#i am now on another road trip and reminded of it

[sleepsmackdown]

Does anyone know an easier way to reach the first post I made than scrolling through the entire blog?

[omnomnomdomcaps]

Nevermore - Remastered

Another Spooky Season remaster, this time featuring some awesome original art from @spaced-goddess. Go check her blog out!

“Alright now, up we go,” came Mrs. Winthrop’s soft voice, as she picked her onesie-clad student up from the classroom floor and placed her onto her desk, their school principal looking on as she did. “Can’t be having a talk with you while you’re crawling around on the floor.” 

Amber didn’t resist. She didn’t say anything, didn’t fight back against her teacher’s choice of words - after all, walking without tripping seemed to have become her latest challenge, and she had the carpet burns on her knees to prove it. Without a word of protest, the girl allowed herself to be picked up and placed on the desk, hiding her blushing face away as much as she could. 

This was a far cry from the girl who first arrived in Mrs. Winthrop’s preschool classroom on Halloween day, half a year before. That Amber was headstrong and defiant, fuming constantly that some saboteur had seemingly drugged her and messed with her brain, leading her down a road of failed tests and embarrassing accidents. She was furious that she had to drop out of the college and come here to relearn her basics, and she let everyone around know it. 

That Amber was proud. She was sure of herself. And even through all of her setbacks, she was confident. “Whatever,” she would snarl, “fine.I’ll just re-do some stuff and get out of here. I’m still an adult. I’m still better than all these dumb little brats.” 

As the school year wore on, though, those “dumb little brats” could actually keep up with their preschool lessons. And Amber? Not so much. 

While her classmates learned their numbers and letters and shapes, Amber just stared blankly, trying and failing to understand what the teacher was talking about, only to be distracted by the slightest hint of a pretty bird or a squirrel outside the window. Again and again, those “dumb little brats” ended up having to help her with shape blocks and stacking rings, while they played with their ‘advanced’ toys. Again and again, they would have to remind Amber to use the potty - or, more often, tell Mrs. Winthrop when the girl had an accident. 

Maybe, if Amber had known that she was under a witch’s curse, she wouldn’t have been so shocked at how it all turned out. Maybe, if she had heard the incantation, heard that the spell would lower her abilities to the level of her maturity, she would have understood why her stubborn attitude wasn’t getting her anywhere. But of course, these were truths she never would have accepted, or believed. 

“Amber, sweetie,” Mrs. Winthrop began, “we need to talk about your progress.”

The girl said nothing. Her face was turned away, her hands hidden between her legs.

“Now now,” the principal chimed in, a stern air of authority in his voice, “your teacher made you a very special potty chart, don’t you remember?”

Amber turned her eyes briefly to the wall, turning them back just as quickly. It was embarrassing for her to think about - the way her teacher had set it all up to help encourage her re-training, the whole class cheering her on like their little sister as she proudly donned her training pants. But of course, her results were anything but encouraging, and she was soon taken out of pullups altogether.

“Do you think you did a good job with your potty training?” Mrs. Winthrop asked.

The girl hung her head in silence. 

“And do you think you’ve been doing a good job with your preschool lessons?” the teacher added. 

“N-no,” Amber finally muttered, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

“And do you know what we’re going to have to do now?” came the principal, his arms crossed as he stood in front of the girl.

“Am I… Am I gonna havta stay in preschool again next year?” Amber's voice began to crack. 

Mrs. Winthrop let out a heavy sigh. “No, honey… I’m afraid it doesn’t look like you’re ready for preschool at all.”  

The girl was in shock. “B-b-b-b-” she stammered, “but… but I’m a big girl! I’m a big girl!”

 “Oh?” the principal offered flatly, “And what do you think makes you a big girl?”

“‘Cause - ‘cause I’m…” Amber took her hands out from between her legs, trying to emulate the “I’m this many!” gesture that her classmates would often make. She wanted to show that she was nineteen… or was it twenty now? Was twenty more than nineteen? Would she need to use more fingers than the other preschoolers did? After all, she was a lot bigger than they were. But then again, they were a lot smarter than she was…  

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Winthrop intervened, motioning the girl’s hands back toward her lap, “I think the poor thing’s gone and confused herself again.”

It was at that moment that another set of footsteps made their way into the classroom, and they belonged to Tom, Amber’s college boyfriend. Through all her failures and misadventures, he was the only one who stuck by her, seeming to enjoy having to take care of her more and more. And now, here he was again to pick her up from school.

“Daddy!” the girl blurted out instantly - he’d encouraged her to start calling him that, and it came naturally to her now - “They tolded me I can’t go preschool! They tolded me I’m not ready! But I’m a big girl! Big girl! Big girl big girl BIG GIRL!!” Amber shrieked, pounding the desk with her balled-up fists as the tears began to stream down her face.

“Oh my,” Tom turned to the two adults, unfazed, “has she been causing trouble?”

“Ah, you know how she can be,” Mrs. Winthrop shrugged, “I’m sure it hasn’t been easy for her, trying to keep up with these classes with the level she’s at.” 

“Maybe,” Tom nodded, a wry smile beginning to form, “or maybe she just needs a change and a nap.

“Up we go, princess,” he turned to the girl, lifting her from the table and into his arms, “time to go home.” 

“BIG GUWL!” Amber kept shouting, hands still waving in the air, “BIG GUWL! BIG GUWL!”

“I’m sure you will be one day,” her boyfriend-turned daddy assured her, patting her padded bottom, “but for now, we’re gonna find you a nice daycare, and first we gotta change you out of that stinky diapy.”

“But I’m not stin-” the girl protested meekly, before freezing halfway through.

That, of course, was when the smell and the sensation hit her. Of course she was stinky - she'd probably filled her diaper while shouting about what a big girl she was, while insisting that she belonged in a preschool where she was nothing more than the pants-pooping laughing stock of the class. 

As the last remnants of her pride crumbled away, Amber started to imagine just how far she had left to fall. She wondered, as she was carried away from that classroom for the last time, was she going to be the laughing stock of her daycare, too? It was all too much for her mind to handle, and so the girl simply started to bawl. She cried, helplessly, like the little baby she had become. She cried, helplessly, like the little baby she had now been for months. She cried, helplessly, like the little baby she was going to be for a long, long time.     

[euaphoric]

“ are we there yet? ” ˙ ✩°˖🚏⋆｡˚꩜

✩‧₊˚ pairing — jungkook x f!reader (established relationship)

✩‧₊˚ warnings — fluff, lovey lovey dovey dovey, sm*t, exhibitionism, f*ngering, piv, essentially they get frisky in the forest hehehe, this is pretty vanilla tho<3

synopsis:: roadtrips with your boyfriend seem all fun and games at first, until you end up getting lost in the middle of nowhere with no signal !

words ⥂ 1.5k

the summer of august… balmy evenings, golden overcasts from sun rays, clammy humid air, and warm, lofty breezes at nightfall. ideal weather to spend a weekend away with your favorite person, escaping the depths of reality to reset + recharge. this was long overdue since both you and jungkook are always cooped up in work, the quality time you get to share nowadays has progressively dwindled. soon as jungkook found out you two had aligning free time he made plans almost instantly for a romantic getaway. he (said in his own words) found the perfect distraction to take your minds off everything and whisk all your problems away.

well at least that’s what he’s tried getting you to believe so far..

but you weren’t sold just yet— at the rate he’s driving and the stilled guise of confusion on his face, something seemed alarmingly off to you. you didn’t notice at first but once you recognized one of the landmarks previously seen half an hour ago, it doesn’t take much for you to put 2 and 2 together. he may or may not be totally lost right now and is trying to act completely unfazed. you hear him mutter a string of curses lightly under his breath, he seemed to be frustrated by something but not quite really sure what.

“hmm.. are we almost there yet koo?” you ask softly, resting your head against the window, eyes drearily fluttering. it concerns you when he doesn’t reply, instead he continues focusing on the road— this only puzzles you more since he was just talking your ears off moments before. “uhm, hellooo earth to jungkook? you can hear me right?” you reiterate, turning slightly to face his direction. he snaps out of his trance for only a second to vaguely address you. “yeah.” it’s unlike him to be this quiet with you, especially not when he was the one most excited about this trip, he’d send you daily reminders and even had a whole countdown for it. you had to get to the bottom of this immediately.

⟡ ⟡ ⟡

one thing about jungkook is he hates to admit when he’s wrong, especially in front of you. he ensured that he knew exactly where you guys were going and insisted on you not doing an ounce of driving, 4 hours wasn’t gonna kill him. “you’re my princess, and princesses belong in passenger seats only!” he’d argue in response to you wanting to help. he wasn’t budging on his stance either, every time you offered to take the wheel he’d strike a deafening glare. you sigh while watching him continue to struggle, his gaze darting back and forth from the road onto the gps of his phone. that’s when you see yet again another familiar sign up ahead, at this point he has no idea where he’s going. “babe, are we los-”

“don’t say that.” jungkook quickly cuts you off, “we’re not lost, i just- am having some technical difficulties with the directions is all!” it finally took him looping around in circles for a third time to get him to acknowledge his plight. “okay maybe a little bit…” you shake your head at his stubbornness, always thinking he can do everything on his own. “i think we should stop for a minute to recuperate.” you suggest, checking out the window to see nothing but endless nature and not a single other car in sight. neither of you had a single clue where you were. jungkook finally caves and pulls over, pandering his next move. an idea comes to mind for him instantly, “oh! i know who could help, i’ll call namjoon! he’ll know what to do in situations like this.” right…because calling your friends when you’re lost in the woods is the best solution at hand.

he attempts to call but is met with yet another disappointment. “fuck, i only have one bar..” you check your phone only to see you had no better luck. “my phone isn’t even picking up a signal around here..” this couldn’t get any worse— stranded in the middle of no man’s land and having zero capability to communicate with the outside world; technically, this was what jungkook was going for but not to this extreme extent. he huffs in frustration, “shit- well i guess we’re screwed now thanks to me.” “maybe if you’d let me help earlier none of this would’ve happened!” you impishly gloat, never letting him live down the fact he never listens. he flashes a pout along with the most dramatic eye roll, unwilling to give you any satisfaction of being in the right. “yeah yeah, whateva.”

an awkward silence passes by until jungkook speaks again, “soo like.. what’re we gonna do now…” “beats me,” you say nonchalantly, “should we go explore the woods?” the curious cat in you is need of a little adventure. “isn’t that a bit risky? you never know what’s out there!” he wasn’t too keen on your idea but you’d be able to get him to fold quickly. “ugh, you watch too many of those horror movies. we’ll be fine, just c‘mon!” you chirp, getting out the car and making a dash into the forest. “wait- slow down.. wait for me!!”

⟡ ⟡ ⟡

the view in front of you was breathtaking; effervescent greenery surrounding you, tranquil patters of the waterfall, absorbing in the pleasant atmosphere alongside your lover. though you were in quite the predicament, this moment put you decently at ease. “this is so beautiful.” you express in awe of the scenery. jungkook was also indeed starstruck by something, but it wasn’t the wispy terrain. “yeah it’s nice, but not half as beautiful as you are.” his soft hand cups the side of your face, tilting slightly to place a chaste peck. another hand travels to the hem of your sundress, drawing over your smooth skin to caress your inner thighs. his touch felt so relaxing, you almost forgot where you were for a second. “wha- what’re you doing-” a lush pair of lips connect with you again, cutting off your chatter.

you kissed for what seemed like hours, purring into him as he plays with the thin fabric of your lace underwear. his everlasting touch and lips felt like paradise, lustfully drunk off each other’s energies. your mind was so hazy to a point you didn’t fully register that your dress was pulled halfway up your torso. jungkook pulls away for a second, glancing over to scope the premises. “agh.. maybe we shouldn’t do it here..” he hesitantly chides, “what if there’s some weirdo lurking in the bushes or something?” this man is always so overly paranoid… “nothing’s gonna get us koo, pwomise. now shush and get back to kissing me.” you eagerly lean in, latching onto him once again. as your bodies intertwine you hiss at the feathered graze of his fingers on your clothed heat, languidly tracing the outline. you sense a sudden draft as jungkook slides your panties aside, lightly prodding your entrance while his thumb circles your clit, leaving you with tingling vibrations.

“mmphh~ fuck..” you moan softly. lifting your head to gaze up at your boyfriend, admiring the way he’s glowing from the sunlight illuminating above. soon as he saw your face he couldn’t resist in reaching up to kiss you once more, entering one of his inked digits into you slowly. the gasp you let out was a chance for him to invite his tongue, greedily wanting to taste every molecule of you. your body involuntarily rocks it’s hips against his hand, tangling your fingers through his thick, silky hair, wholly enchanted by him. a whine slips out from the absence of his fingers, clenching around nothing from feeling empty. “stop whinin’, m’gonna give you what you’re craving soon babydoll.” he assures sweetly, placing open mouthed kisses along your chin, neck, and down to your collarbone. right now you felt nothing but utter yearning, desiring every inch of him inside.

intense waves of pleasure hit you gracefully, muscles tensing as your needy cunt swallows his length, arching from the fluttering sensation that won’t leave your tummy. never in your lifetime did you expect to be doing this in a forest of all places. “jungkook…” you lasciviously whisper, securing your legs tighter around his waist while he jams his hips deeper, he feels so good you could cry. “i love you baby.” he coos midstroke, pressing his tattooed hand on your stomach. “love you too koo- fuuu…” eyes roll to the back of your head from his cock colliding with your sweet spot, feeling one step closer to coming. “t-think m’gonna cum s-soonn jungkookiie.” your high would approach any minute now. “me too babe, shit- your pussy feels unreal..” before you know it, flashes of white impairs your vision from the rippling effects of your orgasm— panting indefinitely. jungkook hastily pulls out, viciously stroking himself to spread his release on you. post-nut clarity hit the both of you hard asf, you never got up to fix your clothes so fast. your skin felt moist and sticky, you were totally in the mood for a nice hot shower. jungkook lets out a breathy chuckle from your stunned actions,,

“guess we can check this off our bucket list now??”

@genkima @sweet-sourhotcoco @cherigu ヽ(＾▽＾)人(＾▽＾)人(＾▽＾)ﾉ 💢

to see more chaos click here >:3

[lowkeyremi]

His birthday k. bokuto

Remi's note: Happy birthday to my favorite owl, ily (also i wrote the sky-diving thing based on my own experience)

CW: established relationship, fluff, kinda rushed

"WOOHOO!" He screams, and you startle awake.

"W-what? Ko baby what's up?" You ask sleepily. You open your eyes, they're bleary and you're trying to comprehend what's going on right now.

"Honey get up! It's my birthday! Let's go celebrate!!" Bokuto spouts all at once. You'd think after a certain age people wouldn't care too much about their birthdays. Your husband proves you wrong because he is twenty-eight, and still excited like a two year old going to chuck-e-cheese for their birthday.

"Slow your roll, I still need to get up. I also need caffeine." You mumble. Those golden eyes watch as you sit up and blink slowly to adjust to the morning.

"Don't worry, sweetness! I already made you some (coffee or tea)!" He exclaims with a cup in his hand. How did that get there? You could have sworn that wasn't in his hand a few seconds ago.

When he hands you the mug you take a nice long sip with a loud exhale at the end. "Thanks, Ko."

"Mhm, what're you feeling today? I have a couple outfits picked out for ya!" He points to the dress where sure enough, there are three or four outfits laid out.

"Where are we going? You seem to wanna get a move on." The one thing that you never understood was why Bokuto wanted to spoil you on his birthday. He always takes you places and buys you stuff. He says 'seeing you happy makes me happy, and that's all I want for my birthday.'

Every year he tells you not to get him anything besides your love. Which is cheesy. You got him something.

This actually took a long time to plan because you had to think of something he wouldn't expect. Kuroo played a role in your surprise gift.

"Yeah I do. We're driving two hours today. The sooner we get there the better." You look at him in disbelief.

"Kotaro Bokuto." You say sternly.

"I promise this time it's gonna be something I wanna do." That's what he's said in the past and it was never true.

----

He watched you go through you're daily routine, smiling at every little thing. He was over excited about helping you with little things like slipping your shoes on or setting the timer so your makeup could dry.

You guys where ready to go around nine am. Bokuto stopped by his favorite restaurant to get breakfast to go for the ride.

"These burritos never fail!!" He exaggerates with a loud moan as he takes another huge bite.

"You are a piece of work." You sigh with a smile taking a bite out of your own burrito.

Throughout the ride Bokuto plays songs you used to listen to when he first met you. He purposely sung off key just to piss you off make you laugh.

He wanted to play road-trip games but you had to remind him countless times that he was DRIVING so he can't play road-trip games.

------

You really had no clue where he'd brought you. The place looked empty based on the amount of cars present in the parking lot. Before you can even process it, he opens your car door, "Come on honey, don't wanna be late."

Your hands are intertwined and he guides you into a small white building.

"I brought you to an indoor sky-diving place because I'm too scared to actually sky-dive, yet." He explains, a grin crosses your face when he mentions real sky-diving.

"Let's do it then!" You say excitedly.

Bokuto checks you two in for your reservation. The instructor takes you two back to a little room to teach you the basics of indoor sky-diving. She says it's similar to outdoor sky-diving. She shows you the three hand signals you'll need to know so the operate can know how you're feeling.

Once you two have grasped the concept so she brings you to the sky-diving area. Bokuto goes first, he looks so cute and funny swinging his legs all around in the glass cylinder trying to remember what the woman had taught him.

"Baby look! I'm flying!" He yells trying to flap like a bird, which messes up his flow and causes him to bump into the glass wall. Your giggle goes unnoticed as he exists the glass when the air stops flowing.

"Mrs. Bokuto, you're up!" The operator yells. After checking your helmet once more you're stepping into the cylinder.

Over all the experience was quite fun and you got some good pictures of your husband being silly.

-----

When you arrived home, you put your hand over Bokuto's eyes in order to keep him from looking.

You motion to Kuroo who is already in you're house looking at you waiting for the signal.

"Okay Ko, open them up!" He opens his eyes and you remove your hand. Standing round your kitchen table is Tsukki, Kuroo, Akaashi, Kenma, Atsumu, Hinata, and surprisingly Sakusa.

"Happy birthday!!" They all say in unison.

"I wanted you to celebrate with your friends, so outside I set up the net so you guys can play a few rounds of volleyball." You say meekly with a huge smile plastered on your face.

"Babyyyyyy." Bokuto drags out with a smile.

"Thank you so much! Come on guys! Let's go play some volleyball before it gets super late!" Bokuto kisses you. When he detaches his lips from you, he grabs your arm and drags you out to come play volleyball with all his friends.

[upsidedownwithsteve]

I’d kill for maybe a blurb about Steve and Hawkins getting ready to head back to camp for the summer, for the first time as a couple - maybe packing up, the road trip, anything like that!

“Did you pack the bug spray?”

Steve stared at you from across the hood of his car, his expression innocent. “I thought you packed it?”

You sighed, expression crestfallen. “Steve! I asked you, like, eight times yesterday. You said you’d pick it up from the store after work—”

Steve was watching you, head tilted to the side, grinning.

Your eyes narrowed but your lips twitched. “I hate you,” you deadpanned and tried your best to mean it.

“No you don’t,” Steve laughed but you drowned the sound out as you dropped yourself into the passenger seat of Steve’s BMW.

The trunk and the backseat was filled with a mix of both your bags, oversized duffles and hiking rucksacks, your pillow stacked on top of Steve’s, a cooler stuff in the footwell that was crammed with beer and cheap wine, something Steve and Jonathan would have to smuggle into a cabin when it got dark.

Steve slipped in beside you, hands on the wheel and he was still grinning, looking smug. He set you with those eyes, soft and honey coloured in the morning sun. “C’mon now,” he tsked. “This isn’t my first rodeo.”

It wasn’t, or yours for that matter, both of you returning for your fifth summer at camp. But you rolled your eyes anyway. “Yeah, but you never listen to me.”

A lie.

Steve huffed out a laugh, a wide, warm hand on your bare thigh ‘cause the June heat was already intense and shorts at seven am was the only way to work through it. Steve felt hotter than the air outside, but maybe that’s just because his fingers were working upupup—

“I always listen to you,” Steve commented back, his choice growing softer the longer he touched you. You tipped your head back onto the seat to look at him, cheek pressed to the leather, trying not to smile. “You’re just grumpy ‘cause it’s early.”

You wrinkled your nose at him, laughing when he leaned in and kissed it.

“Yeah, it’s fucking early,” you grumbled. “Remind me why we’re leaving now?”

Steve slid on his sunglasses before he pulled the car out of park, one hand on the back of your headrest as he reversed down the drive. “Because,” he explained, “if we get there before Eddie or Robin, we can christen a cabin.”

You laughed, taking in his profile as he drove you both out of town, past the wheat fields and the water tower, the hazy blue skies and sun making him golden.

“You act as if we’ve never done that before.”

Steve shrugged, “it’s a new summer. The numbers roll back to zero, babe.”

“I thought we were behaving this year,” you grinned when Steve took his eyes off the road for just a second, turning to you with an aghast expression.

“Are we fuck behaving,” Steve intoned. His hand found your thigh again, fingers curling around the soft skin there. “C’mon, what’s one more bro—”

“Don’t say kayak, Steve.”

“—ken kayak.” He grinned.

“You’re terrible,” you told him but you were grinning too, cheeks sore with it ‘cause he was so pretty, hair still wild from bed, cheeks flushed from the summer.

The boy shrugged, bashful, like you’d given him a compliment. But you placed your hand on top of his, the one that was still on your leg and you dragged it higher, a slow climb along your thigh until his fingers could disappear under the denim on your shorts. You watched him swallow, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as he stared at the road ahead and the car started to slow.

You leaned in, the parking brake pressed against your tummy as you resisted the urge to all but clamber over the console and onto Steve’s lap. “Or,” you started, voice soft and a little deeper than usual. The boy sucked in a breath, ‘cause he knew that tone so well. “We could pull over somewhere quiet.”

You kissed his cheek, grinning at the way his hands tightened on the wheel, knuckles white. Another kiss, below his ear, the edges of your teeth grazing his lobe. He shivered.

“I’d let you sit me on the hood, seeing as the backseat is full. Maybe you could be real nice and bend me over it— Steve!”

The car was jerked to the side of the road, a cloud of orange dust kicked up behind it. The fields were quiet, the main Highway empty and Steve looked desperate as the car rumbled and protested its way down a small dirt track, a forgotten farm road that ended in a thatch of trees.

The boy killed the engine and jumped out, grinning at you as he tapped the hood, waiting.

“We’re barely out of Hawkins!” You called out to him from his open door, incredulous, but Steve looked like Christmas had come in summer and you laughed, a sharp, happy sound. “Jesus Christ, babe.”

Steve rocked on the balls of his feet, impatient. “Don’t do all that,” Steve flung a hand out to gesture to where he’d been sitting, where you were still leaning. “And expect me not to want it fucking immediately.”

You stared at him through the windshield, shaking your head with a smile. “You’re such a boy.” But you took your seatbelt off.

“I’m a man of needs, princess,” he told you, giddy looking as you got out of the car. Long grass brushed your shins and the sun was hot on your shoulders, insects buzzing in the otherwise quiet morning. “And my girl is too fucking hot to be real, so…”

Steve tapped the hood again, brows raised. This wasn’t an argument you were planning on winning.

You gave in.

Twice.

…

[xetswan]

Unknowing- Book Three- Transformation

(Alice x Reader x Jasper)

[Thirteen] [One] [Two]

I couldn't hold on much longer, the pain was getting more and more excruciating after the blood settled in and we were getting to the point that if I didn't do the transformation now, my body would do it on its own.

Something I don't know if I'm ready for. Originally it was for everyone else, I didn't know if I was going to be dangerous or not.

Now it's because I'm scared of how long it's going to last. I knew I was frustrating everyone.

They needed me to do it. So, since my dad thinks I'm sick with something mysterious, Carlisle told him I need to see a doctor he knows for two weeks in Alaska, so I can finish the transformation. Now here we are.

"[Name] are you sure you don't want me to go?" He questions me, I hum, nodding my head as I pack my bags.

"Dad, it will only worry you even more, think that I'm on a trip at mom's house or something." I told him. Alice and Jasper were in my bedroom with me, helping me since I got too weak to really hold anything.

Jasper takes my bag, putting it over his shoulder. "I just, I feel like I need to be there." He frowns, leaning against my doorway.

"I would like it if you stayed here. I don't want you to see me in a hospital bed. Also, you need to be here to make sure Bella isn't with Edward the whole time." I tease him, knowing how much he dislikes Edward. He's actually pretty cordial with Jasper and Bella compared to him.

My partners didn't leave me out in the woods like he did with my sister. He thinks we had a mutual break up when in reality it was pretty similar with Bella only I'm not a human. I had the choice to leave with them. She did not.

"Don't remind me." He lets out a strong sigh, Alice and Jasper quietly snickers. I smile at them, then back to Charlie.

"And another thing, you used all your pto with work so you wouldn't even be able to get out for two weeks like I am." I add on to the trying to explain why it's best to let me go to Alaska for two weeks by myself to a doctor.

"Okay, okay, I get it. You don't want me to come. I understand. Just please update me." He comes over and hugs me. I feel my bones crack from the hug since I've barely moved and this transition is making me more and more human. Weak, very, very weak.

He lets me go, backing away to look at me. His face was saddened. Probably by the lack of color in my features, my eyes sunken in, and cracked lips. "We should probably get going, Chief Swan." Jasper speaks up, his hand finding the small of my back, Alice smiling politely in agreement at Charlie.

"Right," he backs out of my room, moving out of our way. "Right, I'll see you  in two weeks, [Name]. Thank you guys for taking her, Alice, Jasper." He nods his head at them. "See you." I wave to him.

"Of course, sir." Alice pats his shoulder in passing. "It's no problem." Jasper adds in, leading me out of the door. My dad watches us leave from the window of the house.

I notice in my peripheral vision as Jasper helps me get into his car. Alice sits in the back with me. Jasper is driving and Carlisle is in the passenger seat. Carlisle looks back to me as I lay my head down on Alice's lap.

"You know if this takes longer I think he will push on your boundaries and try to come to the hospital." He tells me, I scrunch my nose. "I know." I close my eyes, feeling the pain start to kick in.

The bumps on the road really bring out more discomfort. I feel Jasper repeatedly trying to take away my pain, it's subtle. He takes away the anger and confusion I have, which helps.

The anger triggers more pain so it really, truly helps when he does it. Even if it's for ten minutes or shorter. I know they're trying to help me be as comfortable as possible before the worst of it.

Originally we were just going to have me do it at their house but we thought about hikers. If they hear my screams and animalistic noises they could call authorities so we're going to Alaska. Thankfully and this shows how rich he is, Carlisle got a private jet so if I do scream he's the one piloting.

No outside people.

"What if I do it accidentally on the plane?" I ask him, now worried. "We'll figure it out." Alice pets my hair back, playing with it as I look up at her. "Just like Alice says, that's not something you have to worry about." Carlisle assures me.

I feel bad now, knowing they have to go through all this trouble just for knowing Bella and I. How much trouble we've brought them. I just wish if I could I would've never brought myself into their lives knowing what I know now.

I would've loved the wolf that originally imprinted on me and NEVER spoke with Alice or Jasper.

The incarnate bullshit would've never happened.

I groan from the pain of Jasper turning the car, now gripping onto Alice's knee. Letting out a huff as we come to a stop. "Are you alright?" He questions me, turning to look at me. We are at the airport now.

"Just certain movements, it hurts." I truthfully say, Alice helps me sit up and we get out of the vehicle. Jasper gives his keys to the valet.

Carlisle takes my bag from Alice and both she and Jasper treat me like a glass doll as they help me up the stairs of the private jet.

"I can do it, you know?" I timidly snap at them, not meaning to but due to my emotions being all over the place and this being my situation it's bound to happen.

It's been happening numerous times and every single time they apologize to me knowing I don't mean to do it to them. "Just be careful." Alice whispers, watching every step I make nervously. Once I get inside the plane I feel my knees want to give out so I take the nearest seat possible. Esme was already inside to greet me.

"Hey, sweetheart." She smiles, giving me a small hug. "Hi, Esme." I weakly hug her back with one arm. She was Carlisle's co-pilot, as if he needed one.

"Alright," Carlisle pretends to struggle with the door, just for the people outside who's watching him. "Let's get this going. We have a 4 and a half hour flight." He informs us, I put a thumbs up. Alice and Jasper acknowledge it before he goes into the cockpit.

The plane ride was smooth, Alice and Jasper pampering me religiously. Giving me blood bags that they hid in cups just in case I needed one in public. Covering me in blankets when I have cold spurts. Then putting ice on my forehead during the heat ones. I feel like a sick dog that the whole family makes sure doesn't die in his last years even though they really need to put him down but they can't give him up just yet.

Luckily I didn't start the transformation, but the pain was like it knew we were getting closer and closer. Tanya met us at the airport with a large car, big enough for me to lay a little bit in while putting my head on someone's lap. She greets me with a smile.

"It's nice to finally meet you." She says with a grin, opening the door for us. Jasper  and Esme climbs into the back so we can be in the middle seats and I have that room to lay down.

"You as well." I mutter through gritted teeth as the pain still was there. "I wish it was under better circumstances." She quietly says as I get into the car, Alice following behind. "Thank you for doing this, Tanya." Carlisle thanks her, she bows her head in response.

"Irina's not too happy but it will be okay." She tells him and then I remember. Irina was the one who was courted by Laurent. Flashes of his death settle in my head and I frown.

"I appreciate it, we'll be out of your hair when it's over." Carlisle then gets in the car, Tanya walking to the drivers side and doing the same thing. I let my head fall to Alice's lap during the fast car ride.

Thankfully the faster the car the less I feel the bumps so it hurts less. I feel Jasper's hand finding mine over the seat and I open my eyes to look at him, his head resting on the seat in front of him, looking down at me. I smile at him, he does it back.

Pulling up to the house was the most painful, the bumps into the driveway. "We have a cottage in the woods, it's even further from the house and nothing for miles." I hear Kate say as we're getting out of the large car.

"Thank you." Carlisle thanks her just like he did with Tanya. I can feel myself getting hot. I stop walking and take a breath. "I can't move." I grunt, holding myself.

Alice comes over to me lightning fast. Jasper was already behind me. Jasper hands Alice the stuff he had in his hands and lifts me up carefully bridal style. The coldness he gives off helps, I immediately lean against his chest trying to breathe it out.

"I can feel it starting." I tiredly mumble to Jasper. I feel him panic. "We need to get to that cottage.Now." He tells everyone, the sisters lead them to the cottage, using the vampire ability to go fast.

Getting to the small cottage Jasper lays me down on the bed that has everything off of it. Which I'm grateful for because I probably would've destroyed it. "Alright [Name] you need to let go now, you need to let it happen." Carlisle instructs me and I squeeze my eyes.

"I'm scared." I cry out, not even wanting to open my eyes. "Lovebug, just get it over with." She whispers to me, moving my hair out of my face as I grip onto the mattress. Sweat trickling down my face. "It's going to hurt." I whine.

"Darling you've been hurting for almost a month now. You can get it over with and never deal with pain again." Jasper jumps in.

I start breathing fast and heavily, getting myself ready and when I do it was like a pain I've never felt before.

Worse than the first time I transformed into a vampire. The burning sensation feels like thousands of people using hot irons on my body at the hottest they could be.

As when I was turning into a vampire it was more of a fire sensation. I try to hold in my screams, muffling it by biting my own hand. "[Name] it's okay to scream." Esme says to me, I try to say something but I can't, it comes out in a loud noise I never thought I could make.

It is ten times louder than any loud noise I've ever heard. I even saw Tanya or one of the sisters, I can't tell with my blurry vision, plugging her ears. After that I wasn't able to hear anything around me.

Not even the own noises I was creating. Not knowing if I was screaming or grunting. Anything. No voices made sense, they were muffled.

"She- I'm- Why!?" I heard Alice's voice. I gripped onto the mattress, on my stomach as I brought my knees to my chest.

The insufferable pain is only getting worse.

(Change of point of view)

"What do we do!?" Alice questions even though she already knows the answer herself. Of course she knows but hearing her girlfriend's screaming  and groaning in pain. And knowing the fact that it could last up to three weeks. "Alice, I think it's best for you to leave the room for right now." Carlisle places a hand on her shoulder, he watches the girl stare at [Name], looking like she wants to do something, ready to kill something to stop her girlfriend's pain.

Jasper was trying to attempt to take her pain, even though that has nothing to do with his ability he wants to try for her. At Least before he was able to take her anger that stunted some of the pain. Now they're both just standing there useless.

Carlisle was the one to give the updates to Charlie. After the third day of updates, Charlie was getting antsy wanting to just hear his daughter's voice. So, of course Carlisle had to make up a believable lie coming as a doctor.

"She's been vocalizing her pain a lot more, causing her to lose her voice. She's going to go into surgery to take out her appendix and tonsils. Those are what have been making her sick but due to the extremity of it and the infection it could put her in a medical coma that will last two weeks. When she wakes up we will call you to come see her. The hospital is not letting any visitors due to an illness going around. We have cousins here and when she's out of the hospital if you'd like or we'll take her straight back home." Carlisle explains to him.

"Just take her home right away please." Charlie pleads, his voice breaking. He doesn't understand what Carlisle is saying but he tries his best and just believes him.

By day seven [Name] was making animalistic noises, growling at some points. Her thrashing got to the point where they had to tie her down so she doesn't hurt herself more than she already has.

They won't hold her for long so every six hours they have to change the ties. "She's transitioning a lot faster than I've seen before, especially for someone who has waited this long to even transform." Carlisle observes her, you can barely tell but there's little changes.

When her eyes open you can see them being a more golden color. When the sun shows, which is rare for Alaska but when it does the shine that vampires normally have, isn't there on [Name].

"She ripped a little bit of the mattress." Alice motions to the bed, kind of tuning out the noises [Name] has been making. "We'll replace it." Carlisle says in a bored tone. Not that he is bored. Just feeling all the emotions they have been these past days has been overwhelming.

Esme walks over to him and holds his hand, knowing he's taking this on himself, already caring for [Name] like another daughter. He technically did die at 23 but his mind is way older. Being over 3 centuries old.

Going into day 12, they're all hoping the transformation is almost done. [Name] has calmed down, finally able to talk but her pain is still unbearable.

Coming in waves just like it did beforehand. Blood doesn't even help make it a little better.

Day 14 is going into the second week. [Name] looks exhausted. Her arms tied up on either side of the bed frame due to going into wolf episodes. Soon enough she's going to shape-shift so they take off the ties. She rubs her wrists, throwing her head back.

"I think the worst of it.. It's over." She huffs, then looks around her, the bed ripped up, the stuff inside of it coming out.

"You just have to turn into a wolf to finish it off." Carlisle tells her. Her eyes widened.

She was never going to use that ability. It was something that her and her lovers talked about. [Name] didn't feel comfortable doing it infront of vampires. Especially Irina.

"We'll take you out further into the woods to do it." Jasper tells her, already sensing her discomfort with the idea.

Esme helps Jasper with getting [Name] out of the bed. Getting her outside was a little difficult, her legs being weak from the transition.

But her senses her stronger than before. Her eyesight heightened along with her hearing and smell. Alice and Carlisle followed after them, the Denali sisters stayed behind but watched them go. "It's a quick transition and right when you're done we have clothes you can change into." Carlisle tells [Name], trying to make it a little easier and better for her to do.

"We'll be right at the cottage when you're done." Alice smiles at her once they get to the place she can transition at. "Leaving the clothes on this tree." Esme places clothes on a fallen tree.

[Name] keeps herself up against a tree. Taking energy from around her to help herself. Something she wasn't able to do before. Feeling herself get stronger she glances down at herself. She feels different, she didn't understand what it was though.

Not wanting to waste time at that, once she hears the cottage door open then close she focuses on transitioning.

At first nothing happened. "Wolves are emotional." She reminds herself. Wolves are emotional... She begins to make herself angry.

The fact that she is what she is right now starts to hit her. Having to be different from not only her sister who is a human, her lovers who are vampires and now her childhood best friend who is a wolf. She's both, stronger than all of them. She didn't want this. She didn't choose this.

She feels the same tingle she's felt before but instead of warmth it's just a tingle.

She sees the steam emit from her body then her clothes begin to rip and her body shifts into a large wolf.

A large, white/tan wolf with bright red/gold eyes. She howls in the sky, letting them know she transitioned.

After a few moments she shifts back into her normal form. Quickly she changes into her clothes. Picking up the ripped ones off the ground and racing back to the cottage.

When she slams the door open she runs straight into Jasper and Alice's arms. "I did it!" She laughs excitedly.

They hold onto her tightly, happy to see her in a semi-normal state and not in pain at all.

Masterlist

A&J M.L.

Taglist: if you want to be added lmk!

@stevenandmarcslove

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs

@l3ejm

@kisekihany

@aureliacorvina

@marit332

@marsyay78

@small-town-wayward-daughter

@sugathy

[scoutswritingcorner]

Rose Colored Boy

Angel Dust x Male Reader

A/N: Part two of ‘Harder Than It Looks’! Once again I’m going to reiterate that I am not a medical professional or psychiatrist. If you need help with addiction please reach out.

TW: Alcoholism, killing, being pressured, toxic friendships.Talks about Valentino.

The night had passed in a whirlwind of nausea causing you to wake up every two hours to vomit up even more of whatever was left in your stomach as your loving and caring boyfriend, Angel Dust, rubbed your back and wiped the bile, saliva and tears from your face with a nice warm cloth. You didn’t get much sleep that night, opting to stay awake to take care of yourself to allow your boyfriend to get some sort of rest. He didn’t go back to sleep either. Opting to hold your trembling body close to his as you tried to ignore the betrayal from your life long friends…you don’t think they were your friends anymore.

The morning was much the same as it was any other day but this time, you were scared to look at Charlie and Vaggie in the face. They would surely berate you. Tell you that you didn’t deserve to be redeemed, of course you didn’t. You were so stupid to ever think someone so broken and jaded like you could be redeemed. But the yelling and berating never came to fruition, only soft hugs and whispers that it would be okay entered your ears. “Redemption is a hard road to go down..everyone trips once in a while. None of what happened is your fault, okay? Vaggie and I are so proud of you.” Charlie whispered out her voice cracking as she no doubtably was trying to carry your burden on her shoulders as another sob wracked through your already trembling body, hiding your face into her shoulder as your arms wrapped around her. She reminded you so much of your older sister, arms always open to help in any way she could. 

Now, here you were sitting at the bar as you stared at the glass of water in front of you. Every thought of yours screaming at you to jump over the counter and drink till you pass out again. You wanted to feel the buzz of the poison you came to know and hate. The liquid that numbs your taste buds and senses, makes you feel like the world couldn’t stop you. A gloved hand grasping yours knocked you out of your thoughts causing you to look up towards Angel, he truly was your angel and you were his. All those nights you promised to beat the fuck out of Valentino fresh in your mind. You stared at him before a smile graced your lips, “Drink some water, Suga’. It’s gonna help you okay?” His voice was soft as he mirrored your smile. 

You nodded and turned your focus back to the glass of water, using your free hand to hold the cup. Slowly bring it up to your lips, you sipped on it. You ignored how you spilled some on your shirt as you started to unceremoniously chug the water down. A clawed hand reached over to stop you from choking on it as another wiped down the counter with a rough grumble, “Don’t choke on it, Kid.” Husk’s voice rang out as another violent tremble ripped through your body as you almost slammed the cup down but once again Husk had stopped your erratic movements. “..I hate this..” You grumbled out as Angel leaned down to gently kiss your forehead. “I know, Baby.” He replied glaring at your phone that started buzzing with text after text from your so called ‘friends’.

“Can I see your phone, Babe?” Angel asked, causing you to lift your head up from the bar. When did you put your head down? You shake your head to get your thoughts together and nodded, handing it over to him, “Oh..’Course..” You mumbled out laying your head back down, “For food?” your question surprised Angel before he smiled and used one of his hands to rub your back. “If you want some food, Suga’.” He frowned as he glanced back at your phone. Encouragements of more drinking and half assed apologies from your ‘friends’ kept spilling out but one of the messages stood out to him.

‘Nyx: Stop being a fucking bitch. You always liked drinking with us. Are we too good for you now or are you actually trying that new fucking redemption hotel?’ 

Angel’s blood boiled at that, seeing the picture of a tall lanky demon with a smirk. One that reminded him too much of Valentino’s smirk when he knew he had won whatever mind games that he was using. “..can we get take out?” you asked softly, causing him to jump back into reality. “Of course, Handsome. Anything specific?” He asked, watching as sweat rolled down the side of your face. It took a few seconds for the question to register for you but when it did you gave him a shake of your head, “Get..get Husk something too, Angie..” You slurred out causing the bartender to chuckle, “Nah I’m fine, Kid. Don’t worry about me.” He sent a glance towards Angel, who nodded and turned his own attention to his own phone, placing yours on the bar. 

He texted the only other person he truly trusted and the one who had to make sure you were good enough for his heart, Cherri. It was a quick back and forth as he used your phone to order the takeout as well to calm your mind. Filling in the missing pieces to Cherri, he kissed your cheek as you tried to stay awake for him. “I’m gonna go get the food, Handsome. Do you want me to pick up any medicine for you?” His voice soft as if not to shake you awake from your groggy state, brushing back some of your hair as another tremble forced itself through your body.

“No..don’t think so…” you whispered out your eyes feeling heavy as you tried to stay awake for Angel. Nodding, Angel placed another gentle kiss against your cheek, “Okay, get some sleep Handsome.” You nodded and let out a loud yawn finally allowing yourself to fall asleep against the cold surface of the bar. Angel sent one last look to Husk who waved his hand, “Go, I’ll watch him.” He said gruffly but Angel could see how angered Husk seemed, how his pupils constricted with his anger. Husk was another person in this hotel who had helped you with your alcoholism, nobody questioned it but everyone knew Husk cared for you more than he liked to admit, Angel is guessing that he sees himself in you.

With one final nod and placing a stray blanket over your shoulders Angel left the hotel. Meeting up with Cherri was quick but his anger was quicker to flare up. He was going to teach those ‘friends’ of yours to not fuck with you ever again. So with a baseball bat in one hand and his tommy gun in the other they both entered the bar where your ‘friends’ met up to teach them a valuable lesson. But of course he was going to make it quick, though he wished he didn’t. But his sweet Prince needed him and he was looking forward to cuddles and kisses from you.

[landwriter]

Sandman prompt: Dreamling roadtrip

"Remind me why I am allowing this," says Dream.

Hob casts a sidelong glance at him. Dream, in his car. Dream, stuck in the crawl of London traffic with him. Imagine that.

He reels off Dream's succession of unfortunate choices with poorly smothered glee. "Because your sister said you should spend more time among us humans, which you mentioned in passing to Matthew yesterday, who suggested a road trip, then had to explain to you that a road trip meant 'Just driving somewhere for a while', and you apparently you said-," Hob pauses to pitch his voice as low and poncy as possible, "'Ah, a pilgrimage, then. A journey for self-knowledge.' And Matthew said 'That's right, boss' and you said you would, in fact, be curious about such an experience."

"False pretenses," says Dream, darkly, under his breath.

"Indeed," says Hob, who thinks he loves false pretenses now. Matthew had shown up at his flat laughing so hard he couldn't even speak. When he finally recounted the conversation (after Hob had gotten very concerned and asked if Matthew needed a human counselor or an animal vet, and Matthew had shaken his head and wheezed 'No, a driver', before falling into fits of laughter again), Hob had immediately agreed.

"And then I canceled my plans for the weekend because I'm the only human you know who has a car, it turns out," (A reliable and bright red Vauxhall Corsa, thank you for asking.) "And because I'm a very good friend," he adds. He still relishes the new-word feel of it. It had only been four months since Dream had shown up at The New Inn. Hob was skiving off marking midterm papers for this, actually.

"Yes," says Dream. Hob realizes he'd skive off the whole term for this.

How could he turn down the prospect? His friend, literally strapped into the Corsa for at least the next several hours. Assuming Dream didn't leap out and flee on foot down the M1 - which seemed so thoroughly undignified for a being of Dream's station that Hob felt utterly assured of his company. It had all rather gone to his head.

"This will be fun," he promises. "Feel the grass under your feet, and that."

Dream looks out the window bitterly as a lorry overtakes them. Hob has never been the fastest of drivers. Never really took to it, to be honest. Bit of the medieval peasant in him, he thinks, can't quite make himself go over fifty miles per hour. But he's very safe. Hardly any accidents. Mostly minor rear-end damage.

"I see no grass," says Dream.

"Surely the Lord of Stories is familiar with figurative speech," says Hob, and glows under the heat of Dream's glare in reply.

"Anyways," he continues, "We're getting to that bit. Literally. In, uh, six hours or so? It's a great spot. But in the mean time, this is part of it too." Hob takes a hand off the wheel to gesture with a flourish at the sea of sensible hatchbacks and work vans around them, swimming like fish in the asphalt rivers of London's outer burbs. "Humanity," he pronounces, and the car drifts a little into the next lane. Humanity honks rudely at him and then accelerates safely out of Hob's radius.

Dream's sulking seems to have pushed him fully into the realm of catatonia, because Hob's passengers are usually more animated when he does exciting little things like that. Hob looks over in concern and this time the car barely follows with him.

"Bit rusty," he offers.

Dream deigns to snort softly at that. "My sister is far worse," he says.

Hob raises his eyebrows. It was hard to imagine Death bad at anything, frankly. Dream must see his look because he clarifies.

"Another sister. Delirium. An official of the carriageway stopped us. He would not have us continue our passage. So she gave him delusion of bugs crawling across his skin. Forever."

"Well, that's one way to get out of a ticket," says Hob, and makes a mental note to ask Death for a complete list of siblings and how to avoid angering them.

"He was being rude," adds Dream. He suddenly sounds very much like an older brother.

"Oh, fair play, then," says Hob affably. He'd had little sisters once. He understood.

They drive in silence for a few minutes. Hob thinks about putting on a playlist, and has just decided that nineties Britpop is perfect for this occasion when they pass a junction sign and he exclaims in recognition.

"The M25! Funny story, I know just the loveliest antiquarian book dealer who says his partner - uh, I'm assuming there, but if you heard the way he talks about him - anyways, his partner designed it. Some kind of high-flying civil engineer, I reckon."

"Really," says Dream. "A...high-flying...civil engineer." He sounds fascinated.

Hob hadn't expected Dream to be interested in road design.

"Something like that, definitely," he says, looking over to see Dream, staring at him, rapt. He looks back and brakes just in time to avoid hitting the car in front of him as it turns off onto the motorway in question. "Sorry. Saw him once in passing, actually. Dresses like you. Very fancy and dark."

"Perhaps you should keep your focus on the road, Hob," says Dream, but he sounds like he's smiling.

"Oh, we're not for a while yet," says Hob. Half truth, half optimism.

"Where are we going?" asks Dream. Hob beams. He's just won a bet with Matthew.

"It's a surprise" he says. "Now, have you heard of this band called Oasis?"

[brrbrina]

echoes

part: 2/?

pairing: joe burrow x og!c

warnings: cheating, angst, fluff (?), pregnancy (?) and i think that´s it.

The day after Joe left the house for the very first time, Kendall felt a wave of sadness take over her body. She was devasted, and tired, she constantly woke in the middle of the night as if the house she was sleeping in was haunted.

Every single part of that bed smelt like him, every part of her body was once kissed by the lips of a man who had kissed someone else and she despised that. She felt like her world stopped, when they met, falling in love was not on her plans, and falling in love with a man like Joe wasn´t what she wanted.

"I think we should go with the big backyard one," Joe said hugging her from the back, "This way our babies would have the space to run, and then the babies of our babies" he chuckled putting his lips against the back of her head, Kendall smiled and closed her eyes; it was one of the moments she felt like her life made sense in only a way love makes you feel.

Now, that memory pained her, she was tied to him for life, for two entries now, she didn´t know what to do. The night Kendall found out she was pregnant -again-, happiness took over her body, brainstormed ideas of how she would tell her big baby and the love of her life the good news. The night she confronted Joe became savory, the memory of her telling the news to the father of her son was stained by betrayal and insincerity.

"I made waffles and fresh orange juice" Joe smiled at her showing the plates in the breakfast bar, which was once planned down to the smallest detail. "I think you should go" Kendall sighed "Natalie has a friend coming over today for a playdate and I don´t want her to create a false story on her head in which you come back here and we live happily ever after".

"Who is Mat?" Joe asked her and Kendall looked at him with surprise, "You do know I'm the father of Natalie and that baby you´re carrying right? You are not messing up the mind of my children with that man coming and hanging with them..." Kendall stopped him "You have a lot of nerve telling me I´m the one "messing" with her mind when you were fucking someone else" Joe looked down.

"While Natalie was sleeping here, happy that her daddy won a game so she could tell her friends in school he was the best, you were putting your dick inside another woman, so no, I'm not messing anything up, you did" water filled her eyes and her voice trembled when she stopped "You took away the happiness of being pregnant with MY baby and turned into a grey cloud above me every single day" she felt her knees weak.

"I hate you so much Joe, I hate you because a part of me needs you like a drug I'm addicted to, and I hate you because you destroyed the life WE built together, my kids will grow up in a broken home and the worst part of all is that I will never tell them what you did, that´s the difference between me and you. I´m putting them on top of everything and you didn´t even think twice about the damage you would cause" She said sobbing, and Joe felt his blood drop to his feet.

He left Kendall´s place and drove to the condo he was living in at the moment, he found no motivation in anything, he missed the chaos of his past life. He remembered clearly when he and Kendall got married.

"... You have filled my life with colors and turned it into a musical every time you´re near me. I promise to love you and take care of you and the family we will hopefully soon start. There is not a day where I take you for granted, waking up beside you it´s a pleasure and something I will love to grow old with.

You are the woman of my dreams, the best road trip partner, and the comedic duo made for me, I will make sure to remind you that I´m the man that I am because of you. That every mole on your body holds a million I Love You´s you will hear forever. I´m so happy that I´m becoming Mr. Carter" Kendall chuckled "I know you´re the designer but you´re the muse of my life, of every romantic, naughty, or funny thought that comes to my mind you´re the one I see. I love your laugh and I will try my best to come up with the biggest dad jokes so I can crack a small out of you. Here´s to a lifetime of love, I love you, Kenny."

He didn’t have the guts to admit when he stopped loving her because he wasn't sure if he ever stopped.

People always say you don´t know what you have until it´s gone and he realized that too late, when he met Jackie, he loved the adrenaline of starting a romance again. But now it was painful, he missed everything about Kendall. The way she always made him choose the color of her nail polish or how the pantry was always stocked with Joe´s favorite candy.

How was he so naive to lose his soulmate, the mother of his kids, the love of his life but also his best friend. He hated his life now, a life without her or his kids was a living nightmare, his baby was about to be born, and he hadn´t seen a single eco photo of him. Kendall was sad and blue all the time, the only thing keeping her going was her babies and the company she worked so hard for.

She missed Joe, she couldn´t forget him, and she was tired, she was about to give birth and her life would be upside down once again.

"God I miss you so much" was the first sentence that came out of her mouth when she boldly called Joe at 1 am, she had been crying nonstop, and as much as she hated to admit it, he was the love of her life.

He showed up that night, and he stayed there. It was pointless for him to go home when his pregnant ex-wife was almost about to give birth.

The next few months were a roller coaster of emotions, their baby was born, Joe wasn’t there when he arrived to this world. He was on a work trip when baby burrow arrived and everything happened too quick. Kendall went into labor at 7 am and her baby came out of the womb right away. He looked so much like Joe, it was a very strange feeling, when Natalie was born. He was there, he held her hand as she was pushing their baby girl into a world in which they would do anything to make her happy. That was the only promise Joe made to Kendall that she was sure he would keep.

The new baby mama had been crying nonstop, she wasn’t sure of how she would manage her life now as a single mom with a soon to be a 6 year old.

“How are you doing?” Joe said entering the room with ballons and flowers, Kendall started to cry again. They weren’t in bad terms now, they will share the most important thing on their lives forever. There are science fairs, dance recitals, birthdays, christmas and thanksgiving they will have to share.

“I’m not gonna lie, i’m very scared” Kendall said holding her tears. “Kenny you’ve done this before, you are the best mom ever, Natalie and baby are so lucky that you’re their mother” Joe said smiling with teary eyes. “I know i’ve done this before but i wasn’t doing it alone you know?” The guilt eat Joe alive every second of the day. “Hey, i’m not going anywhere, i can stay home until baby is a bit older” Kendall chuckled, and then start to cry again “What’s wrong?” Joe looked at her concerned “Everything Joe, our baby is here and we don’t even have a name for him, and Natalie keeps asking when is her daddy coming home and i’ve run of ways of explaining her why he’s not” She cried “I hate my new life, I hate going grocery shopping alone and carrying everything by myself, i hate driving everywhere and i really really miss you Joe” he was crying when she said that.

“I know I fucked up, and no amount of sorry’s will mend what I did, we can work this out, for the fourth of us - “ He was interrupted by the nurse entering with baby burrow after checking that everything was okay with him, Joe saw him for the first time and started crying, he held him in his arms and the nurse walked out of the room. “He looks so much like Natie” he whispered and Kendall giggled as she wiped her tears away. “Both of them look like you it’s not fair” she said crossing her arms “We can always try and make one that looks like you” Joe smirked and Kendall’s mind went numb, she didn’t had and expression on her face “Sorry maybe that was too much” he cleared his troat.

“I will make you fall in love with me again, I promise my love” he kissed her forehed and that was the last thing Kendall heard before she fell asleep. And she was so happy to hear that.

a/n! Hiii, i hope you like this chapter, i think the next one it’s the last one of our little series. :) I’ll try to post over the weekend but i don’t promise anything. If you want to be added to the tag list, let me know in the comments. And i would love to hear you thoughts on this chapter and how do you expect the next one will be!!

[endmeprettyplease]

Best Behavior

A/N: I played COD as a kid, I never thought it’d have me whipped as an adult, but here I am. I hated this, then I liked it, so just posting while sleep deprived before I change my mind. Also Price is daddy, just a fact.

John Price x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Daddy kink, oral sex, p in v sex, power imbalance, implied age gap, rough sex, no y/n, no codename for reader

Summary: After a stressful mission you take a risk to comfort your Captain.

The conclusion of a mission had a few probable outcomes. An overtly successful endeavor would have you, and the rest of the 141 at the closest bar or pub. An absolute failure with injuries? Then you’d all be squirreled away in your own quarters or infirmary, licking your literal and metaphorical wounds. But when they ended like this? The job completed, yet so many lives lost? It was just empty. The team shared the feeling, you were sure, given the atmosphere on the trip back. Even now, with Soap pouring shots and Gaz poking fun at Ghost, you knew they felt it. It was why they were still here and not at the dive twenty minutes down the road. 

You could hear the conversation down the hall before you had even reached the common room. Normally you’d have been happy to join in on the distraction, but you had another in mind. Whether or not the mission had technically been successful, it hadn’t felt like it. Not with seven hostages dead and a bomb that leveled three city blocks. You inhaled, slowly, letting the thought pass with your breath. It didn’t matter now, what mattered was your next mission. One that would be quietly stewing a few doors down.

“There ya are, c’mon we need someone to settle the score!” Soap called as you passed the doorway. Waving you into the shared space as Kyle smiled in agreement. Fighting the urge to join you reminded yourself of exactly what you had planned.

“Sorry, not tonight, boys. Dropping off my report, then I’m passing out.” Waving the papers in your hand. 

Gaz rolled his eyes. “You can take one night off being an overachiever, you know? Cap said we could turn them in tomorrow.”

“And yet I’ll have the day off, and you'll have homework.” Smirking, you bid them a goodnight and continued down the hall.

Butterflies fluttered in your stomach. It was risky, you knew. Your relationship with Price was complicated, to put it lightly. He was your Captain, your superior, your mentor. Even a whiff of this and Laswell would probably have your heads. Neither of you have been so bold, rarely going further than lingering touches and gazes while on base. You’d both been as diligent as possible in separating work from your private lives. The weight of what you were about to do sat heavily on your shoulders. And yet you still stood at the captain’s office door.

He needs this. You reasoned. The look in his eyes as you’d stepped off the plane hadn’t escaped your notice, nor the way he’d immediately fled to his office. No one on the force took failure as hard as he did. It was his team, his responsibility. He needs this. You repeated, lifting your hand to knock before you could talk yourself out of it. 

It took a few moments longer than usual to hear his gruff response. “Who is it?” Feeling sweat bead on your back you let out a shuddering breath before answering. 

“It’s me,” Nearly immediately Price gave you the go ahead to enter. 

His office was messier than it normally was, maps pinned to the walls, little notes tacked up with them. Mugs piled high and the lingering fog of his cigar smoke hanging in the air. Yeah, he needs this.

“How can I help you, Sergeant?” Pice had his noise in a file, a glass of whiskey wrapped in his hand. You hoped he didn’t notice the blush his rough voice caused to rise in your cheeks. You also hoped he didn’t notice the click of the lock as you pressed the door closed with your back. 

“I just wanted to drop off my field report for today, sir.” You spoke slowly, taking careful steps toward his desk. Suddenly, a little less confident in how successful your mission would be. John looked awful, hat tossed somewhere, hair still sticky with sweat stuck up randomly, bags under his eyes adding years to his age. He looked in absolutely no mood for your shenanigans, but that's exactly why you were doing this.

His lip lifted a bit under his facial hair, “Thought I told you that could wait til tomorrow, to get some sleep.” Eyes lazily rolling up from the papers in his, whatever horrors reflected with them passed to curiosity as he took you in. You stood stiffly at his desk, knuckles white as you gripped your report. 

“You did, Captain.” He was onto you, you knew immediately. You never were good at getting anything past him. Not that it was really part of your plan.

“Set it wherever then. Anything else?” Price asked, eyebrow raising as you carefully moved closer. Swiveling his chair he followed your steps around the desk.

“Ah, yes, sir. I also wanted to see how you were.” Your voice shook, tossing the papers onto the pile on his desk. Finally working up the courage to meet his gaze. He looked a bit more intrigued. The reassurance fueling your confidence for the next step. 

“I’m fine, soldier. Like i said-” The way his voice had lowered was the last straw. Dropping to your knees not even a foot from him. Gently, like approaching a startled animal, you rested your hands on his shins. 

“Are you sure, Captain?” Your head already felt fuzzy, being this close to him always did this to you, further exacerbated by the absolute taboo of the situation. Off duty it was easy to pretend he was just a lover. Someone you’d met on an app, or at a bookstore or even the grocery store maybe. But here? Kneeling in front of him, still splattered with dirt, oil and blood, he was your Captain. 

You watched Price process what he was seeing, throat working and pupils dilating. Eventually his nose twitched with the threat of a snarl. “You can’t do this to me, baby.” His words sounded forced, slow and strangled. Sounding nearly as desperate as you felt. 

Slowly you traced your hands up his legs, past his knees to his thighs, squeezing firmly. “If you tell me to go, sir, I’ll go.” You shuffled forward, finally meeting his boots. “If not… I want to take care of you, Daddy.” 

The ‘D’ word was a cheap shot, but when you watched John’s head drop back you knew you’d won. Adding a ‘please’, to really dig your grave. 

Price picked up his glass, taking a long slow drink, looking anywhere but you. You could feel the tension vibrating through the muscle of his thighs, tense and strung high. Always so quick to tell his team to rest and relax, though never taking his own advice. 

When he met your gaze again his eyes were filled with a familiar heat. “Is that right, sweetheart?” 

Nodding eagerly you massaged his thighs, ignoring his already growing bulge. “Uh-huh” 

Price tisked, relaxing back into his chair. “Here? That's a dangerous game.”

“I’ll be quiet, promise.” You breathed, eyes solely focused on your prize. 

John huffed, rolling his shoulders. “You? Quiet?” He raised his free hand to your flushed face, gently caressing the heated skin. “You come in here, beggin’ for my cock like a whore, and expect me to believe you’re planning on behavin’?” He laughed, a genuine smile cracking his exhausted exterior. 

The drawl of his words sank down though your chest, pooling in your sex. You had been so focused on him you hadn’t realized how desperate you’d already become. Shifting you let out a sharp breath, kneeling had pulled your pants taunt. The seam pressing torturously against your clit.

Price groaned, yanking you up into a kiss before you could process his movement. Messy and desperate. Moaning in return at his taste, whiskey, expensive cigars and home. When was the last time you’d had him like this? A month, maybe more, this assignment had been so taxing, time barely seemed to matter. Though, your body seemed to disagree. Lighting up with the familiar attention, begging for more. 

Your hand twitched, intending to reach for him before you remind yourself. When you came here it was for him, you needed to behave. Take only as much as he was willing to give. 

Price pulled back, lips wet and swollen already, face reddened under his beard, it seemed he’d shared your thoughts. Relaxing back into the chair he let his legs spread wider. “What’s it you said?” He grunted. “That you wanted to ‘take care of me’? C’mon then, take care of daddy.”

You breathed a quick ‘yes, sir’, settling between his spread thighs. Drowning in his musk before you'd even unclipped his belt. Blood, sweat, nicotine, gun metal - a cologne so uniquely his. Something you rarely got to enjoy at this intensity. He was hard and ready, a hot brand against your hand through his boxer briefs. Not realizing how lost in him you were until Price wrapped a rough hand in your hair. Shoving your cheek against him, rubbing himself against your face.

“Don’t tease.” He hissed, a tone you’d heard more than once on the battlefield, but never in the bedroom. Jolting, you quickly freed him. Mouth watering at the weight and sight of his cock in hand, thinking of how sore your jaw would be in the morning from his girth. How you’d get a sick thrill every time you spoke to the team. None aware that your Captain was the reason you’d keep rubbing your cheek to soothe the ache.

True to his order, you didn't tease. Spitting and letting it drip down his head, slicking your hand and working up and down his length. The moment your tongue met his tip he snarled, the noise echoing through the room. He let you start at your own pace, allowing you to swirl your tongue around the head. Working more and into your mouth, hand stroking what you couldn’t reach yet.

Being on your knees for your superior, for him, in his office, had been on your mind since you’d met. Since he’d first approached you with the offer of a position on his task force. A sharp tug on your hair pulled your eyes to his face. Any anguish, stress, and worry were gone. His brows furrowed with pleasure, fist to his lips as he rocked up into your mouth. You throbbed at the scene, moan vibrating his cock. 

You pulled off, much to his despair. Fighting a smirk you move your hands to grip the pockets of his cargo pants, “Please fuck my mouth, daddy,” Giving your best puppy eyes while you took him back in. 

His hands were in your hair in a flash, shoving himself into your throat. Releasing a sound so low and guttural as he started a brutal pace. Gagging was inevitable, as hard as you tried to breathe, his speed and ruthlessness unfamiliar. But very, very welcomed. Price moaned every time your throat constricted around him. Never taking his eyes off your face.

“T-that's it. Take it for daddy. Fuck, such a slut, baby. Look at you… my girl. God, doing so good for me, sweetheart.”

You felt your eyes roll, head hazy from the lack of oxygen and absolutely intoxicated by him. Price’s praise was the most valuable commodity. Whether on the field, handing in paperwork, during training, but most importantly in bed. You didn’t care if everyone murmured about you being a kiss ass, as long as he kept feeding you those sugary words. Kept making you feel like this.  

When he’d finally pulled free, you were gasping and heaving for air. Dizzily you looked up at him, watching him pant nearly as hard as you. “Daddy?” Your voice was raw and foreign even to you. John’s eyes rolled back as he groaned, roughly pulling you up. Sloppily kissing you, uncaring of the shared fluids dripping down your chin. 

“I need to cum in you, off!” He snapped, yanking at your sweats until you’d kicked them away. 

You’d never seen him so… needy. It was addicting, you knew this would not be the last time you would come to him after a mission. Not if it was like this. 

On his lap you felt how truly soaked your panties are, sticking to your skin as he ground you against his cock. You needed him so badly, tears stinging at your eyes. “P-please, John- daddy!” Quickly correcting your mistake when his hand landed on your ass with a harsh crack. 

With little effort your panties were torn, gripped in his fist and shoved in your mouth. Your own taste invading your sensitive mouth as you bit down on the fabric. 

“Quiet, remember? The boys are a couple doors down.” Price huffed. The swollen head of his cock finally met your sex, slicking himself with you. “Hell, I’d be surprised if they haven’t already heard ya,” You whimpered at the thought. It’d taken so long to prove yourself, what would they think?

Suddenly every doubt you had vanished, your Captain’s thick length stretched you. Lifting you so your nearly limp weight would spear you open. You’d never taken him without some preparation, even dripping wet the stretch was almost unbearable. Barely able to hear his soothing coos past the blood rushing in your ears. The fabric on your tongue doing little to muffle your noises.

Price, still the caring man he always is, gives you a moment to adjust. Kissing the tears from your cheeks, a sting of ‘good girl’s falling from his lips. You relaxed easily, you trusted him, knew he’d only give what you could take. Push you to your limit, but never past. 

With no other warning than him planting his feet he picked you up and dropped you, slamming back down on his cock. You wailed, clawing at his t-shirt as he used you as he pleased. You couldn’t fight the noises clawing up your throat even if you had the sentience to want to. It was everything, so much, overwhelming waves of painful pleasure pulling you under.

“I bet you’d love it if they - ah - heard ya, huh sweetheart?” Price moaned when you clenched around him, grinding up into you as his belt buckle ruthlessly abused your clit. “They talk, I’ve heard. Wonderin’ how you’d… fuck - sound on their cocks. But it’ll never be them,”

You shook your head rapidly, clinging to him for dear life as your release built. You wanted to tell him that they’d never have the chance, that it was only him. But it was intelligible past the gag. So instead you pressed your forehead to his, noses bumping against each other with his violent thrusts. 

“S-such a good girl, just for daddy, yeah?” 

Every word he uttered hit you deep in your gut, where his head abused your sweet spot. Spots dancing in your vision you knew you were agonizingly close. Sobbing past the gag you tried to warn him, but Price knew. He always did. Slouching back he rutted into you fervently, thumb finding your tender clit. 

“Go ahead, cum. Make a mess on daddy’s cock.” His voice and one more swipe of his thumb had you hurtling into bliss. Unaware of the cries you let out, cunt constricting his cock almost painfully. Milking him for his release a few beats later. 

Shakily, you pulled your ruined panties from your mouth. Enjoying the afterglow, the Captain still twitching inside you, nuzzling into your throat. You were unable to keep the silly smile off your face, high off endorphins. Your face felt raw from his beard, body sore in the best way.

“Feeling better, Daddy?” Your voice was hoarse, it hurt to speak, but it was so worth it for the chuckle that bubbled from his chest. 

“What the hell did I do to deserve an angel like you?” Price pulled back, looking at you so reverently you had to fight to hold his gaze. 

Blushing again you remembered exactly where you were. “Do you think they heard us?” 

Price snorted, refilling his glass before bringing it to your lips. Encouraging you to take a sip. “Honestly? Probably. Don’t worry about it, not now.” You savored the burn and warmth it brought you, grounding you in the moment. “We can take the roundabout way to my room, shower, and sleep. Anything else? We’ll handle it in the morning.” 

His words were resolute, law, no room for argument. Not that you had the energy to argue now that the adrenaline had worn off. 

Pulling you in close he pressed a kiss to your forehead, “Right now, I want to take care of my girl.”

[saltygilmores]

Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls, Season 3, Episode 8, Part 4: "Let The Games Begin", the part where Lorelai says that if Jess was trapped inside her burning house she would save her shoes first

Lorelai Gilmore, you are no Jack Pearson. I won't complete that thought, even though I'm feeling nice and mean and I totally should.

Scene: Lorelai and Rory are discussing the upcoming road trip to New Haven with the Gilmore Grands. Rory forgot to pack. Lorelai goes into panic mode. Rory questions why she needs to pack her entire closet for a short road trip. Lorelai recounts a family vacation story from her childhood that would be best unpacked in a lengthy therapy session, frets that her mother will lecture them for under-packing, starts rummaging through Rory's dresser. Rory catches Lorelai making a double entendre about a meaty taco and declares it was dirty. The show makes another dig at New Haven after Lorelai brings home a pamphlet about Exciting Things to Do In New Haven but it's only a few pages long.

You sound surprised, as if ya'll aren't wearing heavy coats and long sleeves in the spring and summer. I swear there's something in the drinking water affecting everyone's thyroids in this town, they can't regulate their body temperatures.

Could anyone tell I'm stalling here? Classic Salty.

Rory: Mom, stop rummaging through my shit. Awwwe. Even Evil Villains like Lorelai Gilmore get the blues. I'm surprised she decided to go on this road trip to Yale instead of sending Rory off alone with the Grands, that way she'd have the house and Dean Forrester to herself the entire day. Since Dean's sexual stamina only extends to 1-2 minutes, they could have had sex hundreds of times in a day.

Two quips that sprang to mind (couldn't decided which one was better): The only words Lorelai is thinking about right now are "Dean" and "Shower". Lorelai thinks Jess removed Rory's bracelet while they're in the shower together? Jess could only hope.

Excuse me for a moment... *deep inhale*

I went into the Tumblr gifs library and looked up "peaceful". Here is a nice, presumably not-evil, Peaceful Bunny.

So not only does Jess commit attempted vehicular homicide, and steal Quarters on a String, he steals said QOAS by forcibly ripping them directly off the wrists of poor unsuspsecting delicate young ladies.

Nice try. You think you're so slick, but you're not, Slick Gilly.

You all don't understand the effort it takes for me to break down a scene like this without taking the cowards way out and simply rage quitting (which I have done before). I have to come up with multiple lines of witty, cutting commentary about what is unfolding before me, when all I want to do is KEYBORD SMASH. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I WILL!! ITS A FREE COUNTRY ISNT IT! BALD EAGLE BASEBALL APPLE PIE! (Deep inhale) sagfshafgahfgasvxzcywtryqwuhajlkansjbkfagsfyafvabsfvsdgr2347527q2y4q#&$T%#^%^#*U@(%)&@tGSHFBSHFSVAGFSFS FUCKYOULORELAIGILMORE#^&#^%&#^WGHFSHGAS@$%@^@

Thank for reminding the audience the reason why Lorelai thinks Jess should, ya know, die painfully and slowly. He was mouthy once. (the Netflix captions borked the line; Rory also said "and wrecked my car", but as if that makes Lorelai's treatment of Future Nephew any more justifable).

I am told that in a later season, Lorelai bemoans the fact that unlike Dean, Jess never offered to change her water bottle for her. NOW WHY WOULD HE DO THAT? YOU'RE ABOUT TO WISH HIM A FIREY DEATH. AND WHEN HE WAS (FORCIBLY) APPOINTED TO CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS YOU DIDN'T WANT HIS HELP..

Lorelai practically moans this, lol. We know "Change the water bottle" can mean two very different things. You ain't so slick, Slick Gilly.

Welcome to Gaslighting and Emotional Manipulation Theater! See, here's the thing Slick Gilly, I watched an entire frigging episode about you accusing Jess of being a thief, it was called Lost and Found and it took me four frigging centuries to finish, I'm quite sure I have concrete evidence that you have accused him of stealing things. I am Jess Mariano's defense attorney and I will see you in court. Bring Rory too, she should also start getting used to what a court room looks like.

Rory, honey. Sweetie. Sugar bear. It's best you don't wish for a crystal ball. Just strap in to the rollercoaster that is dating Jess Mariano while living with your mother, and pray.

See, here's the thing Slick Gilly, I watched an entire frigging episode about you not letting Jess enter your house, it was called Swan Song and it will take me four frigging centuries to rewatch it.

This "Jess talks in grunts" shtick is getting old and moldy.

So not only does Jess commit attempted vehicular homicide, steal Quarters on a String, and steal said QOAS by forcibly ripipng them directly off the wrists of poor unsuspsecting delicate young ladies, but he's also an arsonist, and not only is he an arsonist, he's such a bad one that he'll apparently be killed by his handiwork? (he also can't be trusted to clean gutters). He was probably trying to off himself instead of live in Stars Hollow for another minute. Can we recall another time Rory tried to play this same grim hypothetical with her mom? Does Rory, like Jess, also have some kind of firey death wish? I mean, who can blame either of them. *twinkly flashback music to early season 2*

I notice Pigtails didn't say "my daughter" this time, either. Sorry Rory. Maybe try playing a third time until she answers with "Some form of human life." Lorelai lies to Rory's face that she "promised you before and am promising you again that I will cut "this kid" some slack." Alright, I ran through my 30 screen shots, let's stuff this scene in a sack and throw it into the lake with Shane and her swan family.

Rory: "You're just waiting for the day I break up with Jess." Lorelai The Villain: "Did I like Dean? Yes. Did I worry less when you were with dean? Yes! I never expected you to be with Dean forever. I don't expect you to be with Jess forever." What a pile of rancid baloney. Maybe he won't be with Rory forever, but 13 years later Jess becomes her nephew and will be a part of her family forever and I will never, ever, ever stop loving that. What JUSTICE.

When I hit my lowest of low valleys listening to this wretched woman spew her many lies and Gilly-Nonsense, It's often the only thing that makes me smile.

[trivialbob]

Meteorologically-speaking, it has been an weird day.

When I woke up it was 32 degrees outside. This afternoon it warmed to 64 degrees. Today I saw a woman wearing a winter coat and knit hat walk past my house. A few hours later a guy jogged down the street in shorts and a short-sleeve shirt.

I opened some windows to air out the house. Tomorrow's low temperature is predicted to be 5 degrees, with a 70% chance of snow. Then we may get to 70 degrees by Sunday.

I'm road tripping to Baraboo, WI and Chicago at the end of the week. The drive should be sunny and dry.

This afternoon, when I took the dogs to the park, I pulled up next to a motorcycle at a stop light. It was behind a truck pulling a trailer containing two snowmobiles.

Nearby ponds are ice-free. Shady parts of some lawns still have some small piles of snow.

At the dog park I expect barking, because it's not a cat park. Today though someone had two extremely yippy and loud dogs. It was ridiculous, with over the top, incessant barking. My dogs were as happy to go home as I was.

Lunch today was terrific. Leftover Kung Pao chicken and barbecue pork fried rice. The Kung Pao chicken was extra spicy. We didn't order it that way last night, but I liked it.

Tonight I'm home alone. Sheila is working a late shift. I don't feel like cooking or eating other leftovers. I'm probably getting pizza. Now I just have to decide from which place to order.

I have a new episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm to watch while I eat pizza. This is the final season. Even if it wasn't, I don't know that I could watch many more episodes. It feels like someone entered some Curb terms into an AI generator to come up with formulaic story lines.

It reminds me somewhat of the old Three's Company episodes. One stupid misunderstanding after another among the characters. Yes, that is the whole point, and it was funny for a while. Eventually it's easy to predict what happens in the next scene.

Tonight I am eager to eat pizza. I'll even enjoy leftovers tomorrow. However, another season of Curb or an entire month of pizza would be tedious.

[rootbeerworshiper]

Normal (part 7)

pairing: fem!character + matt sturniolo

summery: Abigail and Matt have been best friends for years and practically grew up together. the two hiding their feelings for one another, until one stupid drunken dare changes things.

warnings: slight anxiety attack at the end but nothing too major

love, sienna <3

abigail’s pov again!

i’ve been back home for a few days now.

well, not home exactly, i haven’t spoken to my parents in years, but Marylou always insists i stay over for the duration of my visits so that’s exactly what i do.

it’s been good being back though.

i missed Nate so much and i’ve basically been hanging out with him every chance i get.

we’ve already have two “family” movie nights which i cherish more than anything. cuddling with Chris and Trevor on the couch wearing Christmas pyjamas even though it’s summer and making jokes with Jimmy about stupid shit.

i’ve also had Marylou there for me, teaching me all her favourite recipes that she knows her own kids will never be capable of making.

i wasn’t “home” but this is the closet thing i have and i’m content with that.

i’ve seen my sister too, it’s a little weird when you go from seeing someone everyday and crying in their arms to getting coffee once every few months, but i think it’s best for us to be on our own for the most part.

trauma bonds some people, and it separates others, just wish the ladder didn’t happen with us.

being back was needed, it always is.

i moved out to LA purely because of Matt.

when we were kids the plan was always for me to go wherever he went, though i’d much rather stay in Boston, i was happy anywhere as long as i was with my best friend. i needed desperately to be with him at all times.

speaking of my best friend, things have gone back to normal, and i think i’m okay with it.

i’ve been journaling a lot more, trying to process all the emotions i’ve been feeling and it’s been helping a lot to map everything out.

sure, it hurt getting rejected, but it’s nothing i wasn’t expecting. Matt’s my best friend, i can’t expect him to want to be anything more, it wouldn’t be fair to him.

so things have been good.

we’ve still kept up with our late night Mcdonald’s runs where we talk about nothing and everything and watch the stars through the sunroof.

we still cling to each others side in social settings.

and we still help each other with our bad habits, even though for me it’s just an excuse to hold his hand.

although on the outside things were normal, something felt different, emotionally.

it’s as if he’s not telling me something, or maybe he’s just closing himself off. either way i don’t like how it makes me feel, and i don’t like that he has that effect on me.

i am still planning on telling him how i feel, at least i think.

i need the closure, even if his only reaction is to distance himself more, i can’t keep doing this to myself.

and maybe when he rejects me i’ll actually be able to move on and stop being delusional.

god i just wish he wasn’t so good with his mouth, that would make this a lot easier.

i sit in the back of the minivan with Nick and Nate to either side of me as we head on a small road trip to Vermont.

i’ve always loved the east coast, i love the way the trees over take the outdoors and i love all the wildlife that comes with it.

it’s also extremely nostalgic for me because it reminds me of all the Sturniolo road trips i’ve tagged along for growing up.

“are you sure you’re okay if we vlog this?” Chris asks, looking back to me as i zone back into reality. i bite my lip momentarily, because as much as i’d rather not be subjected to the hate that comes with being their friend, i also don’t want to stop them from making content.

so i nod. “yeah it’s okay, i feel like they already know me anyways so it should be fine” i shrug, referring to the viewers that have watched every video my best friends have posted.

but i’d be lying if i said i hadn’t, because i love watching them in their element.

“how much longer till we’re there?” Nick asks Matt, who’s been much more quiet than normal this car ride.

“like 15 minutes i think, we could’ve been there already if Abigail didn’t take forever getting ready” i gasp dramatically.

“i can’t believe you are throwing me under the bus like that Matthew cmon” i bring my knees up to my chest and rest my chin on them.

little do i know Matt’s watching me from the rear view mirror trying to hide his flustered face.

it’s quiet for a moment before the song playing on the speakers changes, and i know what song it is right away.

“Matt why are you playing this corny shit” Chris complains, running his hand through his hair.

i’m so incredibly uncomfortable because i know exactly what playlist is playing and now i know that Matt’s listened to the song that describes my entire life.

i’m not dumb, i knew he was on the playlist, but he hadn’t listened to it in so long and i had been playing it more, and well i love Lizzy Mcalpine.

Matt furrows his eyebrows. “i think it’s cute, you’re just incapable of being romantic”

Chris is clearly annoyed with that response, although it makes me blush slightly, i just sit and watch. “shut the fuck up Matt at least i have the balls to be honest”

i can see the way Matt stops breathing, as if he’s frozen in place. “watch your mouth Chris or i swear to god i’ll drive this car into a tree”

it’s awkwardly silent for a second. “okay! anyways what are we planning on doing when we get there” Nate chimes in, attempting to bring the mood up.

“wait oh my god can we please see the alpacas again i miss them” i chime in, a smile immediately forming on my face. i see Matt now smiling too, both of us internally reminiscing on how often we’d spend time with the animals together growing up.

“we definitely have to, i also wanna hit up the shops because they always have good stuff” he replies, looking to the rear view mirror yet again while waiting for a reply.

“maybe we can find stuff to finally decorate your dungeon of a room too” i joke, but i do mean it, i can’t stand a bland bedroom.

Chris of course is having the time of life laughing at this. “Chris don’t act like your room is any better you all lack interior design skills it breaks my heart”

soon enough we make it to the cabin we’re staying at, and i’m literally giddy with excitement. coming here never gets old.

somehow it smells better here, like the leaves provide a freshness you just can’t get in LA.

i grab my duffel bag out of the trunk and make my way inside, still smiling like a kid on christmas morning.

we situate in our rooms, i’m sharing with Nick as always but i definitely don’t mind because our late night talks bring me so much happiness.

for a moment i forget about Matt, i’m just completely and utterly stress free.

well i forget about him until i look over and see the way his hair falls perfectly just in front of his eyes. fuck i’m so down bad it’s embarrassing.

once we’ve set our selves up we decide to go see the alpacas first since i’ve practically been begging the whole car ride…

“OH MY GOD MATT STOP” i grab his arm and begin to run towards the alpaca enclosure “the ugly one is still here oh my god i love him”

he must be in a bad mood all of a sudden based on the lack of expression on his face and by the way he drops my hand. “yeah why wouldn’t he be? it hasn’t been that long since we’ve been here”

i try to hide the small frown that wants to make its way to my face. Matt was always my biggest supporter and even if he didn’t care what i was talking about, he’d be my biggest fan as i rambled on.

“okay wait we need to feed them they look hungry” Chris laughs, clearly not sensing the tension that was formed moments prior.

Nick walks over with Nate, camera in hand. i forgot that that was happening, a smile now making its way onto my face, although i definitely don’t feel happy.

it’s hard to avoid thinking about the pit in my stomach, but i’m probably just being over dramatic.

“look at his goofy ass” Nate says as he feeds the ugly alpaca Matt and i bonded over two summers ago.

we all take our turns feeding the alpacas and my mood takes a turn for the better. i have to focus on the friends surrounding me and forget about the boy i can’t stop thinking about.

the rest of the day is nice, just doing what we’ve been doing for years, buying the same snow cones and visiting the same stores.

nothing makes me more happy then spending time with my favourite people, as insanely corny as that sounds they are my chosen family.

something about the way i can smell the tree sap as i walk on uneven dirt roads while talking about absolutely nothing. i just really wish the small action of Matt from earlier didn’t effect my mood so much.

but him affecting my mood is nothing new.

by now it’s dark outside, which is my favourite time because of the sky. i instinctively go to tell Matt about the constellations i see in the sky, grabbing his arm without a second thought.

before he can even react i take my arms off of him, now remembering what happened earlier today. “sorry i just noticed the big dipper and wanted to tell you”

“okay” he replies shrugging and continuing to walk, not once taking a glance at the stars above us.

okay?

is that what we say to each other now when we express something we’re passionate about?

okay?

i cant hide the hurt on my face but unfortunately Nick notices right away, i can see the way the gears turn in his head and i know he’s about to say something so i shoot him a look. this doesn’t need to become a big deal.

so we carry on as normal, Chris and Nate throwing some huge stick into a nearby creek while Nick yells at them to stop.

leaving Matt and i standing in what was now awkward silence. not something i’ve had with him often.

we make it back to the cabin and i head straight back to my room. i feel so over stimulated and want nothing more than to take of my denim shorts and rot in bed.

so i do just that, for a moment anyways, just finally making myself comfortable with multiple fuzzy blankets when Nick enters our shared room and sits on the bed next to me.

i let out a sigh. i cant keep these thoughts to myself and although i normally tell Nathan, he’s busy having fun with Chris and Matt doing whatever it is they’re doing in the living room.

“Abigail” he states.

“Nicolas” i reply, followed by yet another dramatic sigh.

he shoots me a concerned look, it’s evident how well he knows me. “wanna inform me on what’s happening?”

i pull a blanket over my face and groan, before eventually coming back out to meet Nicks face still looking at me.

“are you prepared for me to rant for the next ten minutes?” i ask “i have lots to get off my chest”

he shuffles in bed, kicking off his shoes and placing a blanket on his lap. “i’m always prepared”

so i do what i warned him. i talk for the next few minutes, explaining my feelings, the moment in the hot tub, and how that all leads to now.

i try my best to avoid crying because a part of me won’t allow it. my dads voice echoing in the back of my brain telling me to grow up. “i don’t know what i did wrong, i don’t know what to do Nick. i cant live like this anymore”

he hugs me and i immediately break. every feeling i’ve bottled up for years pouring out into his chest.

he just rubs my back as i cry. he doesn’t even need to say anything.

and we stay like this for a while before i pull away.

“i just feel so stupid. part of me thought that the moment in the hot tub would lead to more. i thought that maybe he liked me back or maybe- i don’t know.” i sniffle, trying to gain composure because although i just let myself cry, i don’t feel proud of it.

“Abi you’re allowed to feel. you are a human being with emotions and you need to feel them.” i nod, a tear still making its way down my face. “i can’t give you advice until you speak to him. you’re right, this can’t go on anymore, but until you say something it will.”

“but-“ i begin

“but nothing. obviously he’s being an asshole right now but neither of you know where you stand and that’s confusing for both sides. you can’t keep this in anymore, it’s not normal nor is it healthy. okay?” he finishes, waiting for a response.

i sigh. “okay. not tonight though, i need to process what i’m gonna say i think.” i reply, pulling the blankets back up to my chin. “you can go hangout with them if you want i know i’m being annoying right now”

“don’t say stupid shit you’ll never annoy me.” he slaps my arm playfully, causing a smile to form on my face.

i don’t know why it feels so difficult to tell Matt how i feel. he’s my best friend. the only person in the world who knows everything about me, other than the fact that i’m in love with him. and it breaks my heart that i struggle to tell him.

i just wish it didn’t matter this much to me i wish i didn’t base my self worth off of how much a boy looks at me or if he’s excited about the things that make me happy. i’m nothing without him. i mean without Matt i don’t know who i am, and now he’s pushing me away all because of a stupid drunken fling

it breaks my heart that no matter how hard i’ve tried to suppress these feelings i’m forced to confront them. maybe i’m running away from what i feel, or maybe i’m choosing the safer option.

the option that’s supposed to leave me less hurt.

yet here i am with Nick sleeping beside me, trying to suppress more tears.

my heart rate increases and my breathing speeds up. god i feel so weak, so stupid, so hopeless.

if Matt were here he’d tell me to focus on my breath. he’d hold my hands and talk me through all my worries. he’d rub my back till i’ve fully calmed down and then do some stupid baby voice to cheer me up.

if he were here i’d be whole again, but he’s not, and i’m just here at three in the morning stressed and alone.

i need fresh air.

a/n: i kinda hate this i think but that’s okay lolz

taglist: @athaliahxoxo

[andiwriteordie]

Mike and Will get locked in the school library and have to wait until morning for the doors to open up, perhaps?

ok so not gonna lie, i am getting sleepy (lol me projecting by writing mike's sleepy self in the library), but listen, this one was SO fun. a little modern byler au here, set during their senior year of high school. featuring every byler's favorite poem by richard siken (starts at 19:54 on the link).

—

with a beautiful boy

“What if nobody finds us in here, Will?”

Will blinks, and he rolls over to look at his best friend in amusement. “There’s school tomorrow, Mike,” he reminds dryly. “First thing in the morning, Ms. Jean’s gonna come in and realize we’re in here, and we’ll get lectured or get detention or something for being stuck in here. But they’re gonna find us.”

Mike hums, and he lazily reaches for one of the books—one with a black and white picture of a man’s mouth and hand, titled CRUSH. He opens it up, absently thumbing through the pages; then, without saying another word, he sets the book on top of his face.

“Do you think if I just… let these books sit on my head I’ll absorb all their information through osmosis or something?” Mike asks, his voice muffled by the book on top of his face, and Will just snorts.

“I think you need to sleep,” Will corrects, nudging his best friend’s shoulder. “It’s 2 AM, Mike. If you’re tired, you should sleep. I told you I didn’t mind staying up alone.”

“And I told you,” Mike says stubbornly, “that if you’re staying up, then I’m staying up too. Besides, it’s kind of fun. You know I get stupid when I haven’t slept in a while.”

Once again, Will snorts, and he reaches over, lifting the book off Mike’s face. “You said it,” Will deadpans. “Not me.”

A soft laugh escapes Mike’s lips, and he closes his eyes, letting out a quiet sigh. “I know,” he murmurs, his voice a little sleepy. “I know I did.”

“Mike,” Will laughs softly, nudging his best friend again. “If you’re tired, go to sleep.”

Mike lifts his middle finger up. “Don’t tell me what t’do, Byers,” he grumbles. “I’m fine.”

Will rolls his eyes. “Whatever you say.”

Mike just hums softly, and he taps his fingers absently against the carpeted floor of the library. “Hey, Will?”

“Hm?”

“Will you read to me?” Mike says, his voice soft, and Will blinks, looking at his best friend curiously.

“You want me to read to you?” Will repeats, just trying to make sure he heard Mike correctly. 

“Mhm.” Mike nods. 

“What, like a bedtime story or something?” Will asks dryly. “Is that what this is?”

“No,” Mike huffs, opening one eye and sticking his tongue out at Will. “I just… like your voice a lot. It’s pretty. So… you should read to me.”

Warmth rises to Will’s cheeks, and he looks away quickly, lest Mike see the stupid blush on his face. Yeah, Mike is definitely loopy right now, since he’s saying stuff like this. There’s no way in hell Mike would say any of this if he was in the right mind. He has no idea what he’s talking about.

Maybe a bedtime story would be good for him.

“Fine,” Will sighs reluctantly. “What do you want me to read?”

Once again, Mike hums. “Just read the book I grabbed,” he mumbles. “The one you’re holding right now.”

“Okay, okay,” Will sighs, and he sits up, absently flipping through the book and trying to find a poem that stands out to him. 

Finally, one of the poems jumps out to him, and Will swallows the lump in his throat. He… he can’t help but think back to the summer road trip he and the other Party members had gone on, just a couple months ago. The memory of sneaking away in the morning before the others had woken up and riding in the passenger seat of Mike’s car along the coastline feels burned into Will’s memory, and this poem feels like that memory—as if the poet tore open Will’s heart and mind and used his thoughts as inspiration.

“You’re in a car with a beautiful boy,” Will begins to read softly, “and he won’t tell you that he loves you, but he loves you. And you feel like you've done something terrible, like robbed a liquor store, or swallowed pills, or shoveled yourself a grave in the dirt, and you're tired.”

Mike hums softly, and Will glances at his best friend, a tiny smile on his face. “You’re in a car with a beautiful boy,” Will continues, “and you're trying not to tell him that you love him, and you're trying to choke down the feeling, and you're trembling, but he reaches over and he touches you, like a prayer for which no words exist…”

Will’s heart pounds inside his chest, and he takes a shaky breath, staring down at the words. “And you feel your heart taking root in your body,” he murmurs, “like you've discovered something you don't even have a name for.”

Once Will finishes reading the poem, the library goes silent. Neither one of them says a word, and all Will can do is stare at the words, reading them over and over again.

You’re in a car with a beautiful boy, and he won’t tell you that he loves you, but he loves you.

…

You’re in a car with a beautiful boy, and you’re trying not to tell him that you love him.

...

And you feel your heart taking root in your body, like you’ve discovered something you don’t even have a name for.

“Hey, Will?” Mike murmurs, his voice thick with sleep.

Will swallows the lump in his throat, and he lowers the book, so he can look at his best friend. “Yeah?” he whispers back.

Mike’s eyes are still close, and he absently traces his finger across the carpet. “Have you ever felt like that before?” he asks softly, and Will’s brow furrows.

“Like… what?” Will asks hesitantly.

“Like how the poet did when he wrote that,” Mike answers without hesitation. His voice is still soft, and it grows even softer when he adds, “‘Cause… ‘cause I have.”

Will’s breath catches. He glances back down at the book. The words jump off the page at him.

You’re in a car with a beautiful boy, and he won’t tell you that he loves you, but he loves you.

“Yeah,” Will whispers back, hesitantly looking back up. “I… I have too.”

You’re in a car with a beautiful boy, and you’re trying not to tell him that you love him.

A tiny smile forms on Mike’s face, and he opens his eyes, looking sleepily at Will. “You should tell me about it sometime,” he whispers. “And I’ll tell you too… when I’m less sleepy. ‘Cause I… I don’t wanna wake up and realize this was a dream.”

There’s something so tender in Mike’s eyes, and Will can’t help but smile. “Okay,” he says softly, nodding at his best friend. “We can tell each other about… about what we’re thinking about, when you’re less sleepy. Deal?”

“Deal,” Mike promises, yawning softly. “I… I’m gonna sleep now. ‘m sorry.”

Will can’t help but laugh. “It’s okay,” he reassures. “Get some rest. I’ll wake you up before school starts.”

The smile on Mike’s face grows. “G’night, Will,” he mumbles, and he closes his eyes once more.

“Goodnight, Mike,” Will whispers back.

Within moments, Mike is fast asleep, and Will exhales, looking back down at the poetry book in his hands. His eyes land on the last lines of the poem, and Will can’t help but smile.

And you feel your heart taking root in your body, like you’ve discovered something you don’t even have a name for.

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for some old people dying because I made copies of my keys?

I know this sounds pretty bad but bear with me here. I don't think I'm the asshole, I mean I wasn't even the one to kill them?

So I (27 M) am on a road trip vacation with my new boyfriend (28 M)--it's super recent, but I think this guy's the real deal, maybe even the person I want to spend my life with. We're just doing normal tourist things, sight-seeing, trying different foods and drinks, adopting lost children, you know how it is. Both the boyfriend and I have been through some stuff in the past so it's a relief to meet someone who isn't judgemental, and I'm just looking forward to the future with him.

The problem started because everybody else in the town we're staying at became obsessed with this like, secret bunker a crazy guy built over 20 years ago, as if it holds the secrets of the universe. Personally, I think it's all bs, and so does my boyfriend, so we just try to mind our business and stay out of it. But one night as we're going back to our hotel, a weird guy attacks us and tries to drug us--actually the guy is sort of my former employee, but that's another story and he was going behind my back anyway. So we kill the dude, obviously, and it turns out he's carrying a pair of keys to the secret bunker (note that the bunker has a very complicated security system, so those keys are NOT enough to open it by themselves).

At this point, I'm kind of nervous that my boyfriend will get drawn into this stupid conspiracy, but he says he doesn't care about the keys at all and gives them to me. Well, this is where I may have been the asshole, because I kind of ordered a bunch of copies of the keys made and distributed them across town without my boyfriend knowing. Then I got robbed and lost the original pair. So later as we're enjoying a romantic evening, we notice that people all across town are fighting. Turns out they caught wind that a pair of the bunker keys were going around, and they keep trying to steal them from each other (bc they're too stupid to realize there's like way more copies than there should be).

The bad part is, the mayor of the town enlisted this group of, well, really respected retirees, to help him with the key situation, and they ended up getting killed by all the people trying to steal the keys. Obviously I think this sucks because the old guys were actually neat, unlike the other idiots in this town, but my boyfriend thinks it's my fault they died because I made the copies?? I think this is unreasonable, because I didn't do anything to them. I didn't make the other people start fighting either, and it was the mayor who decided to involve a bunch of people peacefully living in retirement!

My boyfriend was laying on the blame pretty thick, so I kinda snapped at him and reminded him he's gotten people killed himself in the past. Admittedly it wasn't the best move to throw something he feels guilty about in his face, but I was only trying to point out the hypocrisy. Now he's stormed off in a huff and he's refusing to talk to me. I'm afraid he's going to break up with me. AITA?

[baronessblixen]

Hi! Big fan here😊! If you're still taking prompts: Mulder being obviously jealous with Scully and Sheriff Hartwell in Bad Blood, thank you!😊

Thank you, sweet anon! Here it is. A post-ep for "Bad Blood" obviously. A jealous Mulder, an attempt at humor and the hint of angst may be found here. (wc: 1,349)

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober2023

Fictober Day 30: Feelings You Can't Hide

Buck teeth.

He can’t believe Scully is into overbites when- no, he’s not going down that road again. The same thing happened last year when Ed Jerse showed up. Not that Mulder ever met the guy, but he’s seen pictures. What a funny twist of fate that Sheriff Buck Teeth and Mr. Tattoo look like they could be related. His Scully has a type. And Mulder is not jealous. At all.

He reminds himself of that fact every two seconds, lest he forget to smile and not make another biting remark. Whatever his feelings are, Scully deserves more. That’s the reason why he pushed her towards the Sheriff in the first place. A mistake he now very much regrets. He should have known. He of all people, who’s been seduced by his own vampire before. Whatever happened – and either Scully doesn’t remember or doesn’t want to tell him – she’s still wearing the sheriff’s coat.

And he’s still not jealous at all. Not even an iota. Well, maybe a bit. A fraction. He glances over at Scully, almost disappearing into the coat, her hands in the pockets. His blood coils. It’s anger, he justifies. That guy could have done god knows what to Scully. The hospital cleared them both. There was nothing wrong with them.

Mulder winced internally when rape kits were prepared, bu they haven't been touched in any way. There’s not a scratch on either of them. Scully’s theory is that they were drugged so that Sheriff Hartwell and the others could disappear. He thinks she’s right, but so far all he’s done is nod along.

“Are you gonna keep wearing that thing?” He doesn’t mean for it to come out as harsh as it does. Scully musters him, obviously trying to understand what’s wrong with him.

“No, of course not,” she says. “It’s just warm and it’s cool in here.”

“You can have my coat,” he says, taking it off.

“Mulder, you’re gonna be cold.” Except he feels warm. Hot, even. Boiling almost. “Take it,” he says, sounding like an asshole. He hears it, and judging by Scully’s puzzled expression, she does, too. Still, she takes his coat, slipping out of the other one. Mulder can breathe more easily.

Scully giggles when she holds up the sleeves, her hands barely peeking out. The sound opens something in Mulder. He watches her out of the corner of his eye, her sight causing a pandemonium of emotions inside him.

He can no longer deny it; he is jealous. Whether it’s a vampiric sheriff, a psychopathic asshole, or a seemingly normal-looking doctor in a hospital. Scully deserves to find a nice man – emphasis on nice, and not blood-sucking or murderous – and here he is, trying his best to prevent that from happening. Because what if she does? What if the next guy they run into is exactly what she’s looking for? Sweet and kind – someone Bill Jr. will be friends with. Someone who’ll whisk her away on weekend trips where the scariest situation will involve preventing a sunburn.

“Mulder, I asked if you were ready to go home.” Scully is squeezing his arm, her eyes narrow with concern.

“Am I ready?” he asks. He's not ready at all to do this. To consider the possibility that one day - and maybe soon - she could be gone. Because of some guy who can give her everything Mulder can't.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Did they check your head?” She runs her fingers through his hair and he doesn’t have the heart to tell her that they did check him for head trauma and that her way of checking is more of a caress than anything else.

“My head is fine,” he says finally.

“It better be because I’m not facing Skinner alone.” He gives her a look that he hopes is reassuring.

*

He hasn’t stopped thinking about it. About his revelation. That’s why when they talk to Skinner, he’s only half listening, reiterating everything Scully says.

“This is your story,” Skinner says, glancing at both of them across from him. They share a quick look before they nod.

“That is essentially… exactly the way it happened,” Scully says slowly.

“Except for the part about the buck teeth.” The room falls quiet. He knows he shouldn’t have said it, but he hasn’t slept well these past few nights. Last night, he dreamed about a hat with big white teeth following him around, trying to bite him. Skinner sighs, rubbing his eyes, and for once Mulder gets it. Scully’s eyes are on him and he feels them burn into the side of his face. This isn’t over for him, no matter what Skinner is about to say.

“You’re dismissed,” their boss says, directing his attention elsewhere; a clear sign that they should leave. Mulder stumbles over his own feet in an attempt to get out of the office. Scully, however, is at his heels. How she can keep up with him might be the greatest conundrum of them all.

“What was that?” she hisses once they’re in the elevator, on the way down to their office.

“What was what?”

“Why do you keep insisting that he had buck teeth?”

“Why are you always attracted to idiots?” Another thing he knows he shouldn’t have said. “I’m sorry, I-… I haven’t been sleeping well.” It’s a flimsy excuse and the fire in Scully’s eyes doesn’t dissipate.

“You’re one to talk, Mulder. This was unprofessional. In front of Skinner. It’s bad enough when you made fun of it before but in front of our boss? What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking.”

“I’ll say. Why are you so obsessed with what he looked like?” He owes her this. But first, he’s saved by the bell. The elevator door opens and Scully steps out first. He follows the click of her heels until they’re in their office where she leans against the desk, her arms folded in front of her.

“I’m waiting,” she says, her eyebrows raised.

“I was just surprised,” he explains. “That you’d be interested in someone like… that.”

“Like what, Mulder?”

“He wasn’t the brightest bulb, Scully. You must have seen that. I thought you’d be more, um- I thought maybe you’d go for someone who’s more…”

“More what?” she asks.

“Someone who’s intellectually on your level.”

“Like you?”

“I didn’t say that,” he replies too quickly and he sees the corner of Scully’s mouth twitch.

“I may have thought that Sheriff Hartwell was nice enough looking,” she says, sounding almost bored. “I wasn’t planning a life with him. And you just- should I remind you of Detective White?”

“Who?”

“Oh, come on. Or Bambi.”

“Bambi was a scientist,” Mulder says defensively.

“Yeah, she was,” Scully mumbles, looking away. “Either way, I have to deal with you being… interested in other people way more often than the other way around. And I don’t ascribe them physical attributes they don’t possess. So what was that?”

“I’m sorry, Scully. I truly am. I was just-,” he looks at her. Can he say it? Can he admit it to her? If he admits that he was jealous, what will happen next? They’re not there yet. He can admit it to himself, but he’s not ready to face the consequences of his feelings.

“I was insensitive. I was worried your feelings for Sheriff Bu- Hartwell might interfere with the case.”

“That’s it?” she asks and he nods, looking down at his feet. “You’re sticking to that story?” He lifts his head to look at her. She’s not believing a single word.

“Admit he didn’t have buck teeth.”

“What? He did!”

“Admit it, Mulder. Or tell me the real reason.”

“Fine,” he says with a sigh. All he has to do is say it. Simple words. ‘I was jealous, Scully’. How hard can it be? He, the defender and searcher of the truth, is shying away from it.

“I- he didn’t have buck teeth. Happy?”

“It’ll do,” she says, before she walks right past him and out of the basement office, making him wonder what exactly she means by that.