he or his siblings are fit to raise a child and have fought to make sure none of them are able to take Peter away, though they allow the occasional visit.

Jacob works as a repair man for various businesses around town, including Planet Of The Crepes. He was friends with Aydin (the former owner) who secured his position at the diner. Given his rap sheet, it was safe to say that Jacob felt grateful and indebted to Aydin and still does.

Jacob is the only thing holding his family together at the moment since one of his brothers is in jail and one of his sisters in starting college at NYU.

These days Jacob is just trying to keep his head above water by supporting his family financially and eventually getting custody of his younger brother. He reminds drug-free and attends meetings weekly to keep himself on track.

[dissociativedaydream]

NSFW Alphabet - Cad Bane

A = Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

Cad Bane might get you a towel after sex but don’t expect much else in the way of care, he’s not an overly caring person.

B = Body part (Their favourite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

He’s pretty proud of his hands/fingers, he’s based basically his entire career on his trigger fingers and he’s well known for it.

On his partner, he’d probably say either breasts or ass, something he can dig his fingers into.

C = Cum (Anything to do with cum basically… I’m a disgusting person)

Bane’s favorite place to cum is his partner’s face. He loves to degrade his partner, and cumming on his partner’s face would be an excellent way of doing that.

D = Dirty Secret (Pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Bane will never ever admit that he enjoys cuddling. He doesn’t do it often, he can count the number of times he’s done it on one hand. (Duros only have 4 fingers if you need a reminder lol)

E = Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

Cad Bane is incredibly experienced, he doesn’t meet many people that would turn him down and while he knows what he’d doing, he rarely cares enough to utilize it.

F = Favourite Position (This goes without saying. Will probably include a visual)

He enjoys cowgirl, both forward and reverse so he can watch his favorite body parts on his partners jiggle.

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous, etc)

He’s not a goofy person and being goofy during sex is not a thing.

H = Hair (How well-groomed are they, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.)

(using hygiene) Cad keeps himself fairly clean but kind of just the bare minimum.

I = Intimacy (How are they during the moment, romantic aspect…)

Bane isn’t very romantic even with a committed partner, though he may compliment them during the heat of the moment.

J = Jack Off (Masturbation headcanon)

Bane usually has a partner and when he doesn’t he’s working on the hunt and doesn’t really have time to jack off.

K = Kink (One or more of their kinks)

Like mentioned before Bane has a degradation kink. Also enjoys various aspects of BDSM.

L = Location (Favourite places to do the do)

In his ship, preferably in his pilot’s chair. Elsewhere he doesn’t really care, he’d fuck his partner in an alleyway if the mood struck him.

M = Motivation (What turns them on, gets them going)

It doesn’t take too much to get Bane going. A successful job with a good payout is the best way to get his engines revved.

N = NO (Something they wouldn’t do, turn-offs)

Bane doesn’t like age-play and rather have his partner give enthusiastic consent (aka no non-con)

O = Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc)

Bane much rather receive than give but his head game is pretty decent if he decides to indulge.

P = Pace (Are they fats and rough? Slow and sensual? etc.)

Bane is the epitome of fast and rough, sex is no different.

Q = Quickie (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc.)

Again, fast & rough is Bane’s game. He loves a quickie especially when that’s the only time he has with a partner.

R = Risk (Are they game to experiment, do they take risks, etc.)

Bane is up for new things more often than not, a don’t know until you try it approach if you will.

S = Stamina (How many rounds can they go for, how long do they last…)

He can go for a long time before cumming but once he cums, he has to take a little while before he can go again.

T = Toy (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?)

Bane owns a few toys but rather use them on his partners than himself.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Bane has to be in a very good mood, or his partner needs to be really bratty for him to tease.

V = Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make)

Just like his normal life, Bane isn’t very loud. While he’s not loud, he does occasionally engage in dirty talk.

W = Wild Card (Get a random headcanon for the character of your choice)

Bane is actually a switch, he enjoys both top and bottom positions. But while a switch don’t think for a second that he’s not still the dom in the situation.

X = X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants, picture or words)

Bane’s dick isn’t very thick but is long with ridges that will stroke just the right places inside his partner.

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

High. He’s just around always ready to fuck. Just say the word and he’s down.

Z = ZZZ (… how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Bane would fall asleep pretty quickly, maybe a little faster if his partner forces him to snuggle with him.

[thebadgerclan]

SFW Alphabet: Kaz Brekker

Requested by Anonymous

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

With his fear of touch, it takes Kaz a while to be comfortable with physical affection, but he slowly gets there.  It starts slowly, with him holding your hand with his gloves on, putting an arm around your shoulders and waist, then holding your hand without the gloves, kissing your forehead, cheeks, and eventually your lips.  After a few months of working through his fear, he’s open to holding you for longer periods of time.  Kaz wants so badly to be physically affectionate with you, but with his phobia, it’s slow going, but he does get there

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Kaz doesn’t really do “friends”, more like allies.  But to have him as an ally, someone you knew you can rely on, that carries a lot of weight in the Barrell.  If you ever find yourself in a tight spot, you know you can call on Kaz for help, and he’ll be there, usually with a few other members of the Dregs

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Like I said in A, physical affection is something that you and Kaz have to work towards.  But once he’s comfortable with cuddling, it easily becomes one of his favorite things.  He likes to spoon you, his arms around your waist, nose buried in your hair, legs entwined.  Kaz also likes it when you lay facing him, your head buried in his chest, his hands rubbing your back.  He might not admit it, but on bad days, whether with his leg or his phobia, he loved being the little spoon, letting you hold him close and shut out the outside world

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Kaz does want to settle down, but with the Dregs, it’s not really a possibility.  So you settle for sharing a room and spending every night in each other’s arms.  But you do talk about what your future will be like when Kaz eventually gets a big payout from a job: a mansion, fancy clothes, a massive diamond ring (that’s Kaz’s addition).  He cooks well enough to keep himself alive, but to be honest, he’s not the best

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) I feel like he’d be really cold and practical about it, but he’d cry when he’s alone.  “This isn’t working, Y/N,” he says.  “We can’t be together and work together, pick one.”  Once he’s alone in his room at the Slat, he breaks down, knowing he just lost the only good thing in his life since Jordie

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Kaz fully intends to marry you, once he has enough money for a proper ceremony, one that meets every single one of the dreams you’ve had since childhood.  He gets you a simple ring, a small diamond on a silver band, and asks you to marry him.  It’s a simple proposal, but it’s romantic all the same.  “Y/N, darling, I love you more than anything else in this world.  Marry me, please, my love, make me your husband.”  He proposes after 2ish years of dating, well after he’s gotten over his fear of touch (with you at least)

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Kaz has a reputation for being ruthless and violent, but with you, he’s sweet, tender, and unbelievably gentle.  Once again, once he’s over his phobia, his touch is always gentle and tender.  He never raises his voice at you, he never even thinks about hurting you.  You are his treasure, worth more than any amount of money (and when I say “over his phobia”, I mean he’s comfortable with touching you, I know that he has deep seated trauma that will never go away.  But, in my opinion, Kaz is able to work through his trauma and work towards being able to touch his girl),

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Again, after working through his phobia, Kaz LOVES hugs.  Your arms are a sanctuary, a place where he can ignore the hustle and bustle of Ketterdam, work from the Crow Club and the Dregs, and anything that’s bothering him.  He’ll often come up to you and pull you into his arms, chin resting atop your head.  His hugs are warm and safe, you know that when you’re in his arms, nothing can hurt you

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

After about 8 months, Kaz is at the point that he’s able to hold your hand without his gloves.  You’d been so patient and understanding with him, and he took your hand, risking pressing a kiss to the back of it (something else he’d recently become comfortable with was kissing your cheek and forehead).  “Thank you for being so patient with me, Y/N, I love you so much.  My girl, I love you.”

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Kaz gets jealous very easily.  If anyone gets too close to you, he’s on edge.  Even if it’s Jesper, who has little to no interest in any female, Kaz still is jealous.  He comes to your side, either taking your hand, putting an arm around your shoulders, or pulling you flush against him (depending on where he’s at in terms of working through his trauma)

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

Tentative at first, when kissing is new to him.  Light, short pecks on your forehead and cheeks, before progressing to your lips.  Then they linger for a few seconds, mainly on your lips, and eventually, he gets to the point where he wants to kiss you every waking second, lips on yours until he nearly passes out.  Once he’s really comfortable with kissing, his kisses are passionate, the love he has for you palpable in the inches between you.  Kaz likes to kiss you basically everywhere: forehead, cheek, nose, lips, neck, other intimate areas ;D.  He likes to be kissed on the cheek, jaw, neck, lips (duh), and his hands. You’re one of very few people who get to see and touch his hands, so having you kiss them makes his heart flutter

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Honestly, he hates them.  I mean, remember what he said to that little girl in Crooked Kingdom?  He just doesn’t like them, there’s not much room to elaborate on that.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Most mornings, you wake to Kaz’s lips against your temple, his arms around your middle.  “Good morning, my love.”  He is loath to get out of bed in the mornings and leave your embrace, but he’s got a club to run.  Even so, he’ll spend an extra 20 minutes or so just holding you, soaking in your love and presence (This is all after he’s comfortable w/ touch, btw)

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

(Same as above, after Kaz is comfortable w/ touch)  Kaz tends to work late, so most nights, you have to drag him to bed.  You wrap your arms around his shoulders, kissing his neck.  “Come to bed, Kaz.  It’s late.”  He’ll sigh, moan about how much work he has to do, but he;ll let you herd him into bed

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

A loooooooooong time, both in regards to physical touch and the trauma he’s been through.  You know that he’s been through a lot, and you don’t push him, because you know that Kaz will tell you when he’s ready.  And sure enough, he does.  Slowly, he tells you about Jordie, the plague, how Rollins swindled him, everything about his past.  Time is your best friend in a relationship with Kaz

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

In general, fairly fast, but with you, he’s hardly angry.  On a job, Kaz can’t afford to be too patient, when he needs something, he needs it now, and he’s not afraid to do whatever he needs to get it.  But you’re a different story, with you, Kaz has endless patience.  He might snap at you at the start of your relationship, but he always apologizes immediately afterwards.  Love is new to him, so he needs you to be patient as well.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?) Kaz has the memory of an elephant, he has to with the jobs he does,  So he remembers every single thing you tell him, important or not.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

Cliche, but the first time he kissed you.  Kaz was finally comfortable enough with that level of intimacy, and he’d removed his gloves, cupped your face in his hands, and kissed you, a long, sweet, lingering kiss.  He cried, but they were happy tears.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

You’re dating the Bastard of the Barrell, Kaz is insanely protective of you.  Whenever you go somewhere without Kaz, he has a few members of the Dregs trail you, at a distance, just to make sure that if something happens, you’re protected.  But if he can, Kaz goes everywhere with you, you on his arm, glaring at anyone who might dare cross you, as if to say “Hands off, she’s mine”

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Kaz leads a busy life, so proper dates don’t happen all that often.  But when they do, Kaz goes all out, he books a reservation at the best restaurant in Ketterdam, roses, expensive wine, the works.  Other date type things are like a private dinner in his office and simple gifts, like candy and things you’ve mentioned you want

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

It’s not a bad habit, but it’s definitely an obstacle in a relationship: his haphephobia.  He can be a little rough around the edges, and he’s pretty resistant to the idea of a relationship until he realizes how hard he’s fallen for you

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Kaz is always dressed and groomed immaculately.  A fitted three piece suit, his hair slicked back, fedora, leather gloves, shoes shined to a mirror gleam.  He takes pride in his appearance, he came from nothing, and he’s built a little empire for himself, and he’s damn proud of it

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

At first he thinks he wouldn’t, but then there’s a job that goes south, and you get hurt, and I’m talking badly hurt.  Life-threateningly bad.  Nina patches you up in seconds, but you’re unconscious and weak for a few days.  Kaz doesn’t leave your side once, his hand clutching yours.  “Please, Y/N,” he begs to your sleeping form.  “Please be alright.  I can’t live without you.  I love you, Y/N, I love you so much.  Please, wake up, my love.”

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

On your 9 month anniversary, Kaz got a third tattoo.  Above the crow and cup, next to the capital R, now resides your initials

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Kaz cannot be with someone who doesn’t respect his boundaries.  If you take his hand without thinking before he’s alright with it, but release it immediately and apologize, he’s shaken but alright.  But if you do it and don’t let go or don’t apologize, it’s a massive dealbreaker

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

Kaz has trouble sleeping in storms, the rain reminds him of the tide on the Reaper’s Barge.  But cuddle him and he’s out like a light

[idontblushsrry]

SFW Alphabet|| Megumi Fushiguro

A/N: Uhhhh I’m back on my bullshit >:) it’s missing Fushiguro hours folks.

Word Count: 2050

A: Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

(If you want some more in depth affection headcanons click here)

Fushiguro is someone who isn’t big on pda but makes up for it in private. In public, he’ll hold your hand but in private he’s laying i your lap while you massage his scalp. Basically, he’s a big softie that just represses his urge to cuddle until he’s alone with you.

B: Best Friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Best friend Megumi is literally the president of the Y/N defense squad. If anyone has a problem with you, they have a problem with him. Of course, you have to rein him in sometimes and remind him you can fight your own battles, but just know he’s lookin out for you.

C: Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Fushiguro loves to cuddle, but he will repress the urge to do so for as long as possible. Because of that, he doesn’t let you go, preferring to cling to you throughout the night. His cuddles are always deceptively loose too. His arms give you just enough wiggle room but the second you try to get up, it’s like fighting two pythons.

D: Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

I don’t think he ever really planned on settling down, Megumi figured that he’d die long before he ever got the chance to settle down. Everyday is pretty much a new experience in terms of domesticity for him, he doesn’t have plans for the future, but as long as you’re with him, he’ll be happy.

E: Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

If he ever had to break up with someone, he’d probably ask for help on how to do so. The first person he’d ask (regrettably) would be Gojo who’d tell Megumi to just ghost the person. After asking around some more, he figured Kugisaki’s approach of getting it over with as bluntly as possible (although less mean) was the best option.

F: Fiance(e) (How would they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Megumi isn’t really the type for wedding ceremonies. He’s all about commitment (even though working up to marriage for him is longer than most) but he’s not a fan of being the center of attention, so a wedding ceremony/reception wouldn’t be his thing. If you wanted a ceremony, he’d be willing to compromise somewhat but otherwise, he’s perfectly fine with just going to the courthouse.

G: Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

He’s kind of rough around the edges. In private, he can be the sweetest, most tender soul, but in public he’ll put 7 yards of distance between you both if you try to hug him. Basically, he’s very shy, so anything that’ll draw too much attention is a no go (he isn’t opposed to linking pinkies though).

H: Hugs( Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?

At first Megumi really only hugged you when he was missing you, sad, or tired. Over time though, he got better at becoming more open with his affection and he’ll hug you whenever he feels the urge to. Despite that though, his hugs still have an undercurrent of desperation in them. He holds on just as tight each time like he’s afraid you’ll disappear.

I: I love you (How fast do they say the L-word)

He’s operating on a very strict ‘If you don’t say it, I won’t’ policy and as such this man will not say a single thing to you unless prompted. He knows deep down that he loves you and that you set off butterflies in his stomach every time you smile, but he never really thought to verbalize that until you say ‘I love you’ first.

J: Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous)

Megumi doesn’t get jealous, he’s fought side by side with you and he knows you’re more than capable of fending off any unwanted suitors. Megumi put a lot of trust into you by already being in a relationship so to him, it makes no sense to be jealous over you. That all being said, he’s not above the occasional side eye if someone’s getting a little too buddy buddy.

K: Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

On a normal day, his kisses are so natural, he’s so slow and the pressure is just enough to have you thinking you’ve got all the time in the world. In near death/ post-near death circumstances, he’s a little more feral. When he kisses you like that, it feels like it’s the end of the world and he’s trying to make the most of it.

L: Little ones (How are they around children)

Fushiguro isn’t good with kids that aren’t old enough to communicate. Older kids are fine with him, but guessing what a baby needs based on how loud it’s crying? Hard pass for him and he doesn’t even feel bad about it. The last time he had to watch a baby, he tried to leave one of his shikigami to watch it; long  story short, he had to explain to a cackling Gojo why his demon dogs wouldn’t let him leave to go to the bathroom.

M: Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Mornings with Fushiguro are pretty rare. Most of the time you guys don’t really get to sleep in or even spend mornings together since most of the time there’s missions or trainings you’ll have to go to. When you do get the rare morning off, Fushiguro makes the most of it. He sleeps in and doesn’t wake up before 10 no matter what you try. When he does finally wake up, he loves cooking breakfast with you, he’s not the best cook, but he treasures the experience over anything.

N: Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Nights with Megumi are also rare as most curses come out at night and that’s kinda your guys’ job. If all goes well though, you’ll both come back a little earlier and just go straight to sleep. If it’s a late night where the curse took more out of either of you than expected, yall usually stay up and talk and snack until one of you falls asleep or the sun comes up.

O: Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

It takes him an extremely long time to open up to you about his past. Not because he doesn’t trust you, but because he’s embarrassed and doesn’t want you to think less of him for it (especially during his problem child era). To be honest, you probably find out about certain things from other people. Once he’s cornered confronted, he’ll be completely (albeit a bit grudgingly) honest about it.

P: Patience (How easily angered are they?)

His anger is kind of weird, whereas before, he was a lot quicker to explode, bluntly telling off or even fighting whoever pissed him off, he’s changed. He tries his best to repress his emotions and as such, he comes off as patient, never expressing his true feelings/desires until pushed to the brink. 

Q: Quizzes (How much would they remember about you?  Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

He’s the king of remembering details you mention in passing. His love language is partially acts of service so for him, remembering details about you helps him later. Oh remember that one time you needed a pen/pencil but didn’t have one? Never again, this man has a section of his shadows dedicated solely to pencils because of you. Oh what’s that, you like this random song? Guess what just got added to the playlist he made for you. Basically, while he may not look like it, he’s actually a simp and so if he can make your life easier/ make you happy, it’s worth it.

R: Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

So Megumi is someone who doesn’t play video games but is really good at them for no reason. One day, you’re playing a game of smash bros. and he’s just kicking your ass, like it was sad. Needless to say, after his 4th win, he “accidently” pressed the wrong button and let you win. He thinks you don’t know he did this but when you won, you kissed him and completely flustered him, to the point that he couldn’t play for a solid 5 minutes. 

S: Security (How protective are they? How would they like to be protected?)

Despite knowing and trusting that you can defend yourself, he’s still super protective of you. You’re one of the few people that he cares about in the world and he’d give everything to see you safe and protected. As for how he’d like to be protected, knock some sense into him every once in a while. He has a habit of self sacrificing so if you want to protect him, remind him that you want to keep him alive as much as he wants to keep you alive.

T: Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

On the outside, his dates are very simple. They usually consist of you and him either staying in or just hanging out at stores and the like. Every once in a while, he’ll try to take you somewhere special, like a cove he found or a festival. For most people, these may be simple dates, but Fushiguro puts so much effort into so may aspects of your dates that honestly, anything bigger would lose the personal touch your dates have.

U: Ugly (What are some bad habits of theirs? (I’m gonna add arguments here because they aren’t on the prompt list I found))

One of his worst habits is his self-sacrificing tendencies. Even during a baseball game, he can’t help but sacrifice himself (especially if it means his friends/ you get to get the glory). With time though, he grows out of this and realizes it’s not selfish to want the best for yourself.

V: Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

He’s giving “I woke up like this” and it’s... it’s something. One might think the style is intentional since obviously, the look could only be achieved with gel, and to an extent, it is intentional. He might use gel to spike it a little more but the man legit rolls out of bed and chooses to leave his hair up like that.

W: Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

No, as much as he loves you, Fushiguro is an introvert. He needs time to just be by himself and unwind every once in a while, so he’s got no complaints if you leave him to his own devices or have to be gone for a long time.

X: (E)xes (Any previous relationship experience. How does that factor into your current relationship?)

Megumi has negative zero relationship experience. He’s never found someone that was worth the risk/ worth opening up to, hell, he just barely got friends when he entered high school. Because of this, every part of your relationship is like navigating uncharted waters.

Y: Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner)

He’s less someone to dislike a specific thing/ personality trait, and more someone who doesn’t like different people for different reasons, ex. Todo and Mai. If he had to pick a single trait, it’d probably have to be hypocriticism.

Z: Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?)

He is someone who will fall asleep spread eagle one night and the next be huddled into a tiny little section of the bed. Mercy on you if you try to cuddle because now you’re wrapped up into his unconscious acrobatic routine.

[multifandomfix]

Negatus Fluff Alphabet

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

He’s pretty affectionate. He’s never had someone who loves him like you do and he wants to make sure he keeps you around, so he’ll shower you in affection.

B = Babe (What would they use as pet names? Do they use them a lot?)

He uses Dear a lot, but also things like Pumpkin and Sugar Plum, but that’s usually for when you’re alone.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

He does like cuddles. It really helps calm him in both body and mind. He adores spooning, no matter who is big or little.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? What would they think about living together?)

He does want to settle down, especially when he knows you’re the one for him. And he lets you live with him pretty early on. He loves having you close.

E = Emotion (How are they with showing emotion in public versus private?)

He’s much more open in private with you than in public. He’s got a tough villain reputation to maintain after all.

F = Flirt (How do they flirt? Are they smooth or awkward?)

He flirts like crazy and it’s not always that smooth. Like 9 times out of 10 it’s charmingly awkward, and that 1 out of 10 left is sweep you off your feet good.

G = Gifts (Are they a gift giver? What kind of gifts do they give?)

Negatus is a notoriously bad gift giver, but he does try. It’s the thought that counts with him, and you love him for it even though he has gotten you some truly strange things.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

He’s not overly fond of hugs, but he doesn’t dislike them. His hugs do tend to be a bit awkward but he gets better a them over time.

I = I Love You (How fast do they say the L-word?)

He probably says it faster than he planned on. He’ll blurt it out at the most random time and completely disarm you and leave himself flustered.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

He gets jealous far more than he needs to. He gets jealous over silly things, and he gets all grumpy until you calm him down.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

His kisses are surprisingly sweet. He does like to kiss your lips most, and loves when you take his helmet off to give him forehead kisses.

L = Little ones (How are they around children? Would they want some of their own?)

He’s actually pretty decent with children, at least for short periods of time. Absolutely awful with babies though. But he secretly does want at least one of his own to raise with you.

M = Meet (How did they meet you?)

You ran into him not long after you first came through the portal to Yonderland. Having fled your normal life you decided to make Yonderland your new permanent home and he became sort of your tour guide.

N = Nurture (Are they good at taking care of you if you’re hurt/sick?)

Not at first. He’s kind of a mess at taking care of you, too concerned that you’re going to die, even if it’s not nearly that bad. He has his minions take care of you though and yells at them if they’re not doing a good enough job.

O = Out (What’s a typical date night with them like?)

Negatus likes taking you out and showing you the lesser known places in Yonderland. You get to see the beautiful land and spend some real quality time with him.

P = Propose (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

He’d be hesitant about a real commitment at first, but when he realized you were the real thing he’d want to lock you down as soon as possible.

Q = Quirk (What small habit/feature/quirk do they have that you find especially endearing?)

His obsession with his helmet is what you find most endearing. He loves the thing and it suits him well, so you help him clean and polish it from time to time.

R = Routine (What does a typical day together look like? Routines, schedules, habits?)

You often wake before him and make breakfast for the two of you. You do get ready to go to bed together once you’ve moved in with each other and it’s something you’ve grown comfortable with.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you?)

He’s very protective. He doesn’t like anyone getting to close, fearing they’ll lay a hand on you. He’s ready to fight whoever seeks to harm you, or at least send in his minions to do it.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

At first, he probably wouldn’t give too much thought to that sort of thing, but as time went on he’d almost start trying too hard just because he wouldn’t want to lose you.

U = Unique (What makes them unique as a partner?)

He always keeps you on your toes. You never know what to expect day to day with him. Sometimes it’s lazing about and other days you’re constantly on the run.

V = Vulnerable (How long until they can be vulnerable around their s/o? What are they like when they do open up?)

It takes him a while to open up about the big stuff. The little stuff is no problem, but it’d take him a while to let you in on the bigger things.

W = Wardrobe (What would they wear to impress you?)

He finds his usual outfit to be both intimidating and impressive and he really wouldn’t go out of his way to change his attire just to win you over.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

He giggles a lot. It’s adorable and you frequently try to make him laugh just to hear it.

Y = You (What are some things they would like in a partner?)

He like someone who supported him no matter what and went along with whatever crazy scheme he concocted next.

Z = Zzz (What are their sleep habits?)

Negatus can be a fairly fitful sleeper. He’s often kept awake by his evil plottings and remembering his failures.

For anon

Negatus: @casserole-from-dads-asserole

[plush-rabbit]

SFW Alphabet - Yoarashi Inasa

A: Affection (How affectionate are they with a s/o?)

Inasa is affectionate to a high degree that it can become a bit overwhelming. He’ll save major acts of public display of affection at home, but he will be having a constant hand on you at all times. It’s nothing protective but rather just affection. He’s either holding your hand and pulling you somewhere new, he’ll have a hand on your back and guide you through the crowd, or just hold you no matter your size. He’s calling you pet names, pressing kisses against your cheeks and on your lips, bringing you your favorite snack if you tell him to. He is just so eager to give you all his love and attention.

B: Breath (What could their s/o do to take their breath away?)

Just engaging with him is enough. He’s aware that he’s rather a bit too much at times so if you were to just try to match his energy and provide an actual conversation or even just listen intently, he’s going to be head over heels. He’s always so happy when someone gives it their all and seeing you try to give it your all with him on a personal level just means so much to him. He loves the look in your eyes when you start to relate something that he likes to something that you like, inching closer to him and grabbing his hand. If you happen to show up the next day with a gift pertaining to what he was talking about, he’s smothering you in kisses.

C: Cuddling (Do they cuddle? If they do, how and when do they cuddle?)

He loves to cuddle. Hold in your arms and act as the big spoon and he’s kissing at your hands as soft laughs escape, pulling you closer to him. If he’s the big spoon, he’s running his hands across your back, feeling the curve of your spine, pressing soft kisses against your temple and just being completely relaxed. He prefers to cuddle while doing activities that pertain to the bed rather than actually go to sleep.

D: Dream (What do they dream of doing with their s/o?)

Inasa often just dreams of just coming home to you. A hero isn’t an easy job and he’s left beaten and sore, aching as he rolls his shoulders. The simple pleasure of coming home to you and sitting beside you makes it all worth it to him. He wants to be able to come home and rest alongside you, to wrap you in his arms and press himself against you, as he tells you about his day.

E: Effort (How much effort do they put into a relationship?)

He puts everything into this relationship. Inasa is committed. He is going to go all out with every important date and often leaves you wondering how he’s going to out-do himself for next year. There a few times when gifts become repetitive with either candles or stuffed animals. There are plenty of vases around for when he’s gotten you flowers for certain occasions. Every little thing that you want, he’s going to give it to you. He is going to make you feel special every single day, hardly ever getting into arguments and committed to making you remember how much he cares for you.

F: Fear (What do they do if their s/o is scared? How do they handle it?)

If you’re scared because of a nightmare, he’s going to comfort you. He’ll wake up and pull you in for a hug or rub at your back and remind you that while he’s around, nothing is going to harm you. He’s quiet knowledgeable in knowing how to calm over given his line of work. If you’re scared because of his line of work, he’s left speechless. He doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t want to give a false promise that everything will be okay but he will promise you that he’ll do his best to come home.

G: Gifts (What type of gifts do they give their s/o? Do they want a gift in return?)

His gifts are always something that you want. If you mentioned in passing how you wanted a watch, he’s going out and purchasing you the best watch that will suit you. His gifts can range from small things like flowers to things on the higher end. He doesn’t expect gifts in return. He sees his gift giving as a form of love language, and if yours is different he won’t complain. Receiving a gift from you is bound to make him jump for joy. He’s holding the object close to his heart and will proudly put it on display.

H: Hugs (Do they hug their s/o? How often?)

Inasa hugs you quite often. There are a multitude of different hugs that can easily give off his emotion. There are hugs where he’s gripping you tight and burying his head into the crook of your neck often signaling that he’s had a tough day. There are hugs where he spins you around and kisses at your face which mean excitement. The rarer hugs are ones where he collapse next to you and hides his face in your chest, his hand clutching at your shirt and brining you close which means he is not his best and wants to be held.

I: Intimacy (How romantic are they? Do they have problems with intimacy?)

He has no issues with intimacy. Inasa is quite romantic. Often times things will be either “traditional”- flowers, chocolates, dinner dates and what not- or more “modern”- dates to a roller rink, getting you a mega sized gummy candy, or whatever else that is available. He does whatever you want, going all out and into it with an open mind. He can smooth talk his way into something, sweet words whispered into your ear as he holds you tight and kisses at your lips.

J: Jealous (Do they get jealous? How do they act when jealous?)

He doesn’t get jealous. Inasa is very secure about the relationship that he holds with you. He doesn’t think you’ll leave him or cheat on him. If you want to go out with friends, he’s happy that you’re going out, just make sure you stay safe. On the rare occasion that he is jealous, he’ll have a big smile and wave his arm, loudly calling out a pet name for you or just grabbing your hand in front of said person and exclaiming about what a wonderful partner you are. The latter option often ends up with Inasa complimenting you to a stranger who was flirting with you a second ago.

K: Kiss (Are they a good kisser? Do they like to kiss? How often do they try to kiss you?)

He’s a fairly good kisser. He’s rather eager and always rushes into it but he finds his footing soon enough. He loves to kiss you- just peppering your face or have you kiss at him fills him with butterflies. He tries to kiss you often. At least five times before either of you leaves for work. He wants to peck at you and just keep you loved and happy.

L: Love (When do they say they love you? How often do they say it? Do they prefer to say or show it?)

He says “I love you” quite often. Surprisingly, he did not say the words first. As passionate as he is, he held insecurities that you didn’t feel the same way and would let the feeling fester. He says it only after you do, looking away from you and holding your hands tight in his. He prefers to show his love to you but he always says it.

M: Marriage (Do they want to get married? If so, what kind of ceremony?)

He would love to get married. He wants to wear the wedding bands and announce you as officially his. He would like a large wedding- friends and family invited; having people watch as you two say your vows. However, if you would prefer to have a small wedding, he can respect that and narrow the long list of potential invites- with your help, of course.

N: Night Out (What type of dates do they like to go on? How often do they like to go on them?)

He loves to go on dates. He likes to be able to go out and walk with you to a fair or farmer’s market- something public and just doing cute stuff. If he were to be honest, any activity that he does with you is a date. You two could go grocery shopping and he’s dressing to match your style and helping you pick out fruits. He likes to go on “official” dates often. He wants to treat you out and just hear you talk about your day or sit in silence.

O: Out of the Ordinary (What’s something they don’t normally do with/for their s/o?)

Inasa does whatever you ask of him. His goal is to make you happy and he’s going to do it. He will try or do whatever you want him to do at least once.

P: Playful (Are they playful in a relationship? If so, how do they play around/mess with their s/o?)

He is extremely playful. He will tickle at your sides, throw popcorn at you to get your attention and anything else to see you smile. His playfulness comes more in a form of teasing, patting your head and calling you cute, pinching at your cheeks or picking you up. There are few times where he’ll use his quirk to make you trip into his arms or to just have you “fly” as he messes with you.

Q: Questions (Do they ask their s/o their opinion on things? Do they share theirs?)

If he is going to buy something, he is asking for your opinion. He wants you to like what he’s going to buy whether it is clothes, food, accessories or even pet food for the stray animals. He wants you to enjoy and know that there is major part of his life that he dedicates to you also being happy. He will share his opinion. He’ll tell you what he thinks of this or that.

R: Random (How spontaneous is their relationship? Do they do things on the spot or plan ahead?)

Rarely spontaneous, Inasa likes to have things planned. He wants to make sure that you have time to prepare and that he is also free. There are few impromptu “dates” that involve going to the store and buying snacks. Most dates are planned, having times checked off and researching before taking you out.

S: Sleep (How do they sleep with their s/o?)

He will pull you close. He teeters between being a heavy sleeper and a light sleeper. If you’re around, he has at least a hand on you and will keep it there and will sleep until his alarm wakes him up. Yet, if you were to wake up randomly and walk off, his hand instantly searches for you and if he cannot find you, he’ll wake up and call out your name. He’s quite clingy, holding onto you and kissing at you face with tired pecks.

T: Trust (How much do they trust their s/o?)

He trusts you a hundred percent. He will tell you whatever you need to know and will trust your judgment. He absolutely cares for you and will hold you close as he tells you whatever you want to know. Inasa cares for you very much and will place his entire wellbeing and trust in your hands. There isn’t a moment where he doubts you.

U: Unique (What makes them unique as an s/o?)

He is just so passionate. You ask him to do something for you and if he can, he will absolutely give you what you want. He is the epitome of faithful. He cares for you so much and every time you both go out, he gives it his all, he’s just so caring and accommodating to you and your needs.

V: Vulnerable (How long until they can be vulnerable around their s/o? What are they like in this state?)

Contrary to his fiery personality, he takes a while to be vulnerable around his partner. He holds his emotions close and he will be vulnerable around you at times but its surface level. He’ll hold your hand and have a deep look on his face as he tells you about his day and the struggles of it. It’s until further into the relationship that he becomes vulnerable. He’s burying his head into your chest or neck and growing teary eyed with you. He’s extremely clingy, wanting to be held and not wanting to let go for a long time.

W: Wild Card (Random headcanon)

He loves candles. He prefers sweeter scents that remind him of spring or summer. There’s something nice about the house smelling either fruity or sweet and the process of buying a candle and trying out different scents and seeing which one he or you like.

X: X-Ray (What would they do if their s/o got injured?)

Inasa would be distraught. He struggles to breathe, gripping at his sleeves and tearing up as he stares at your injured form. Depending on the severity, he will not leave you alone. He’s staying by your side or sending you messages every hour on the hour asking if you need anything. He is one to beat himself up over you incident, telling himself that if he were home earlier, you wouldn’t have had to climb the ladder or if he had done the cooking, you wouldn’t have cut yourself. If it’s by an attack, he becomes so determined on being your own bodyguard.

Y: Yuck (Do they have any pet peeves about their s/o? Are there any habits that might bother their s/o?)

A pet peeve might be him being overly friendly. There’s nothing wrong with it but when you’re trying to buy milk and he’s talking to anyone and everyone and it takes the trip longer than it needs to, it can become an issue. Not to mention sensory overload or any other types of things coming into play. Something he might become irked about from you is if you disregard him. He can understand if you’ve had a bad day and would rather be left alone so long as you tell him. Inasa will give you the space you need but you need to tell him.

Z: Zeal (Are they passionate as a s/o? Do they want or like passion?)

Inasa is one of the most passionate partners. He is hugging and spinning you around if he hasn’t seen you for hours. If you purposely hide from him in grocery stores, he’s looking everywhere for you and he has this bring toothy grin when he sees you, and he’ll rush towards you and lift you off the floor in a hug and keep a tight grip on your hand for the duration of the trip. He doesn’t expect the same levels of passion as long as you’re passionate. Show him that you care and Inasa is more than happy with that. If you give him the same type of passion, he’s just never going to stop smiling.