#mocha’s mayhem

[mocha-bunbun]

Ei, looking at Scaramouche:

Ei: I don’t like this one, it cries

Yae: We can always kill him

Ei: …okay now that’s a bit much-

[brittle-doughie]

[Masterlist #2]

[Masterlist #1/Main Page] >>> HERE!

[Cookie Run Ovenbreak/Kingdom]

One with the Wind! | Looking into the Wind, Piercer of Darkness Update Teaser for CRK

Feathered Envy (Dessert Paradise)

A Little Help (Star Coral Cookie)

Tale of the Mansion

Keeping Friends Close and Best Friends Closer (Cream Soda and Cherry Cola Cookie)

Superstar! The Cookie Olympics Event!

Draw Your Blade! | Looking into the Valorous Sun Tournament Update for CROB!

Cookie Flipside: Light Cream Cookie

Heartfelt Unison (Y/N Cookie skill)

Return to Sender (Strawberry Stick and Mint Wafer Cookie)

Volition’s End (Mystic Flour Cookie)

Illusion of Dreams (Clotted Cream Cookie)

The Lover of Passion HCs (Beast Hollyberry Cookie) | The Ancient Beast Order AU

The Manufacturer of Darkness

The Prophet of Salvation HCs (Beast Pure Vanilla Cookie) | The Ancient Beast Order AU

The Ancient Beast Order (Ancient Beast AU)

I Don’t Remember You (Dark Cacao and Mystic Flour Cookie)

The Walls of the Baker (Ancient and Beast Cookies)

Yin and Yang (Peach Blossom and Affogato Cookie)

Pearly Contemplation

Get Along (Dark Cacao and Mystic Flour Cookie)

Lethality (Lethal Company x Cookie Run)

Living Legend (Y/N Cookie Concept)

The Lone Giant

Longing Tide (Sea Fairy Cookie)

The Plague Approaches! | Looking into The Awakening of White Apathy Update for CRK!

No Class (Sachertorte Cookie)

Late Arrival (Dark Cacao Cookie)

Dust to Dust (Caramel Arrow Cookie)

Cocooned (Mystic Flour Cookie)

Mystic Flour is Coming…

The Wishful or the Regal (Lotus Dragon vs. Longan Dragon Cookie)

Gotta Go (The Ancient Cookies)

Under the Castle…

Timeless Kingdom - Deliciously Evil Banquet (Reader Insert)

Remember Who?

Ways of Cookie and Egg Care (The Dragons)

I Know You (Stormbringer Cookie)

Dessert Report (The Ancient Cookies)

Legendary Group Chat

A Brave Advice (Reader Insert)

The Perfect Vessel Doesn’t Exi- (The Five Beasts)

Time Balance Shenanigans (18+)

Hiding H/N, Seeking Beasts (The Five Beasts)

Welcome Back, Handycookie (TBD Update)

Flower from the Other Shore (Cherry Blossom Cookie)

Loyal Until the End (Caramel Arrow Cookie)

Costume Bond: One Heart for All, All Hearts for One.

Ingrained (Herb Cookie)

New Faces at the Witch’s Castle

Let’s Get Rolling! | Looking into the Lights, Camera, Action! Event for CROB!

What If: The First.

The Gist of The Dangerous Exchange

Let Me Be Your Princess (Princess Contest Cookie)

The Earthbread Big Seller

Bake It Till You Make It: Tasty Delights

Even More Heartbreak (Alt) - Mermaid’s Lament (White Pearl Cookie)

With Baker’s Love (Valentine’s Day 2024 Special)

A Cringe Day for Chocolates

A Witch’s Castle? [Witch’s Castle Introduction]

Storm Warning (Black Pearl Cookie)

The Cookie Run Horror - Concept #2 - “MASH”

Y/N Cookie Interactions

Reason to Stay (Elder Faerie Cookie)

Final Days (The Five Beasts)

Forced Connections

League of Evil Cookies

Spooky Cookie Tales: Prikaza

The Corrupted or the Fooled (Abyss Monarch vs. Black Pearl Cookie)

Off to Wish Camp! | A Look into CROB’s 7th Anniversary Update

Can’t Take What Isn’t Yours

Halt! The Restriction Mayhem Update

The Greedy or the Honorable (Pirate Cookie vs. Captain Ice Cookie)

Satellite (Stardust Cookie)

Cookie Details: Y/N Cookie (Mercookie Ver.)

I Remember You (Lobster and Mocha Ray Cookie)

The Heroic or the Meditated (Hero Cookie v. Ninja Cookie)

Eggcellent Easter Short

Grass is Greener Part 1 (Lilybell and Blue Lily Cookie)

[sublieu]

𝐄𝐠𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭

cw. - threesome, biting, feral! Wukong vs feral! Macaque, rough sex, dacryphilia, hair pulling, choking, degradation, cumflation [at near end]

an.- ngl this gave me the shivers ty for helping me with this fic @mortal-mayhem . And yes I know it was for christmas but it's boxing day so technically this is christmas so shut up.

wc. - 2.3k words

ref. - ⚉ ⚆ ⚇

music. - playing dangerous/ little west

copyright.- “Words and quotes all belong to me, do not repost without permission” ©𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐮 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐; 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝

SIKEEEEEEE

cw. - limited space, ooc mk [?], major kissing, enemies to lovers, unprotected sex, business partners, getting caught [at the end]

wc. - 1.2k words

ref. - ⚉ ⚆ ⚇

music. - playing dangerous/ little west

mutuals. - @mortal-mayhem @yellowaxol @zmzsnakes

copyright.- “Words and quotes all belong to me, do not repost without permission” ©𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐮 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐; 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝

"You are by far the most insecure man I've ever met"

"Says the woman who acts like a child!"

"There they go arguing again." Tang sighs and takes a sip of mocha, already annoyed with how loud your arguments could get. And even if you guys couldn't stand each other, atleast go somewhere private to settle things.

Being a business partner with someone who shares very little to nothing in common with you was hard, even as a reserved parson yourself somehow this man has caused you to visit a therapist every 8 weeks. Mk and Redson decided it would be pretty nice to have you and Pigsy collaborate in the recent cook off wars. And it did work for so long.

So how come the same show the brought you two closer made you drift apart?

When Pigsy decided to insult your favorite chef, Patire Le Rouge you weren't gonna let him get away with it and insult Chang'e. Which now you were recalling it was a stupid move, but who does Pigsy think he is to insult your favorite chef. And since then, you two have been at war ever since; It nearly got physical hadn't Redson and Mk step in at some point to hold both you and the pink bastard back.

"Y'know what? I've had it with the two of you!!" Mk yells at the top of his lungs and threw a glass bottle on the floor, dropping his staff along the way as he pushes you both into the broom closet, not without hearing a few curse words from you two before locking it with the key.

"Until you two makeup like grown adults, none of you are leaving this closet!" Mk yells a final time and proceeds to walk upstairs with Mei and Tang following him as well until there was silence, for once.

"Just great, now you pissed him off!" "Me?! If it wasn't for your annoying ass we wouldn't have been in this situation!" You retort and push him into the brooms neatly lined up behind him before sitting down on the floor with him following after.

As time seems to move slowly, you look up and saw Pigsy take out a small flask, drinking the contents from it before throwing it to you. Which you take a swig of and immediately taste the strongness of the liquor.

"What kind of liquor is this?" "It's vodka, well it's a mix of 'Good Ol sailor' and 'Devil Springs'"

He responds and snickers at you spitting it out before giving him back. Pouty and upset about the fact he tried to give you hard liquor to drink, especially in a hot room as this.

The blue dim lit window in the room was the only form of light you both could use, stupidly leaving out your phones as Pigsy strums up more conversation; Cracking some jokes here and there to make the silence more comfortable.

Time flies by so slowly, only being 4 hours since Mk locked you both in this stuffy closet as you huddled closer to each other for warmth as early mornings tend to be the coldest times. With you two still giggling with each other like young teenagers.

Till you gave him a forehead kiss and cuddled ontop of his head, with Pigsy using your breasts as a pillow. Leaving him a flustered mess between the heat of your chest as you sighed softly.

"Y'know, I didn't mean anything when I said you acted like a child."

"Mm yea I know. I'm sorry about insulting Chang'e" "Me too, I didn't know you liked the guy so much" He replies and holds your hand, staring at your ring finger as you look at the shelves in the broom closet; Only comfortable silence alongside the occasional car passing by or two, when he asks for a request.

"Y'mind kissing me again?- I-i know if you probably don't wanna but please?"

He asks in a hushed tone, blushing at your laughter before you lift his chin with your finger and gifting him one more kiss on the lips. Which he gladly return with his tail wagging happily, his hands caressing your face as you share more kisses until you were taking of the other's clothes. Giggling like teenagers the sweeter your kisses got.

His claws gently took off your panties before tracing the slit. His pants having an obvious boner as his tongue messed with your clit, getting you lubed up before kissing it a final time and pull off his pants. Already pulsing and leaking with pre.

"I don't even have a condom-" "Leave it, we'll deal with it later"

You hushed and wrapped your legs around his waist, flustering him even more as he hides his face between your neck; Gently pushing it in as you held his hand, comforting him the deeper he went by kissing him and praising him for well he's taking it. Little whimpers escaped his lips tears fell to his chin, never feeling something as warm and snug as this.

Not wasting anymore time, he starts thrusting, his claws digging into your plump skin as he places a forehead on yours. Giggling when you shared another kiss with him; It could be the liquor talking or him actually showing you his true emotions, but you couldn't care less. As both of you were each other, happy and blissfully ignorant to the world.

Moans slip from your tongues as he thrusts harder, lifting you up and gently pressing your back against the shelves as ingredients fall to the floor. His tail wagging happily the deeper he thrusted.

Everything felt fuzzy, a ringing found itself to your ears as the sloppiness of his thrusting started to show. You even felt a tear slip from your face from how big he was inside, it didn't help the fact that he physically couldn't pull out if he tried; Not that you wanted him to.

His claws would put your legs around his neck, thrusting even harsher to leave a bruise. Everything felt warm and sticky, and it didn't help that you wanted to cum either; Your mind a hazy mess as his cock fucks you stupid.

Until he cums first, his claws digging deeper to leave a wound on your thighs as he stuffs your cunt full of his cum. He couldn't even speak the more he stuff you full, certain you were bound to get pregnant.

You both look back at the door, seeing Mk look at you both with an unreadable if not disgusted look as Tangs peeps from behind him before going back to finishing his noodles; Mei was no where to be found, presumably hanging out with Redson as you both try to pull away from each other. Now realizing you were stuck and there was no way to explain this.

©𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐮 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐; 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝

[jellycatstuffies]

What is the personality differences between Zeke, Luda, Gibbles and Jinx? Do they have bios or profiles?

Yes, all of them do have profiles! Actually, every Jellycat comes with a little descriptive text and a one-liner! And while they can admittedly be very similar, I still think Jellycat tries very hard to give each of their products a personality and I love that. (please keep in mind that Zeke and Jinx are US Exclusives so my descriptions for them may be slightly off) My personal favorite of the monsters is probably Jinx!

Luda Monster:

"Playful pranks and heartfelt hugs:

Luda Monster has midnight-blue fur, and midnight's when this scamp gets up to mischief! With a tufty tube tail, fluffy-soft mane, cute droopy horns, and a goofy grin, Luda's a loveable tumble of trouble!"

Gibbles Monster:

"Berry bumbles and merry mayhem!

Gibbles Monster can't help but giggle - being a wriggly monster is fun! With a plum-purple tum and lavender mane, tasselly tail, and dorky horns, Gibbles is soft and not scary at all!"

Zeke Monster:

"Zeke Monster loves to run around in the sunshine playing tricks on all who cross his path! He has a sunshine mane and tasselly tail, a goldenrod face and body and mocha horns. Zeke's happy smile couldn't scare anyone!"

Jinx Monster:

"Jinx Monster has hot pink fur, and she's ready to scurry and play! With a tufty tube-tail, fluffy-soft mane, cute perky horns and a goofy grin, Jinx is a loveable tumble of trouble!"

[panickedpansexualprincess]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Shall We Date?: Obey Me! (Video Game) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Leviathan (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!)/Reader, Leviathan/Main Character (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!) Characters: Leviathan (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!), Main Character (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!) Additional Tags: Gender-Neutral Pronouns, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Role Reversal, Oral Sex, Hand Jobs, Scenting, Jealousy Series: Part 23 of Kinktober 2021 Summary:

“Where have you been? No, better question; who have you been with?’ He leaned in close, invading your personal bubble thoroughly as he sniffed at your neck, scenting you with a flick of his forked tongue that tickled your skin- and then he straightened abruptly, his expression thunderous. “Mammon? Why do you smell so much like my scumbag of a brother; his scent is all over you!”

Notes:

Prompt: -23- Role Reversal | Cunnilingus | Deep-throating

[spaciousreasoning]

Fending Off More Ants

Right about bedtime on Tuesday, we discovered an invasion of ants in the kitchen again. We moved all the coffee implements off the counter to the left of the sink and wiped away all the ants.

On Wednesday morning the ants stormed the counter again after we had made coffee and left the implements on the counter again. Chasing them down resulted in my over-toasting my bagel, but, thankfully, lots of cream cheese does a good job covering the burned taste.

Of course, all that cream cheese probably isn’t good for my blood sugar. Nor are the mocha shakes I’ve been indulging lately or the soda pop, chocolate, and other sweet treats. When I tested the levels before having my morning coffee, it clocked in at 302. Not nearly as bad as the 800+ from my diabetic adventure, but that is way above what it ought to be.

In addition to cutting down on the sugar I need to do a little more exercise. Those two things would have helped me avoid diabetes in the first place, but I have long been stubborn about several things in my life.

Nancy went off to meet with the church women who are digitizing various and sundry parish records. She came home with flowers and some tomatoes.

While she was out, I took a couple of pictures of the office chair the two donation places would not accept because of the worn corners on the seat. I then posted it on Freecycle, figuring there must be someone out there willing to take a slightly worn chair.

After finishing off the Jersey Mike’s sandwiches for lunch, we went off to Jerry’s for some more tools to fight the ants, more mulch for the back yard and front garden strip, and a second umbrella for the back deck. There was a big, week-long sale, and the umbrella price was $30 lower than it had been. They were, however, all out of stands. We will likely order one from Amazon.

Without any specific dinner plans, we tossed around a number of ideas before settling on a ham and cheese omelet with toast. Pasta was the first idea, but with my blood sugar where it’s at, a big dish of noodles wasn’t the best thing to eat.

We closed out the evening with another episode of “Midsomer Murders.” Given the amount of murder and mayhem over the 25 seasons and nearly 150 episodes, we are always surprised that anyone would want to live in that area of Britain. (Yes, we do know it's all fiction.)

[childofmyth-art]

@mocha-mayhem ‘s adorable OC Lotus! Thank you so much for bringing this cutie to my attention to draw, and I hope I did her justice!

[nvrcmplt]

@dcwnrisen​ » Liked for a Starter ♥

He noticed the frequency and though Sasaharu wasn't one to toot his own horn about his meals and tea blends here, he knew it wasn't just his service that pulled the Wife of his long-term friend here often enough. Ume was only allowed to play with the man when He was able to keep an eye on her, though it wasn't to the offence of Itachi, it was just how he was. Though he loved his family and all they stood for, it was against all of their control on who and what was watching, who could attack at any point -- and Sasaharu's law in the diner was only so strong to outsiders.

Still, today seemed to be a different kind of day. Slow business, a good one, Ume upstairs asleep from playing all too much for her little brain to handle. He got her a new set of animal toys and she'd been going mayhem on being a vet for them, including tissue bandages, baby bottles and lots of plastic foods to help them heal over time. Even to the point of having too much fun and imagination as she told one of the bears were bleeding out all over and thus, Papa had to help with bandaging the bear head to toe to stop it all. Dramatic!

Now, though the toys were tided away and his cherub was tucked away - safe and sound. He found himself brewing another set for the Ane-san. They had a face that spoke volumes though, thus, he moved with tray and freshly created mochi pieces, spring set - mocha, sakura and umeboshi flavoured. He placed it down with a long brew of mocha green too. "Seems like you've got a lot going on, Ane-san?" He smiled only slight understanding only some but offering an ear to the rare face here. "Usui-san still being a terror?"

[hrwinter]

pre-dating supercorp where lena knows how often kara stares at her boobs and she realises that she really enjoys eliciting that reaction from her. Basically coquettish lena who's holding back on making them an official thing bc she wants to enjoy this period of flirting and being chased after

I made this a coffee shop AU, too. I’ve never done one of those, and I feel like it should be some sort of fanfic author rite of passage.

—

“Oh shit,” Lena curses. “There she is.”

Without warning, she drops below the register, reaching indiscreetly under her shirt.

“Lena, this is becoming shameless,” Sam judges from above.

“Just block me from James, won’t you?”

The coffee shop is lax, but even Lena’s not bold enough to push their ‘uniform requirements’ to the very limit on this balmy, Tuesday afternoon.

“Why are you still torturing this poor woman? She seems nice,” Sam whines, but despite the defense, she steps in front of Lena and covers her view of their manager.

“Torture?” Lena balks, unsnapping her bra. “Please, she loves it.”

“It’s cruel.”

“Done,” she hisses a second later, ignoring Sam and plucking her bra out from under her shirt. She stuffs it unceremoniously into an empty, clean coffee cup below the counter.

Lena snaps upright just as Kara sweeps into the shop. She’s a vision in a long beige coat. Her blonde hair glows butter yellow in the dying sun. Kara’s eyes meet hers, and there’s an ephemeral smile there, a smile that’s just woken up, taken it’s first breath of something sweet, and exhaled. Then, her eyes glance down. Lena’s let her apron fall to her hips, revealing her t-shirt. It’s thin, gauzy, and borderline threadbare. It’s intentional. WhenLena poses her hands on her hips, her nipples peak through.

Kara tenses, she pinkens. She doesn’t stop walking towards the counter. She also doesn’t mark the elderly woman crossing her path. She doesn’t notice the clutched steaming hot mug of coffee, the woman’s look of rapt anticipation. Kara keeps coming, eyes still trained downward, unflapping from a clear collision course.

It’s absolute pandemonium.

“I feel guilty,” Sam says with a resigned sigh. Kara’s nearly bowled the old woman over and coffee’s splattered over the floor, the walls, like an arterial crime scene. James rushes over to help, to appease with his easy, confident smile.

“I feel like an accomplice to your crime.”

Lena merely smirks, flush with victory. She pulls her apron back up and over her shoulders.

“Your breasts need an insurance policy. Look at the mayhem they’ve caused.”

Lena watches the scene thoughtfully.

“What are the chances I could wear my apron over just my bra without getting fired?”

“Slim to none.”

“Shame.”

—

It hadn’t always been like this. It had started out fairly innocuous. Kara’s a regular. She’d been coming into The Sentient Bean like clockwork on Tuesdays and Thursdays for almost a year. She teaches for a graduate program at the campus nearby, that much Lena has figured out. She’s polite to the staff, dreamy in her comments about the pastries, and charming by all accounts. Plus, she’s gorgeous in a homegrown, corn fed, Midwest manners kind of way.

But.

Lena’s also discovered by a happy accident that Kara, the hapless lesbian, is highly prone to giving in to temptation. What started out as Lena playing absently with the long chain of her necklace on one slow afternoon at the shop quickly progressed to Lena intentionally touching her exposed collarbone. It became Lena wearing thin fabric and bright pink bras. It became mesh tops and plunging necklines. It became Kara’s complete inability to function.

What can she say? Lena enjoys Kara’s Pavlovian response.

“It’s honestly a little desperate,” Sam condemns.

“It’s called foreplay, Samantha. Understandable you haven’t heard of it, being heterosexual and all–”

“Stop talking,” Sam holds up a hand.

After that, they’re busy busing tables and whipping up cappuccinos for a few bleary-eyed, sleep deprived college students.

“Why don’t you just leave her your number?” Sam wanders back over to her, dropping dirty cups into the wash basin.

“Are you kidding? And ruin the mystery? This is the best part.”

Sam taps her finger nails on the counter, nonplussed.

“Come on,” Lena continues. “You know the second I give her my number, she’ll call, and then I’ll find out something terrible like she’s a drug addict or an art student or secretly obsessed with toe nails.”

“Or she’ll find out your last name and reject you?”

Lena doesn’t comment.

“Just let me have my fun,” she pouts.

“Fine, fine. But I’m not taking her order this time,” she shoves off the counter right as Kara enters the shop. “I feel like a voyeur with the way she watches you make her drink,” she grumbles.

Lena shrugs. Fine by her. More face time with Kara. Sam knows she’ll get elbowed in the kidney, too, if she tries to make Kara’s drink.

“Hi Kara,” Lena greets, licking her lips. Kara smiles, eyes flicking down.

“Uh-hi,” she falters hands reaching to clench at the counter as if that will keep her steady.

Lena hasn’t even worn anything too outrageous today. Just the same long silver chained necklace that started it all. It disappears into the cleavage of her tight black shirt, and she has her hair braided, all twelve ear piercings in. The sleeve of her tattoo winds up her left forearm. She’s looking innocent and modest, if you ask her.

But she can tell Kara doesn’t see it that way. There’s an awkward beat where the unfortunate soul seems to momentarily forget why she’s there.

“White mocha?” Lena supplies.

“Oh-uh-yes, please.”

Lena saunters to the espresso machine, prepping to make the drink. Her jeans are black (and tight), too. She can feel Kara’s eyes on her ass like a hot brand.

“How-how much?” Kara chokes out.

“On the house,” Lena swivels her head to smile. Kara’s eyes flick up. Lena winks.

Somewhere in the background, Sam groans.

Kara doesn’t hear it, moving to wait near the stir sticks, watching Lena’s hands work with a trained proficiency. There’s an intensity to her interest that has Lena blushing slightly, and when she goes to hand Kara the drink, their fingers brush.

“Bye Lena,” Kara waves, walking backwards. She also does a clumsy peace sign, too.

“Please put that poor girl out of her misery,” Sam whispers from behind Lena.

—

Lena’s not ready for Kara to come in on a Monday morning. She’s dressed to code. Her makeup’s not on. She’s enraptured in a heavy daytime fantasy about getting back into bed. She and Sam had gone out last night, and she can still taste the pickle shots on the back of her tongue. She has bad breath, looks like hammered shit, and probably smells like a stained bar pool table.

So, naturally, there her crush is, frazzled and positively harassed as she comes rushing up to the counter.

“Look, Lena, my sister said I just can’t wait any longer, and I was wondering if–”

Her eyes glance up for the first time, roving over Lena’s outfit.

“Why are you dressed like that?“

“Huh?” Lena asks after a beat, deciding to play dumb. “Like what?”

“You’re–you’re dressed like,” she waves her finger at the two other employees in the shop. “Everyone else.”

“What do you mean? I do work here—”

“No!” Kara nearly shouts, and Lena can’t help but let a smile break.

“So, you have been doing that on purpose?” Kara asks, sounding adorably persecuted.

“Maybe,” Lena hushes, leaning across the counter and into Kara’s personal space. She can smell a perfume then, maybe a shampoo or a lotion. Lena wants to fold herself into it forever.

Kara takes a huge breath, breathes out, and Lena can feel it on her lips.

“Go out with me.”

She smiles.

“Okay.”

[mocha-bunbun]

these bots are getting really creative with their names 😭

[whewtaewoon]

a year in books: 2022 book tracking master post

january: 8 books

murder is for keeps: elizabeth j. duncan

the art of theft: sherry thomas

murder on cold street: sherry thomas

the tell tale cat: sm reine

the cure for what ales you: ellie alexander

to brew or not to brew: joyce tremel

grandmaster of demonic cultivation: mo xiang tong xiu

this poison heart: kalynn bayron

february: 11 books

cells at work: code black vol 1: shigemitsu harada

cells at work: code black vol 2: shigemitsu harada

cells at work code black vol 3: shigmeitsu harada

caught bread handed: ellie alexander

cells at work code black vol 4: shigemitsu harada

a crime of passion fruit: ellie alexander

caught bread handed: ellie alexander

a deadly edition: victoria gilbert

rocky road to ruin: meri allen

renewed for murder: victoria gilbert

meet your baker: ellie alexander

march: 8 books

a batter of life and death: ellie alexander

on thin icing: ellie alexander

fudge and jury: ellie alexander

another one bites the crust: ellie alexander

till death do us tart: ellie alexander

live and let pie: ellie alexander

a cup of holiday fear: ellie alexander

nothing bundt trouble: ellie alexander

april: 11 books

chilled to the cone ellie alexander

the deepest of secrets kelley armstong

stealing shadows kay hooper

mocha she wrote ellie alexander

bake, borrow, and steal ellie alexander

mile high with a vampire lynsay sands

out of the shadows kay hooper

slice of cherry dia reeves

cinderlla is dead kalynn bayron

immortal rising lynsay sands

the detetive's daughter erica spindler

may: 19 books

drawing dead sm reine

kill game sm reine

cashing out sm reine

suicide queen sm reine

the masque of the red cat sm reine

fall of the house of cat sm reine

the cat and the pendulum sm reine

the silence of bones june hur

the forest of stolen girls june hur

the red palace june hur

dragon pearl yoon ha lee

wicked fox kat cho

spirit hunters ellen oh

vicious spirits kat cho

aunt dimity down under nancy atherton

aunt dimity and the duke nancy atherton

aunt dimity's christmas nancy atherton

aunt dimity beats the devil nancy atherton

aunt dimity: detective nancy atherton

june: 9 books

booked for death victoria gilbert

daughter of the pirate king tricia levenseller

daughters of foxcote manor eve chase

wherever she goes kelley armstrong

when you see me lisa gardner

a good girl's guide to murder holly jackson

good girl, bad blood holly jackson

as good as dead holly jackson

something read, something dead eva gates

july: 16 books

graceling kristin cashore

bitterblue kristin cashore

fire kristin cashore

winterkeep kristin cashore

one of us is lying karen m mcmanus

the seven husbands of evelyn hugo taylor jenkins reid

one of us is next karen m mcmanus

you'll be the death of me karen m mcmanus

two can keep a secret karen m mcmanus

the cousins karen m mcmanus

murder for the modern girl kendall kulper

one for sorrow zoe sugg, amy mcculloch

a magic steeped in poison judy i lin

graceling: the graphic novel kristen cashore garreth hinds

deeper than the dead tami hoag

the inheritance games jennifer lynn barnes

august: 17 books

the hawthorne legacy jennifer lynn barnes

little girl lost cheryl bradshaw

the fixer's daughter hy conrad

this wicked fate kalynn bayron

i'm glad my mom died jennette mccurdy

the family upstairs lisa jewell

little girl lost brian mcgilloway

the girl is murder kathryn miller

the demon in me michelle rowen

a short time to die susan alice bickford

little broken things cheryl bradshaw

little lost secrets cheryl bradshaw

little white lies cheryl bradshaw

mayhem & mass olivia matthews

peril & prayer olivia matthews

learning to swim sara j. henry

the missing ones patricia gibney

september: 4 books

in the hall with the knife diana peterfreund

in the study with the wrench diana peterfreund

in the ballroom with the candlestick diana peterfreund

the death of innocents helen prejean

october: 8 books

don't kill in our names rachel king

the zig zag girl elly griffiths

smoke and mirrors elly griffiths

the blood card elly griffiths

the vanishing box elly griffiths

now you see them elly griffiths

the midnight hour elly griffiths

dead man walking helen prejean

[dumbwaystodeviate]

Working with triplets had it’s ups and downs. Some days it was ok, if Hank had to swap partners and work with Niles it wasn’t too odd and he easily adapted to it, the connection to Connor giving him more than enough info to make things work smooth. On the other hand there were days like a few months back where LN Allen mistook Connor for Collin, giving him a mocha to start the day off just like he always did. He found out fast that not only was this not Collin but that Connor did *not* agree with cinnamon. Needless to say, the Lieutenant had to take some time off to recover.

Between the three humans, the androids saw a lot of each other, and for that reason now found themselves crowed into Connor’s own place, the home meant more for three than six. But that was ok, the androids weren’t all that picky about things like that. 

There wasn’t all that special a reason they were there that night, other than a solved joint case that had been driving Niles and Connor up the walls like spiders. So a family night was decided, and the androids brought along for the ride. Seeing as they all couldn’t fit in the kitchen the bots chilled out at the table, curiously watching the mayhem unfolding between the three. They had no idea what they were making, and in truth they don’t think the humans knew what the other was doing either.

They each finished on their own, returning to the androids with the most asinine choices for dinner the bots has seen yet. They each saw red, Gavin being the brightest and first to speak up.

“Detective, that is not healthy. At all” If he had been deviant he might have cringed at the parfait the man had gone with, a bowl no less. To Niles right the GV could see Connor cringing.

“Man, you could kill a elephant with that much sugar. What are you? An ant in human clothes?” The man looked close to gagging seeing the treat his brother was getting into. Gavin would have been too had he not still been trying to calculate the sugar intake of Niles “food”.

Niles stuck his tongue out at him, taking a bite before talking. “Says the man eating lava, the amount of times I had to cancel searches for dragon peppers from your laptop are absurd.”

There was a gasp, Connor’s hands hitting the table and making the androids jump. “YOU WERE THE ONE DOING THAT?! YOU ASSHOLE.” Despite his outburst Niles was laughing.

Hank’s led blared as red as whatever Connor was eating. “But that has a rating of 2,480,000... That can be harmful.” He stuck a note to his hud to keep track of the man’s search history, lest he harm himself.

“Damn it I will try it and no one is going to stop me!” He punctuated the end by shoving a whole fork full of noodles into his mouth.

Quiet the whole time, Allen nearly spooked them when he finally piped up. “Lieutenant, what precisely are you eating right now?” All this talk of the man’s diet now had him skeptical that what Connor ate now was even safe, possibly less safe than what Niles was eating.

“Fire noodles.” The human made it sound like the simplest thing in the world, even grinning as he heard Niles hissing at that from the side. Clearly the man didn’t like it one bit.

“Shit’s making my nose burn from over here. You are less human than the androids.” Collin’s comment got Hank’s attention, prompting him to grab a noodle to test it.

While Hank couldn’t really taste, per-say, even his sensors went wild with information about the heat his wild partner was eating like it was nothing. Warnings screeched in the red of his vision until it all but melted under the strain of the alarm the info sent though him, a look of shock crossing his face.

“Holy shit, Con. It’s so bad you even freaked out an android. Congrats, you disaster.” Hank ignored him as he threw his head back laughing, damn near praying to RA9 that he can get the man some help.

“And what the hell are you having? I know damn well you tend to eat like a drunk. Or pregnant.” The leer Niles gave could almost freeze a man, pinning his surprised brother in his seat.

He hesitated for the longest of moments, which was enough to get everyone else staring at him as well. “Shrimp... with... with cajeta.”

There was a confusion at first, the humans having no idea what that was and the androids looking it up. Hank almost glitches out as he realizes what it is, Gavin fairing no better beside him. The poor android’s programming, unable to keep up with the mess he just saw, crashed like it was an old XP pc and his face fell into horror.

“That... That...  sweetened caramelized goat's milk... Oh RA9 save me.” Gavin was out of his seat in an instant to hide behind Hank, followed by the shrieks of of the other two brothers grabbing their bowls and jumping from the table. Allen remained strangely undisturbed, perhaps used to it by now but he was definitely getting errors.

“WHAT kind of unholy abomination are you?!” Connor looked read to fight him, and the HK was prepared to stop him if need be, but didn’t think it would come to that seeing as they kind of already knew Collin was being nasty.

Dropping his bowl on the counter Niles stormed into the kitchen, hollering out. “I’M CALLING A FUCKING PRIEST YOU DEMON.”

Hank thought that might be a bit of an overreaction but guessed he was just being dramatic so he didn’t follow the man. Still, he was stuck on horror between the three’s diets and the face the LN hadn’t moved an inch during all this. Maybe he just started tuning everything out when everyone started bickering?

Coming back into the room Niles took his treat to eat again, not taking his eyes off Collin even as he kept eating the weird food mix the man chose. The quiet lasted long enough to get half though the food before the bell rang.

Allen was the one to get up to answer the door, the only one not caring for the staring contest happening in the dining room. What greeted him had his led finally screaming as red as his programming. Standing at the steps, as cheery as can be, stood a priest. A actual priest. It took him longer than he would like to admit to realise Niles hadn’t been joking when he went into the kitchen.

He should have said something, but he just couldn’t. Instead, he left the door open and turned on his heels, charging though the red telling him to greet the man to stomp back into the room. “You actually called a real priest?”

Niles shrugged as the man let himself in, without any kind of warning as he dumped holy water onto Collin’s head, causing the man to yell out in frustration and try to keep it from getting in his food. “I do hope you will go to church after this.” The grin on his face was enough to say he was amused however, and he waved to his caller.

“Thanks, Kamski. Sorry to call you this late.” He sure as hell wasn’t sorry, not with how he grinned and ate his sweets.

Waving him off, Kamski laughed, starting back out the door. “Don’t worry about it~ You always have something fun when you call me up.” Allen was just glad the man closed the door after himself.

As he three bothers glared at each other, the androids could only spin red in the realization they each had a mess of a human on their hands.

[brightmoonprincess]

Scorpia/Adora Coffeeshop AU for @blackbyakko for the @sherawintergiftexchange! 

it’s very cheesy and rushed, but hope you like it!

paring: Scorpia/Adora rating: G length: 2.1k words

- - -

For my best friend Entrapta! Good luck on ur robot! (^ ᴗ ^)/

Since her first day working at the cafe, Scorpia has always written kind and encouraging messages onto every single customer’s cup. Sure, her coworkers complain about not being to find the name quickly enough when it’s time to call it out. And sure, sometimes the queue of customers get irritated by the longer wait...

But it’s fun! And it keeps people happy! It’s part of the reason why Scorpia loves her job. It makes the coffee shop feel more like family, rather than business.

For some quirky reason, Entrapta insists on her espresso being served in the smallest sample-sized paper cup that’s available. It’s made it difficult for Scorpia to write out her message on it. Her hands aren’t exactly danity, and neither is her penmanship. 

(These meaty claws were meant for sweet sweet loving, not for writing tiny tiny letters.) 

 The bulky, fluffy letters cover almost the entire surface area of the cup. The emoji at the end barely makes the cut, but she manages to squeeze it in.

“Another mini espresso, coming right up!” Scorpia says, setting the cup down at the end of the line of pending orders. “Hey, uh, Entrapta… Do you think you should slow down a bit?”

It’s the tenth coffee in a row that her eccentric pig-tailed friend has bought, and Scorpia is starting to worry about her caffeine intake… Can baristas start cutting people off? Or is that only a thing for bartenders?

“What? And waste my precious time unconscious when I could be working? Never!” Entrapta proclaims when the notion of “slowing down” is suggested to her. She’s practically vibrating.

Scorpia sighs. 

After Entrapta goes to wait for her drink, Scorpia takes the next customer’s order-- but she notices that her trusty marker is almost out of ink. Man, this things really go quick-- this is the third one this month!

“Mermista! Do you know where we keep the markers?” Scorpia calls out to the other side of the bar.

Her less enthusiastic coworker groans in response. “You do know that we’re getting paid minimum wage, right?”

Just as Scorpia is about to remind her about the importance of kindness and customer service. Mermista holds up her hands and says, “Hold up, forget I asked. I’m clocking out in two minutes.”

“Already? I thought you were working until closing with me!”

“Oh, right. You don’t know yet,” Mermista realizes. “We have a new girl. She started yesterday, and she’s taking over the rest of this shift.”

Scorpia’s eyes light up. A new coworker! This could be a new friendship opportunity! Not that Mermista isn’t great, but sometimes she can be a bummer when working. The Etheria Coffee Co family could stand to gain another member who has the same passion for the art of barista-ing that Scorpia has!

Right on cue, another person comes in from the back room. She greets them joyfully, “Hi!”

Immediately, Scorpia’s excitement turns into huge disappointment. 

Really? Really??? 

Of all the eligible working young women in this town, they just had to pick the most irritating person to ever exist, with the most obnoxious personality and the most ridiculous forehead-enlarging hair poof.

They make eye contact, Scorpia’s sharp glare battling against Adora’s wide-eyed surprise, and the two buff baristas say in union--

“Oh.”

/ / / / /

“Two non-fat peppermint mochas, a sixteen-ounce americano, a salted caramel latte, and a orange-mango-agave smoothie are on the bar!”

It’s been a week, and Adora is absolutely insufferable.

She somehow manages to make six drinks simultaneously, putting together even the most complex drink orders as if she’s made them all a million times before. It’s like she’s some kind of latte-making superhuman!

Of course, she’s great at the job. Why wouldn’t she be great at everything she does?!?! Grrr.

She even convinced Entrapta to drink decaf coffee for a while instead, telling her that it’s a missed opportunity to experiment with placebo effects of caffeine. Why didn’t Scorpia think of that?!

But the worst part?? Despite the fact that Scorpia has been working at the shop for two months, Adora keeps asking her if she needs help with something. It’s like she’s always looking for a reason to swoop in and play the hero, like someone needs her to save the day from coffee shop mayhem. It’s infuriating! 

And no, it has absolutely nothing to do with the Catra situation, thank you very much. Scorpia is irritated by all of this for completely unrelated reasons! Adora is a terrible coworker! That is the one and only explanation. 

“Phew! I’m glad the place is finally starting to slow down! How’s it going over there, Scorpia?” Adora asks.

When Scorpia doesn’t reply, Adora looks over at her, and she becomes concerned at the completely crushed cup in Scorpia’s clenched fist. “Er… Scorpia? Do you want to take a break? I can handle it from here. 

Oh here we go again. Scorpia doesn’t need Adora acting like she’s better than her all of the time! She is the furthest thing from a damsel in distress. And after the past week of having to tolerate all of this, Scorpia can’t take it anymore! 

“Alright, alright! We GET it, Adora! You can handle it! You can handle everything! Well, I, for one, don’t need your help!” Scorpia snaps, too loudly.

“What? I’m just trying to be nice!”

 “... W-o-w.” Mermista’s draws out her monotone reaction as she pokes her head in from the back room. “So can both of you, like, stop being weird and help me lift some of these boxes?”

Adora and Scorpia glare at each other, but-- now that it’s incredibly awkward and uncomfortable-- they silently agree to move on. For now. 

They follow Mermista to the back storage closet, where she directs them to a tall stack of boxes to carry out. They’re small but surprisingly hefty. Nevertheless, Scorpia lifts one onto her shoulder with ease. 

Adora picks up two.

So, naturally, Scorpia picks up three more.

Yes, in fact, this just became a weight-lifting competition. 

They keep at it for a bit, stubbornly matching the number of boxes that the other person is carrying until they’re huffing and wobbling around. But there’s no way Scorpia is backing out now! This is easy-peasy. The sweat on her forehead means absolutely nothing, except that maybe the air conditioner stopped working.

“Can you hold the door open for us?” Adora asks Mermista, her voice strained.

“Nope,” Mermista answers, swiftly closing the door.

“Uh,” Adora says.

“Um,” Scorpia echoes.

They give each other confused side-glances.

“Neither of you are leaving this closet until you learn how to at least pretend to like each other,” Mermista says calmly from the other side, followed by the sound of the door being locked. “I do not get paid enough to listen to you argue all the time.”

Adora sets down her boxes-- (phew, game over! Scorpia wins)-- and goes to jiggle the doorknob. “Mermista, this isn’t funny! Open the door!”

No response. 

She lets out a groan and turns to Scorpia. “What was that all about, anyways?”

The totally-innocently-and-not-petty-at-all barista shrugs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You blew up at me for no reason!”

“I had a reason! Many reasons.”

“Like what?”

“Like... I just… I don’t need you coming here and beat me at this, too!”

Adora pauses for a moment. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” Scorpia mutters. “It’s not the first time I’ve had to compete with you...”

So Adora asks the big question, “Is this... about Catra?”

“No!!! I mean, sort of! But not really! I just… ugh...” Scorpia sinks to the ground, cupping the sides of her face with her hands. “I’m over all of that-- really!’

Well, guess it’s out there now. If she dies in this cafe storage room, it might as well be with an honest heart. 

Although things didn’t work out between her and Catra, she really is over it! 

What she’s not over is how jealous Adora made her feel. Even if Catra and Adora are only friends, it didn’t feel great to be compared to someone... even if she herself was the one doing the comparison.

Scorpia tries to explain, “It’s more like... I don’t like being reminded that you’re better than me, ok? I know that it’s not a competition, but for some reason, I still feel like I’m always competing with you!”

Adora stays silent, unsure of what to say. 

“You’re really amazing,” Scorpia admits. Her cheeks redden. “I know you are, but you don’t have to rub it in…”

After a few moments of sitting in the awkward silence, Adora crouches down with her. “If we’re being honest… I think you’re more amazing than I could ever be.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, I do!” Adora insists. “I know we haven’t gotten along after the drama with Catra happened, but... I think you’re a good person! You’re strong, you’re loyal, and you genuinely care about people… You do kind things because you want to, not because anyone expects you to! I don’t even know if I can say the same for me...“

“Oh, uh…” Scorpia wasn’t expecting this. If she hadn’t been blushing already, she definitely was now. After all, Adora’s an honest person. She wouldn’t have said all of that if she didn’t mean it.

“It’s never been a competition,” Adora assures her.

Scorpia lets out a slow, shaky laugh. “... Ok, I might have been letting the past get to me. I shouldn’t take it out on you. I’ll get over it, I promise!”

Adora smiles at her. “Sooo does this mean that we’re friends now? Or at least friendly coworkers?”

“At least friendly coworkers,” Scorpia agrees with a grin. 

Adora stands up, offering her hand to help Scorpia up as well. “Now let’s get out of here!” 

She helps Scorpia up knocks on the door again.

… Still no response. Uh oh. 

“Uh… Mermista?” Adora calls out.

Scorpia wonders, “It was almost closing time when we came back here… She wouldn’t leave us in here overnight, would she?”

Oh no… she totally would. Scorpia can’t die in a coffee storage closet! She had so many plans! Who is going to water her plants? Who is going to inherit her motorcycle? Who will take over the duty of writing her signature coffee cup messages???

“I’m going to break the door down,” Adora announces.

“Wait, I don’t know if that’s the best idea--” Scorpia beings to tell her, but Adora is already preparing to throw herself at the door.

With a mighty battle cry, Adora rushes towards the door, shoulder braced for impact-- but just before she hits the wood, the door swings open to the other side. 

“Whoa there!” Scorpia lunges forward to catch Adora before she falls onto the floor. Who’s the hero now, huh?

“Two things,” Mermista says.

 “One, you’re not supposed to use your shoulder; you’re supposed to kick. You would know this already if you read Mer-mystery: The Vanishing Clownfish, like I told you to many many times.

“Two, I am not getting my pay docked because two idiots broke the door.”

/ / / / /

 It’s been a month, and work has been great! Once Scorpia let go of her gay pettiness, she and Adora have been getting along really well. She can’t believe that she used to hate her!

That isn’t to say that Adora doesn’t have her annoying moments-- she does-- but Scorpia feels like she’s learned a lot more about her. Once Adora gets more comfortable, she actually has a very silly, fun side. 

Like she does this really cute thing where she puts weird emphasis on some of the drink orders when she calls them out, like frapPUcciNO-- wait, cute? Uh. Scorpia meant funny. Funny and not adorable at all. 

Oh no. Not again.

Scorpia is finishing up a latte and sorting out her thoughts, when she notices Adora walking in through the front door.

“Oh, hey, Adora! Are you working today?”

“Hey, Scorpia! Ah, about that…” Adora says, “I came here to tell you that I’m quitting.”

“Aw, man… Really?” 

“I got a promotion at my other job,” Adora explains. “They gave me a lot more hours, so I don’t have enough time to work this one, too...”

“I didn’t even know you had another job!” Scorpia gawks. She hopes that Adora hadn’t been overworking herself this entire time. “But... congratulations!”

“Thanks! So... we can still be friends, right?”

“Of course!” Scorpia affirms. 

She’s happy for Adora, but she can also feel her heart sinking. A few weeks ago, she wished that Adora would quit-- but now... it’s heartbreaking. Talk about a one-eighty. She and Adora had the start of a beautiful friendship going on, and it sucks that it might come to an end. 

And now, after realizing how much she’s going to miss all of the time she’s spent with Adora... 

Scorpia also realizes something important.

“... Can I get you some coffee?” she asks Adora. “On the house!”

Adora grins back. “Sure!”

Alright. Here is it. Possibly the most important coffee cup message that she has ever written in her entire life! Gotta make it good!

Her heart is pounding, and she writes out:

For Adora, the best coworker I’ve ever had! (Don’t tell Mermista! )

(Also, want to go on a d       hang ou    maybe if you’re at all interested we could go out sometime? Together?)

<3

[panickedpansexualprincess]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Shall We Date?: Obey Me! (Video Game) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Asmodeus (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!)/Reader, Asmodeus/Main Character (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!) Characters: Asmodeus (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!), Main Character (Shall We Date?: Obey Me!) Additional Tags: Gender-Neutral Pronouns, Praise Kink, Mirror Sex Series: Part 25 of Kinktober 2021 Summary:

“Look at us, my darling. Look at how gorgeous we look together.” A gentle hand raised to your chin, lifting it and turning your head to look at the mirror he’d posed at the end of the bed.

Notes:

Prompt: -06- Praise | Mirror Sex | Hunter & Prey

[winterromanov]

we will grow taller together - bucky x reader

PART THREE - YOU’RE VERY LOUD FOR SOMEONE SO SMALL

parts: masterlist

pairing: bucky barnes x reader

extract: He sniffs what could be a laugh if he had any energy whatsoever. “I wish you were psychic. Then you could maybe tell me what goes through a six-year-old’s head.”

genre: nanny x single father!au

taglist: @blindedbyyourgrace17 @verygraphicink @chubby-dumplin @igotkatiepowers @welcome-to-my-studylife @bi-bi-bi-bisexualz @mywinterwolf @mychemicalimagines (still open, message to be tagged)

The following week or so is swallowed by the pre-Thanksgiving rush, so other than a quick text to confirm his number and a Facebook request you’ve not heard all that much from James. Work is mayhem as you try to learn at least eighty holiday drinks combinations and you go shopping with Natasha for Thanksgiving tableware, as her and Steve are hosting Steve’s parents for the first time at their apartment. Your whole family lives on the West Coast so you’ve decided not to make the trip to your childhood home this year. It makes you sad in a constant, throbbing kind of way, to spend Thanksgiving without them, but you’d mutually decided with your mom and dad that the trip just isn’t economically or temporally viable. Even the cheapest flights exceed two hundred dollars and you’d end up spending most of the vacation cramped in a plane seat and listening to babies screaming anyway. Natasha offers a place at their table but you can tell she’s a little anxious about impressing Steve’s family and you’d rather not add any hassle. Looks like it’ll probably be white wine and Friends re-runs for you this year, but at least you’re not fucking working for once.

You think everything has returned to normal. So much so, in fact, that when the weekend rolls around and you turn up to Steve and Natasha’s place in a party dress for their pre-Thanksgiving do it doesn’t cross your mind that James might also turn up. Or what will happen if he does.

“Looking sexy, (Y/N),” Natasha clicks her tongue approvingly when she answers the door, hand on her hip. Your frock is dark blue velvet and long-sleeved, hugging your figure in a way that makes you feel more self-confident than you actually are. It is pretty sexy, you think, but your attempts are always nothing compared to Natasha’s. Her dress is elegant and black and split all the way down the front to enhance her already impressive cleavage, and combined with the gentle curl of her red hair and matching lipstick she looks like a rebellious Hollywood starlet.

That’s always been Natasha, though. She always looks beautiful, exuding a natural class, but also in a dangerous kind of way. She looks like she could break your neck and smile while doing it. It’s pretty fucking powerful, to be honest.

“Nothing new there, then,” you remark, stepping inside. Natasha smirks and hands you a glass of champagne from the table by the door. Tipsy laughter and a Taylor Swift song play from the kitchen, so you follow Natasha’s clicking black heels to the main room of the party.

So far, it isn’t so crowded, but Steve and Natasha are pretty popular (Steve because he’s A Really Nice Guy, Natasha because she isn’t) so you expect the couches and corners will fill up as the night draws on. You recognise most of the people chatting over bowls of chips and hummus but you only know Steve by name, so you naturally gravitate towards him once Natasha’s elbow is caught by a well-built man with brown hair.

Steve is talking to a broad, dark-skinned guy with cropped black hair that you keep seeing around. Both of them look at you when you come over, the unnamed man scanning you discretely up and down with a half-smile on his face.

“(Y/N)!” Steve announces excitedly, squeezing your shoulder. “You know Sam, right?”

“I do not,” you reply, shaking his hand, “But I’m always happy to meet new people.”

“Likewise,” Sam replies. He scrubs up well in a smart shirt and shoes, Steve sporting a similar garb. As is usually the case with these things the girls have obviously made more effort, but in your experience, if a man has combed his hair and put on cologne they’re already too good to be true. “Steve may have mentioned you a coupla’ times.”

“He has?” You quirk an eyebrow, and Steve shrugs. He doesn’t look embarrassed about the fact. “All good, I hope.”

“Mostly. Although, there was an incident at one of Natasha’s parties in your junior year that you might—“

“Okay, so what happens in a crappy basement apartment during college under the influence of extremely cheap beer stays there,” you interject, the two men laughing, “I’m an adult now. All that stuff is behind me, I can assure you.”

You chat to the two of them a while longer, you and Sam mostly swapping funny stories about Steve—he feels like your safety conversation starter, the thing you have in common. Eventually Natasha drags Steve off into the kitchen and you’re left with Sam alone. What is it with Steve and abandoning you with his friends? Not that Sam is a problem. He’s attractive and funny, your sense of humour instantly clicking with his.

“So, (Y/N),” Sam says seriously, “Would you like another drink from the Rogers free bar?”

When you look down at your glass you realise it’s empty already. You’re not a big drinker, not anymore, but another glass to ease any surface anxiety wouldn’t hurt. After all, you think the guy in the jarringly expensive suit by the window might be Tony Stark, the tech billionaire, and the sheer amount of wealth that pours from his figure has left you on edge. That, and the fact you have always strongly believed that billionaires are unethical. Maybe another glass would give you the confidence to tell him that.

(You have no idea how Steve and Nat know Tony Stark, because you know enough about both of them to acknowledge he’s not their typical company.)

You shrug your shoulders and let him take your glass. “Sure. Thanks.”

Sam disappears and you trail after him at a distance, hovering outside the kitchen. You nod to the beat of a Vampire Weekend track, not really paying attention when the buzzer goes off, because people are expected to come and go. Natasha smiles as she slips past you to the door, deftly pulling the latch aside with a flick of her fingers.

Your body straightens from your slouching position against the wall when you realise who is waiting in the hall.

James. James is there, a small child clinging to his neck, the metallic frames of her bright pink sunglasses catching the hallway light.

“Hi,” you hear him say breathlessly, “Sorry I’m so late. Clover has—Clover wanted to see you both, so I couldn’t… Well. She wouldn’t let me leave her with the babysitter.”

“I don’t like Mrs Mary.” A child’s voice—Clover’s voice—responds, her tone low and sullen. “I like Auntie Nat.”

“It’s a good job that I like you too then, huh?” Natasha’s arms reach out and James hands her his daughter. “Nice sunglasses. Always useful in November.”

“If you wear sunglasses you can cry and people won’t notice.”

Yikes. The comment leaves the two adults stunned for a moment, before Natasha combs a strand of blonde hair out of Clover’s eyes, smiling fondly. “Let’s see if we can find you some cookies.”

You move out the way when Natasha comes back down the hallway, watching as James closes the door behind him. He starts when he sees you standing there, but his edges soften when he realises it’s you who is watching. He looks even more exhausted than the evening in his apartment, his eyes grey and hollow, shoulders dipping. He still manages a watery smile for you.

“Tough day?” you ask, even though it’s obvious. His mouth opens. Nods wearily.

“You could call it that.”

“If it’s any consolation, an old lady shouted at me for putting a snowflake made out of chocolate sprinkles on her mocha because she doesn’t like cold weather. I was like…I’m not paid to be psychic, Brenda, or whatever your name is.”

He sniffs what could be a laugh if he had any energy whatsoever. “I wish you were psychic. Then you could maybe tell me what goes through a six-year-old’s head.”

You smile gently, sympathetically. “I think a lot of people would have a hard time telling you that.”

Sam then reappears with your drink, but takes one look at James’ expression before sighing and disappearing again. Moments later he emerges with a second glass of champagne and shoves it into his grip.

-

The party returns to normal for about thirty minutes after, Clover bouncing comfortably between her dad and Nat and Steve and Sam, bright and funny and charming all the guests she doesn’t know with her gap-toothed grin. But it’s like—it’s like a light flicks in her head and suddenly she’s having a meltdown in the bathroom, screaming through tears she doesn’t know how to control. You can hear James talking to her and trying to calm her down, but his voice keeps wobbling, like he’s on the verge of breaking down too. Taking a deep breath for courage, you twist the knob on the bathroom door and invade a conversation you should probably stay out of.

James eyes glance up at you in desperate surprise. The shock also freezes Clover, like the lull in the middle of a hurricane. Her tiny face is red and wet with tears, pained in a way that is heart-breaking to see on any child. Your hand brushes across James’ back as you crouch to meet her height. Blue eyes scrutinise every single inch of your body.

“So. You’re Clover Barnes.” You delicately offer your hand and Clover looks at it, faced scrunched, before slotting hers into yours. “I’m (Y/N). I’m a friend of your dad and Uncle Steve and Auntie Nat.”

Clover blinks back, but doesn’t say anything. She’s not screaming though, so at least that’s something. You’ve done that, at least. Even if it’s just out of shock.

“I have to say, Clover, you’re very loud for someone so small.” You try not to smile as she looks mildly offended at this observation on her height, because six year old priorities, right? That’s what’s really going through her head. The fact that she’s perhaps half an inch shorter than the other girls in her class. “But people used to say that about me, too. There’s nothing wrong about being loud, but there’s no point in having such a big voice if no-one can understand you. You gotta talk to your dad if something is upsetting you—I’ve been told you’re super clever so I’m absolutely certain you can tell him what’s up.”

Clover is silent for a moment, and you wonder if your spontaneous pep talk (which you somehow pulled straight out of your ass) will go totally ignored, but she takes a shaky breath and looks James straight in the eyes.

“I don’t wanna go to grandma and grandpa’s for Thanksgiving,” she sniffles, “I heard you talking on the phone and I don’t wanna go. Please don’t make me go. I wanna stay here with you. Please don’t send me away.”

James almost crumbles away into nothing when he grabs her into a hug, squeezing all the air out of her lungs. Her hands slowly curl around his neck, meeting at the nape, her face burrowed deep into his shoulder.

“I won’t send you anywhere, I promise,” James murmurs. His eyes catch yours and he looks at you in a mixture of amazement and thankfulness and more prominently relief. “Sweetheart. Baby. You’re not going anywhere.”

The tantrum must have tired Clover out because slowly, gradually, she flops in James’ arms; her eyes flutter closed while still pressed in James’ shoulder, so he rises and gestures for you to open the bathroom door. Natasha and Steve open up their spare bedroom so you follow him in quietly, pulling back the bedsheets so he can slot Clover in to sleep the rest of the evening off. She looks so peaceful and relaxed, like a normal six-year-old girl, like she could wake up again and everything would be normal and okay.

But you know—nothing about this is normal. You thought that Steve was being a bit over-the-top about them needing help, but you can see it now. It’s not so eccentric. They need something. Something.

When James pulls the door so only a small shaft of light from the hall glows on Clover’s tranquil face, his hand curls round your wrist.

“I take back what I said, that time at my apartment.” His eyes are frantic. Pleading. “I do need your help. Please, (Y/N). I need so much fucking help.”

You turn your hand so that it clasps his, squeezing tightly. “I’m here.”

[the-winchester-gurll]

It was late in the evening,the traffic was on peak,people skeltering as if it's their last day, air full of pollution and commotion:with a dried up throat and a mayhem mind,i entered the coffeeshop. I am always up for trying new things ,so ordered my unusual mocha latte. The waiter served with a warm smile and I found a place to have my mocha in solitude, melting into the background and my silent soliloquies. People accepted me as a part of decor of the shop. On the other hand,I could notice the people's activities around me - the waiters bustling around orders, young people craving for attention, couples in date:some turn into love ,others just wither away and there are few like me,appreciating their seclusion. I always wonder what these people have in their mind. How they behave when alone or in group. Are they actually happy?Are they sad?or repenting for their acts? Every small things gain huge importance. The colour of the furniture,the mug, backpack of someone ,fonts in tissue paper, decorative plants and above all the musings of my mind. Every mundane activities gain a spectacular significance. The coffee tastes luscious along with these awareness. Sometimes you question about the reality of the situation. Am I delusional? Or this is all happening?how is my life going to be after this. It brought snaps of my decsions into my head and recapitulated them and made me wonder the consequences of alternate choices.Trust me,the insignificant things only brings out giant impacts. Ebbing from my thoughts, I treaded into my magical present. The random quotes on the walls of the shop suddenly became the Holy Gita of my life. I left the shop, with an heart at ease and a mind at peace.

Also, I don't like coffee but I find it soothing.

#solitary #coffeshop #happiness #magical #love #thoughts #meloncholy #reality #stayhappy