#more than 10 years I’ve been here and I now have proof of life

[rou-en]

lmfao the fuck are you on, a tesla is still very much a symbol of being rich as fuck. shut up and listen to actual poor people for a minute and maybe you'll gain some critical thinking skills. or maybe you'll just go back to being a bootlicker. who knows?

Oh wow another first - anon hate!

Also welcome, it’s very weird to be interacting with people on this hell site after so long, but hello!! To me this is all very hilarious to come about from just venting in tags about Watcher drama but I guess that’s this place for you eh?

I could just have not swiped and answered this one, and tbh I hesitated a bit on the first anon as well, but it does feel exhilarating to be speaking to the void and getting a voice back (any voice in fact!)

But first to this second anon (coz I’d guess from the tone that you’re not the first), I hope you’re doing alright in the real world - that as frustrated and angry as you might be about my take on Teslas (very much a shitty car), you are alright and safe,

Since I seem to have a captive audience (of at least two that I can tell of so far, how novel!), I guess let me soliloquy about thoughts on wealth and the complex nature sometimes of the whole “poor vs rich” dynamic, which is also a bit of why I even waded a little into responding to you amidst watcher drama,

Second anon, I recommend dl;dr (don’t like don’t read) -

I come from a generation where that’s what we did for things we didn’t like. For all I’ve said you’re a captive audience, you’re actually not (again, this is all very funny to me right now I can’t believe this is over ghoul boi drama still jfc) - one person’s opinion will always be just that, an opinion.

I think anon, we might be in different areas of the world, but at least where I live (please check prev tags on the post you were referring to, I’m also too internet-old not to hide in tags as much as I like) it’s become an increasingly common sight to see even soccer moms drive a Tesla, their bloody SUV model is the bane of my existence,

Does that mean everyone can afford them? No. Does it mean a middle-class family could afford them? If they wanted it enough, yes. Does it mean there still aren’t people suffering here from poverty in my part of the world? Sadly, no.

And therein lies an interesting problem (well at least to me as a former economics student) about signalling and truly knowing where in the whole class wars business you’re on, because it does make a difference if you ever have to figure out which rich to eat,

Is the 1% who get to fly on private chartered space flights and book out the whole of Disneyland for themselves (I’m looking at a shitty Amazon CEO there) the first to the guillotine? Oh yes.

But what about everyone else? Are we going to burn everyone who has multiple iPhones? God forbid anyone ever treats themselves to a seven-course degustation? Would not recommend, but I don’t think it guillotine-perfect, and I don’t think everyone that drives a Tesla where I am in the world can begin to count as that,

Those people live a daily life here, second anon, it’s so middle-class here it’s almost funny and why saying to me “Steven owns a Tesla” makes me shrug and go “would not recommend but you do you”,

I understand that can be different to you, because oh, turns out my own thoughts and circumstances can be very different to yours indeed.

Fun fact, I grew up first in a developing country, and had the privilege to move to a “first-world” country because my family was dedicated and sacrificed to make sure I could live the “better life” so to speak,

So I know there’s an inequality in the world when an exchange rate could mean the difference between something being a “rich” vs “normal” thing - I buy a Switch here for about 450 bucks (I saved and then got it on sale) as an achievable treat; for my sister who still lives in my home country, it’s almost two grand and definitely ridiculous to spend on for any normal family,

On one level, where is the fairness in that? But I live with it, and I have to choose some treats or if not what’s the point in life,

What does this all mean in the face of the original ghoul boys/watcher drama that’s occurring now? If anyone has read this for long enough is probably wondering at this point,

(I hope you’re both with me still my two anons, I’ll cherish this even if nothing else ever happens to me on this hell site)

I guess I wanted to try and say: life is complicated, and everyone makes complicated decisions, even your favourite comfort YouTubers,

It means I can only see the exacting vitriol at Steven for liking nice things but not Shane for also liking nice things and wonder whether people are barking up the wrong trees, very racist trees in fact,

It means that I keep thinking of shitposts about when the time comes, we’d likely just start offing our neighbours for being “rich” then anyone actually rich, because we seem to not understand the difference between nice things and things no nice person should have (holding also the complicated element of environment and geopolitics to account),

In the process of writing my first response to anon #1, I did have a moment where I wondered, “what if the Watcher boys did think about this? What if they did have some level of number crunching and still looked into their souls and decided that it wasn’t what they wanted? That they knew they could keep doing what they’re doing now and be financially stable, or risk it because of what they believe?”

I and you or anyone can wonder, can or cannot understand, but I sure as hell wish the Watcher team the best of luck, and like you anon, their days will be safe, content and filled with nice things, because why else would I want anything else for anyone,

That’s my one opinion at least, take that as you will anon on the bootlicking quotient for that - if being someone that would just like us all to take a chill pill is being one, then meh - you’re welcome to your opinion too,

But thanks to anyone that’s somehow come to my Tedtalk that started with my random thoughts on Watcher drama and ended with me finding people are still around (it’s not just all bots huzzah!)

[5sospenguinqueen]

Love You FURever - Toto Wolff x Vet! Reader

Summary: When Toto marries a vet, he realises his life consists of yelling about cars and fostering injured animals.

Fluff. Humour. Pinterest pics.

Requested: Yes by anon. Sorry this is only a small one

F1 Masterlist

━━━━ ༻𖥸༺ ━━━━

ynwolff just posted

liked by maxverstappen1, kimi.antonelli and others

ynwolff some friends from work

1,681 comments

maxverstappen1 sassy and jimmy said they’ve never enjoyed a vet visit so much

→ ynwolff bring them back anytime! such lovely cats

user toto’s plan to get max to mercedes is by making his wife befriend his cats liked by ynwolff

→ user ahah she liked. she’s so funny

lewishamilton roscoe says he can’t wait for his check-up

→ ynwolff i can’t wait to see my sweet boy

→ georgerussell63 i miss when i was your sweet boy

→ ynwolff i’ve been around you too long. you stopped being my sweet boy last year

albon_pets any room for more friends?

→ ynwolff there’s always room for f1 pets

→ user this just makes me think she set up her own clinic purely so she could look after the f1 animals

→ user agreed because she attends every race where a pet is so she can be on hand for them

charles_leclerc this is my sign to get a dog

→ user yes! charles dog dad era needed

mercedesamgf1 i thought we were friends… but you haven’t visited us for ages :(

→ ynwolff don’t make me tell my husband that you’re emotionally blackmailing me

→ mercedesamgf1 he told us to (and there’s no proof if we delete the comment)

→ ynwolff (i have it printed out)

→ user omfg she’s defo the funniest wag

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mercedesamgf1 just posted

liked by ynwolff, georgerussell63 and others

mercedesamgf1 boss man hard at work

4,463 comments

ynwolff tell him not to look so serious. he’ll scare the children

→ totowolff my love, i can see your comments.

→ ynwolff when did you do this? why do you follow mercedes and your drivers and not ME!

→ user toto sleeping on the couch later liked by ynwolff

kimi.antonelli 😊

user i hope he’s trying to figure out how to fix the shit box that is the W15

user he’s such a grandpa with his tied sweaters

→ totowolff i am not a grandpa.

→ ynwolff so when you were complaining about your back aching and begging for a rub?

→ user i bet he doesn’t act like a grandpa at home, that’s how they ended up with a 6 year old

→ georgerussell63 guys, he can see these comments now fyi

user definitely the hottest team principal liked by ynwolff

→ totowolff with the hottest wife.

→ user omg they’re so down bad for each other that he’s breaking pr rules for her

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wolffcare just posted

liked by roscoelovescoco, albon_pets and others

wolffcare boss of the month

933 comments

ynwolff i paid them to post this. literally

→ wolffcare that only makes it like 5% less true

roscoelovescoco vets of thes years

charles_leclerc leo is looking forward to his first trip to the vets tomorrow

maxverstappen1 would recommend

lewishamilton 10/10

alex_albon the cats are begging me to make them fat so they have a reason to come visit you

→ ynwolff stop feeding them cheese

user why are all the f1 drivers here?

→ totowolff because this is my wife.

→ user when he claims you

→ user girl bffr

→ user starting to feel like toto only made an insta so he could join the drivers in praising her online

mercedesamgf1 if the w15 was an animal, we would trust you with it more than toto

→ totowolff my office. monday. 9am.

→ mercedesamgf1 crap

→ ynwolff they were complimenting me, my love

→ totowolff fine.

→ totowolff @/mercedesamgf1 make that 10am.

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ynwolff just posted

liked by lewishamilton, alex_albon and others

ynwolff my best friends for the weekend

3,311 comments

user omg the fact that she cropped out toto

totowolff liebling, are we no longer friends?

→ ynwolff you left your wet towel on the bed again so no

→ user oh so it’s not just my husband

→ user even millionaires piss off their wives

→ totowolff *billionaire.

roscoelovescoco my favourites grand prixs buddy

→ ynwolff my favourite bulldog

georgerussell63 offended that i’m not in this

→ ynwolff toto, your child is pestering me again

→ lewishamilton actually, i’m a little offended that I’m not in this either but bono is

→ ynwolff omg lewis i’m so sorry. i'll dedicate a whole post to you this weekend

→ georgerussell63 wow

user jack is so cute. he’s the perfect combination of toto and yn

→ totowolff yn did a great job, didn’t she?

→ ynwolff stop trying to convince me to have another

→ user omg he’s trying to get her to have more!

mercedesamgf1 we love having the three of you in the garage. brings us more luck

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totowolff just posted

liked by mercedesamgf1, ynwolff and others

totowolff gentleman, if you fall in love with a vet, she will give you the best family. but far too many animals in your home

4,477 comments

mercedesamgf1 the cutest family 🩵

lewishamilton is this the puppy that was going to be put down?

→ totowolff yes. yn rescued him and i couldn’t say no.

georgerussell63 so that makes one child, three cats, two hamsters, two cows and a puppy. what’s next?

→ ynwolff i really want a pig but toto says he doesn’t like the noise :(

→ user isn’t he trying to get you to have another baby? how is that noise okay?

albon_pets we should open up a zoo together

→ totowolff don’t give her ideas!

charles_leclerc omg when can we meet him!?

→ ynwolff he’ll be at the next couple of races

f1wags what a lovely picture of yn and jack

ynwolff you shouldn't call your son an animal. he’s only a little feral. he gets that from you

→ totowolff i watched you tear into a steak yesterday. not sure i’m the cause.

→ ynwolff uh, you were the cause of my craving for steak

→ totowolff who knew getting you pregnant made you such a carnivore.

→ user pregnant?!

→ user baby #2?!?!

→ user definitely not a grandpa

→ ynwolff toto!

→ totowolff this is why i didn’t want an instagram!

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Requests open! Now include Franco Colapinto and K Mag

Tag list

@peachiicherries @rosecentury @c-losur3 @heavy-vettel @evie-119 @raizelchrysanderoctavius

[v1xyboy9]

4Me 4Me - Matt sturniolo

♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱

♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱⋆ ⋆♱✮♱

Summary: completely ghosting your ex boyfriend definitely helped you get over him…right ??

Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI !!!, use of alcohol, weed, and nicotine, language, tiny bit of smut, switch!matt x Switch!reader, uses of pet names (baby, honey, sweetheart, pretty girl), not proof read, lmk if I missed anything

Word count: 5.8k

You and Matt dated for a year and ended up on bad terms due to your jealous toxic behavior and Matt’s possessiveness. For the first 2 months of the break up yall stayed in contact and still acted like a couple until you got a fucking grip and completely ghosted him on the 3rd month. You started going out a lot more and making new friends even flirted with a couple guys but nothing was truly helping that bit of emptiness that you still felt without Matt.

It’s now been 10 months since you and Matt broke up and 8 months since you’ve completely cut contact. You stopped going out as much you really just focusing on yourself and fixing your bad behaviors making yourself a bit cold and distant with everyone in your life, your friend even calling you “heartless” at one point. And maybe also you know tattoo therapy….

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Tara invited me to her party that’s tonight and of course I said yes, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her or even went to a party period.

Its was currently 8pm and I’m contemplating going now that I’ve been staring at myself in the mirror or a bit to long

“Yeah no I can’t wear a dress”

Everything about it was just unflattering and too feminine I change into some baggy dark wash jeans with one of those black rave star halter tops that literally only covers your boobs and the rest of it is straight up string

I accessories with a black BEBE belt , black and white tie dye beanie, studded cuff bracelets, and to finish off the look some black and white DC shoes. I also make sure to lift my thong a tad bit so you could see it poking out of my waistband

“Okay now I feel better”

I definitely started dressing less fem and more masc over these couple months but honestly it’s a nice change I personally think it’s made my style better

I check the time it’s 8:30pm and my Uber should be here in 5 minutes. I grab my phone, my vape, my penjamin, and my house keys. Lock the door and happily go outside and get in my Uber

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Pulling up to Tara’s party you got a bit of a qweezie feeling in your stomach but just brush it off texting Tara letting her know your here and step out of the car thanking the Uber then head inside.

It was loud and surprisingly dark you try to look around and see if you recognized anyone…..JAKE ! It was always easy to spot him due to his height. You head in the direction of Jake but also looking around to see if you know anyone else, you see Tana in the distance with her bf, Johnnie awkwardly standing next to Sam while he talks to Colby. It was nice to see your friends again you couldn’t lie you missed being out like this.

You finally get to Jake lightly tugging on his jacket for him to notice you, Jake looks down in confusion but breaks into a smile once he sees you

“Y/NNNNN nice to see that you escaped prison” he chuckles and embraces you into a hug

“Please don’t make me seem like a criminal Infront of people that don’t know me” chuckles “but thank you I really have Tara to thank though, speaking of her where is she ?”

“I actually do not know but maybe the bar knowing her”

Chuckles “yeah you’re right”

You turn in the direction of the bar and sure enough you see her tiny self

“God damn y/n how many tattoos did you get within these past couple months, your more covered than me”

You look around confused for a second then realized you never posted about your tattoos when you got them

“Oh shit right dude honestly um I thinkkkk twenty, cause I have 28 in total right now and when we meet I only had 8”

“Your crazy”

“Says you you also have a fuck ton of tattoos”

“Yeah but mine are small patch work you’res is like HUGE”

“If you think any of these are huge then you should see my most recent tattoo it goes down my whole leg”

“Your actually insane now go see Tara cause she has something for you”

He lightly pushes the small of your back in the direction of the bar which you moved heading to where Tara is your anxiety spiking for some reason you take a hit of your vape and continue

Tara sees you coming her way and started squealing in excitement and runs to hug you and you hug her back of course

“Ughhh you don’t know how much I’ve missed you you really went all ghost on everyone for so long” she looks you up and down “like look at these tattoos most of these weren’t here a while go” she chuckles “you look so hot though maybeeee might get a guys number you neverrrr know”

You laugh at her teasing blushing a little bit

“Nono I’m really not here for that I just want to have a good time you know that”

“Hehe okay we’ll take a shot with me pleaseeee”

“Just one”

“Three”

“Two”

“Fine two”

“Give me a chaser bro I am not taking these straight”

Tara laughs handing you her Diet Coke “Go first”

I throw back both of the shots then chug down the coke

“Uhhh fuck I hate alcohol so much”

You Take a hit of your vape and pen

“Smoking is also bad for you, you know”

“Yes but I much rather kill my lungs then my liver thank you very much, also Jake said you have something for me what is it”

“Oh yeah um it’s not a gift or anything but more like someone gave me this to give back to you, open your hand”

You give Tara your hand while she places something in it

“Promise me not to get upset”

“I can’t promise anything Tara but I won’t make a big deal out of it”

“Okay”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

She moves her hand, it’s a ring and bracelet…. Matt’s ring and bracelet that I gave him when we first started dating.

“Well that sucks it’s the one thing I wasn’t expecting coming from him, give it back to him they’re his not mine”

“Give it to him yourself y/n it’s been 8 months”

“Yeah I guess right…”

Tara smiles a little

“Okay well let’s not worry about that now let’s have fun”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Nick pov

“MATT YOURE COMING INSIDE”

“NO IM NOT I BROUGHT YOU AND CHRIS HERE NOW GET OUT”

“I’m tired of your depressed self you never have fun, ever since y/n broke up with you, you’ve been MISERABLE and I’m tired of it, it’s been 8 months officially, tighten the fuck up and get over it”

“Matt you even got ready JUST GO IN you act like we’re gonna see y/n, I tell you all the time that women has CHANGED for the better at that. she doesn’t go out anymore she’s a homebody and on her work grind dude”

“I don’t understand why you still talk to her”

“She didn’t want too for the longest but I made her stay my friend cause I didn’t wanna lose a good friend cause of my brothers possessives and his own problem’s”

“She also had things wrong with her”

“NO SHIT MATTTTTTT SHES THE ONE WHO NOTICED THAT AND DECIDED TO END IT”

“Matt come on dude you’ll be with us the whole time”

“I do not wanna go”

“You are not about to miss ANOTHER Tara yummy party now get your ass out of the car, NICK GRAB HIM”

I hop out of car and open the driver door and pull Matt out the car while Chris pushes him out, Matt is extremely pissed off

“OKAY JUST GET THE FUCK OFF ME”He straightens himself out

“Okay we can go inside yall are so annoying”

“Wait Matt where is your ring and bracelet?”

“I guess I just forgot them”

“You fucking idiot”

I could tell he was lying it’s not hard to tell he always wears them and he was fidgeting with his hands way to much

My phone vibrated in my pocket it was from y/n

“Nick are you at Tara’s party ?”

“About to go in why !?”

“Im coming outside”

“WAIT YOURE HERE ?!?!?”

“Um yeah Tara invited me??”

“Stay inside”

“Now why the fuck would you tell me to stay inside?”

I look up from my phone to see y/n coming towards us with a confused look on her face

“Oh fuck”

My eyes dart to the side looking at matt for the second, she turns her head to look at him then tilts her head

“Oh That’s why, well I came to give you Matts bracelet and ring back but since he’s here”

She walks to him and places Matt’s bracelet and ring in his hand

“Next time don’t send someone else to do your dirty work Matthew I know you’re not weak like that”

“Y/n I-“

“You don’t have to explain yourself Matt I don’t need to know, it was good see you three, I’ll be going inside now if you’ll excuse me”

We watched as y/n walked back inside

“Now if I must say y/n has only gotten more attractive, holy fuck even the way she composed herself”

“Chris shut the fuck up” I start “well is that what you wanted Matt”

“Her tattoos…holy fuck”

“Oh my god your not even paying attention”

“I am I am but what the hell why did she only get more attractive and I’ve gotten less”

“Your not ugly your a very handsome boy”

“Yes a very attractive young man”

“Okay yeah but COMPARED TO THAT no dude I just fumbled”

“I mean not really yall where toxic asf nearing the end of it”

“Yeah but she’s changed”

“And you haven’t soooo let’s move on with this conversation and get THE FUCK inside please and thank you”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Y/n pov

I run back inside to find tara and grab her by the arm

“Matt is here I ran into him by accident”

“Girl huh how?”

“Nick told me he was outside so I went to give him Matt’s stuff but he was literally right there I just gave Matt his stuff of course but I spoke to him but I feel like I was super harsh with it”

“Girl breathe… talk to him literally what is the harm it’s been 8 months I’m sure he would understand also it’s not like you like him still”

Bats eyelashes blank stare

“Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me y/n”

“IM JOKING IM JOKING but I do wanna apologize to him for everything cause it was mostly my fault”

“Okay but wasn’t he like overly possessive”

“Yeah… but I always pushed his boundaries with that shit and was always insecure and made him not have any privacy like I definitely need to apologize to him more than he does to me”

“Instead of telling me that why don’t you just go”

“Heeehhh let me go hotbox the restroom and enjoy my first thennnn I’ll go talk to him later in the night”

“Might as well get another shot in while you’re at it”

“Ugh fineeee just because I know your gonna bother me about it anyways”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Its 10:35pm now your a bit more drunk then you would like and you where also a tad bit high as well.

You feel all sweaty and crammed now kinda wanting to go home now but you still wanna talk to Matt so you go to find him. you stumble apon chris first though he was sitting and talking to colby and his girlfriend Malia

“Hmm chris have you seen matt?”

“I havent actually why”

“I wanna talk to him”

“y/n youre drunk”

“Yes i know chris im not gonna do anything stupid trust”

“Hmm dont know if i should”

“He going into the bathroom right now” colby spoke up

“Hehe thank you colby also Malia you look absolutely gorgeous”

“Thank you y/n” she giggles

“Hmm of course”

You very joyfully head to where that bathrooms are and stand there and wait for matt to come out, getting more nervous you hit your pen

“You waiting for someone beautiful”

You look up and meet eyes with a guy youve never meet before, you look at him confused

“Random flattery wont work on me”“Awe come on you wouldnt dress that way for no reason”

“What are you implying exactly huh”

“You know what i mean look at you” he goes to grab your waist and you back up

“Hm okay well imma give you two options now. 1. Leave and dont bother me again, or 2. Continue to harass me and i make a scene”

“Awe come on a pretty girl like you shouldn’t be threatening no one” he went to brush your hair behind your ear but you slap his hand away

“Try some stupid shit again dawg”

“Awe what you think you all tuff i bet i could bend you over right here and fuck that attude out of you”

You spit in his face “lmao the fuck you think you are”

“YOU BITCH” he pushes you hard against the wall winding you

Just in the blink on an eye you see matt grab the dude by his collar his slam him against the wall “watch your fucking mouth and if see you put your hands on any women again ill wont just slam you against a wall next time, patchetic excuse of a man” matt lets go of the guy looking over at you worried then comes over too you

“Are you okay ?”

“Yeah i didnt feel it tbh im a little to drunk”

“Um can i jus-”

“Wait no dont say anything can we talk outside i really need to talk to you”

“Um yeah lets go to the van”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

You both head outside and get in the van at first it’s just silence between yall until Matt clears his throat so you speak up

“it’s been a while since I’ve sat up here”

“Yeah it’s one think Chris doesn’t have to worry about anymore”

“He must of loved when I stopped coming around huh”

“Only for the part he didn’t have to fight anyone for front seat, he misses messing with you he really sees you as a older sister y/n”

You didn’t even hear him you were too much in your head which lead to word vomit

“I’m sorry for everything, I was a pretty shitty girlfriend I never had trust for you even though you gave me no reason to feel like that I had a lot of mental health issues going on and I pushed everything onto you and it just became more and more toxic cause my jealously and insecurity’s only grew… I truly am sorry for everything”

There was a moment of pure silence which scared you a bit until Matt let out a light chuckle

“I see that you’ve gotten way better at talking about your feelings”

“Yeah it’s called get on anti depressants and getting help”

“Oh shit sorry..”

“Nono oh my god I was joking about the anti depressants, I am on ADHD medications now though” you laugh and how easily he believed you

“You’re an idiot”

“Youre a bigger one”

“Shut up”

“Hey, don’t catch an attitude with me Mister” you grab him by the chin making him look at you then let go

“Okay I’m sorry I take it back, but I do wanna say I still can’t apologize to you about how possessive I was cause well it hasn’t changed, I thought it was cause well I haven’t had any interest in anybody but no… seeing you again especially with other guys it gave the same feeling in the stomach that it did back then as well”

“Matt can I ask you something”

“Yeah of course ?”

“When we were together what was i for you”

He looks at you confused but then just sighs

“Everything. You made everything just feel so perfect nothing was bothersome anymore all my thoughts would leave my head I was just happy… anytime I was away from you all I was waiting for was you to text or call me once you weren’t busy anymore or asleep, everything revolved around you because I wanted it too, you felt like my true safe place… and when you ghosted me it honestly ruined me.

“Matt…”

“I thought it was some kinda sick joke at first but even Nick and Chris couldn’t get through to you.. it felt like my whole world crumbled down. After the first week I got a little better since Nick forced you not to break contact with him and Chris just because of me, I’m pretty sure neither of them told you this but sometime when you would call them they would have the phone on speaker just so I could hear your voice…it was the least they could do they said cause they felt bad”

“I’m sorry Matt I didn’t know it affected you so much…but I do remember on the 4th month of having no contact with you Nick called me at like 3am asking me if I could just get back with you could shut up but I didn’t know what he ment at the time”

He looked confused for a second but then it clicked

“I woke him up one night cause I couldn’t sleep and just complained about how much I missed you”

“You know I unblocked your number on the 4th month right?”

“Huh no what ?!?”

“Yeah I unblocked your number a while ago totally not to see if you would call me or something…but since you didn’t I just assumed you were over it at that point, it lifted a weight off my shoulders but now knowing that wasn’t the case, I’m sorry”

“Hm don’t apologize you didn’t know”

“I still feel bad” you pout

“Wipe that pout off your face you look ridiculous”

“Ugh you’re still so mean when I pout”

“Uh yeah your not a kid don’t baby yourself”

“I don’t even mean too you know that”

He laughs resulting in you taking a hit of your cart and exhale in his face, he waves the smoke out of his face

“Rude”

“YA MOTHER, actually I take that back I love your mom so much”

“She actually asked about you last week well she asked Nick not me”

“Awe did she really?”

“Yeah she asked when you would come to visit her in Boston”

“What yall tell her?”

“Nick told her that he would ask you”

“He never did ask”

“Oh well um when would you wanna go see her and dad?”

“Next time yall take the trip out there I’ll go with yall”

A huge smile plasters across Matts face, he uses his hand to cover his face trying not to seem more happy then he needed to be

“Yeah okay, I’ll let Chris and Nick know and we’ll figure out a week to go”

“Okay perfect, I’m actually kinda excited I haven’t been in forever”

“Does this mean we’re back to being friends?”

“Absolutely” you give him a bright smiles “just make sure to not go back into bad habits, I’ll make Nick go off on you”

“Yeah yeah whatever”

“I’m serious Matthew”

“I promise I won’t go back to my old bad habits”

“Pinky promise”

I hold my pinky out so Matt can interlock his but got distracted by the feeling of the car door opening behind me, it was Chris

“UGHHHAHHHHHH MOVE”

“Chris back now don’t even start”

“She just came back and I already have to sit in the back”

“She’s a women she gets front, go”

“Ughhh”

Chris dramatically closes the door with a big huff then gets in the back with Nick

“Sorryyyyy”

“You’re not sorry you have a full smile on your face”

I couldn’t help but giggle, I missed this to be honest.

“Okay let’s get y/n home and then call it a night huh”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Almost 4 months have passed since the party, you started hanging out with the triples more often even if it was just to sit in there house and do work, Nick wanted you up and out of your house even making you run errands with him and Matt just like yall use to. You were mostly with Nick and sometimes Chris for the first 2 weeks but gradually starting hanging with Matt more often weither it be watching a movie together or just talking about a topic over a meal.

After a month has passed yall started going on night drives together sometimes it wouldnt even be days you were at the house he would just randomly come by your place and tell you to come downstairs. Matt always knew you enjoyed listening to music and driving around at night and it was a nice way to catch up more, matt even opened up a bit more about his insecurities and internal struggles

Now going into a new month the boys planned a trip to Boston to visit their parents and of course you’re going along, you’re currently all packed and waiting for Matt to get to your place your legs bounce with anxiety but also excitement, you haven’t seen there parents in a while

Soon enough Matt texted you that they were here, you quickly headed downstairs seeing the van putting your luggage in the back you could hear Matt screaming at Chris to get in the back, Chris gets out of the front with a huff and gestures at you the get in

“Let’s go passenger princess we don’t have all day we have a flight to catch”

“Chris just shush”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

It’s now 6pm, trip there was nice no difficulties or anything except for Chris trying to scare you while on the plane resulting in Nick and Matt silently yelling at him cause he made you scream super loud by accident. once getting through all the airport security and whatnot yall where finally able to get outside, Nick ordered a Uber for yall while yall waited. You’re still a little tried leaning your head on Matt’s shoulder

“Y/n?”

“Hmm?”

“You okay?”

“Mhm just still tired, sorry”

“It’s okay, you can take a nap in my room when we get to the house yeah?”

“Can we eat first?”

“Mom knows we’re coming she said she’s making us dinner so you’ll eat don’t worry”

He tucks your hair behind your hair and kisses the top of your head, only recently he started being physically affectionate with you again and your fine with it he knows your boundaries

Soon enough the Uber gets there and yall head to the sturniolo household

Once there the boys head in first and you follow behind them, Mary Lou ignored the boys and engulfed you into a big hug

“Ohh honey how have you been”

“I’ve been good, how have you been?”

“Oh honey you know the same old same old nothing new around here, I’m glad to see you again I thought I wouldn’t see you again after Matt told me yall broke up”

“I thought the same thing to be honest but everything is worked out now, I’m glad to see you again and doing well”

“Same to you”

“Ayeeee look who it is, my daughter in law that’s technically not my daughter in law anymore but still definitely is to me”

You laugh at jimmys comment before he gives you a small squeeze

“It’s nice to see you again sweetheart”

“Same to you”

“Okok whatever y/n isn’t important what about your sons?”

Of course Chris had to speak up, you see Matt rushing back downstairs you didn’t even see him go upstairs

“Your stuff is in my room if you need anything”

“Thank you Matt”

“Mhm of course”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

It’s been 3 days since yall have been in Boston it’s been a lot of family time and catching up, you’ve been sleeping in Matt’s room on his bed while he continues to protest to sleep on the couch in the living room even though youve told him multiple times that its okay for him to sleep with you.

Its currently 8pm on a wednesday evening its just you and matt in the house chilling in the living room. mary lou, jimmy, chris, and nick went out to a small get together with friends. Matt didnt wanna go out which is common, you stayed because well your not from boston and dont know anybody theyre going out with plus you really wanted to catch up on your reading since your behind.

You get up from the couch to stretch

“Imma go take a quick shower”

“You showered yesterday though?’

“Imma just wash my body off not like im washing my hair”

“Hm okay have fun”

“I guess??”

You giggle as you walk away genuinely wondering why he seemed annoyed by you going to take a shower. You clip your hair back then grab some jammies and your hygiene stuff then go to the restroom to take your quick shower. You lied about the the quick shower you actually ended up doing an everything shower minus your hair cause you felt like it, it still wasnt super long only 20 minutes. After drying off you slip on your black lace panties and your junji ito PJ pants over them, tossing on a black spagettii strap not bothering to put a bra on, You also do your skin care then clean up and head back to matts room putting your dirty clothes in the basket you and matt are sharing for the time being.

You grab your headphones, penjamin, reading glasses, and book from your bag then get comfortable on matts bed putting in your headphone and connecting them to your phone choosing your reading playlist, opening your book placing the book mark next to you and put your glasses on, finally taking a blinker cough your lungs out a bit and now ready to get completely immersed in the book.

Its been 20 minutes since you finished showering matt figured you would comeback downstairs once your done but youve been gone for 40 minutes now and it was bothering him so he went upstairs to his room to see you peacefully reading on his bed not even noticing that he walked in, he decided not to bother you and just grabbed clothes so he could go shower as well leaving you be for now until he was done.

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

I picked up my phone to check the time its 7:27pm youve been reading for a little over an hour now, you take a quick stretch then sit back down to continue reading

“Damn you still reading?”

“Oh hm?”

I look up from my book and see Matt shirtless with grey sweatpants on and damp hair. I could feel my face heating up

“I came In here earlier and you were reading I figured by the time I finished my shower you would be done, didn’t know you wear glasses though when did that start”

“Oh. Um they’re just reading glasses I’ve had them for a while now but I never really read but now I use them all the time”

“Can you look at me and point your finger up”

Confused but curious I do as he says, he takes a picture and starts laughing

“You’re so cute”

“Oh shut up, let me see”

“I’m being serious”

He walks over to me showing me his phone with a stupid smile on his face

“I look so stupid”

“Erm actually looking ahh”

“SHUT UP”

“I’m kidding I’m kidding, I think you look very beautiful with your glasses”

He places his hand under my chin making me look up at him threw my glasses

“Don’t look at me with those eyes sweetheart”

“Maybe keep your mind out of the gutter, I’m just looking at you Matt”

He chuckles and lets go of my chin

“Well I’m headed back downstairs enjoy the rest of your night”

“Matt for the love of god can you just stay up here with me”

“Naw naw I don’t wanna bother you”

“Matthew Bernard sturniolo please stay with me”

I don’t know why I’m begging, but I just wanted to be with him I wanted it to feel like old times I don’t want him to put that space between us anymore, I just want him again.

“Are you sure?”

“Matt I swear to god-“

“Okok I get it I’ll stay”

“Okay, I’m almost done with with book though so give me like 5 minutes”

The moment I pick up my book he takes it from my hand and places it in a higher spot where I can’t reach

“You’re done reading cause I’m bored and cause I said so”

“Fine”

I take off my glasses as Matt crawled into bed with me, cuddling closer to him he wraps his arm around me and plays with my hair

“What’s going on sweetheart, what’s going through your head”

“Nothing why do you think that ?”

“Well it’s just that this is the first time we’ve done this In a long time so you know”

“I just wanna be close to you I don’t know, I’m comfortable around you”

“Glad I make you feel comfortable”

He kisses my forehead continuing to run his fingers through my hair, I drape my arm over his chest scooting myself closer to him

“Matt.”

“Yes?”

“Is it bad that I don’t wanna let you go ever again”

“No, cause neither do I. You’re so important to me on so many levels just those 8 months alone went to show me that I was miserable without you”

“I’m sorry”

“Don’t apologize, you did what you had to do and guess what you learning and progressing also helped me out you know”

Just watching him talk made you smile, Matt in general makes your heart feel warm

“Matt can you kiss me?…”

“Woah..y/n I-“

“Nevermind sorry that was to mu-“

Matt cups my cheeks and places a small peck on my lips then looks at me for reassurance, I nod my head. He pulls me into another kiss it’s slow but passionate just like it’s always been, I began to move myself from my side to the middle to straddle him, my thighs on either side of his body directly placed above his slowly but surely growing erection. I break the kiss, Matt places his hands on my thighs looking up at me

“Are you sure about this”

“If I wasn’t I would tell you”

“Hmkay just making sure baby, is it okay if I mark you”

“Only if they’re hidden”

“Can I make just one of them noticeable?”

“If you buy me the pair of shoes I’ve been wanting”

I said it as a joke cause Osiris NYC 83 skate shoes are 1. Expensive and 2. Lowkey hard to find especially the color ways I want. Seeing a smile spread across Matt’s face told me that he already bought me the shoes and I should have come up with a better deal.

“Whatever your thinking in your pretty little head in correct”

He flipped us over him now being on top of me

“Safe word is meatball”

“Matthew you’ve gotta be kidding me”

He chuckles and kisses my neck

“I’m joking sweetheart gosh, you know it’s always been strawberry nothing has changed”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

He carefully takes the clip out of your hair throwing it across the room, he kisses the side of your lip slowly going down peppering kisses over your neck he lightly bites down on your collarbone earning a whimper out of you

“Ow Matt”

“Sorry baby”

He kisses where he bit soothing his hand over it with his other hand slipping it under your shirt

“Can I take this off?”

You nod your head

“Words sweetheart”

“Yes”

“Arms up”

He easily slips your shirt off again tossing it across the room

“No bra?”

“Shut up”

“Yes ma’am”

He kisses down your chest to stomach leaving marks every once in a while, coming back to your lips giving you a small peck

“My pretty girl”

Your face heats up in embarrassment making you cover your face with your arms

“Awe come on don’t do that baby, let me see your pretty face”

You put your arms down

“There’s my beautiful girl”

“Matt just fuck me”

He chuckles “your so impatient I’m just admiring you honey, it’s been too long also just look at these beautiful tattoos on you”

He traces the stars that go down your left ribs, you squeeze you thighs together at this point everything Matt is doing just feels like teasing

“Do you really need me that bad”

“Oh shut the fuck up”

Matt slides his finger under your waist band

“When is the last time you’ve came y/n”

“Matt don’t make me answer that”

“No I wanna hear the answer”

“Matthew”

“Yes sweetheart”

You sighed knowing damn well he wasn’t gonna let it go

“The week before I ghosted you”

“Hm that was also the last time we had sex isn’t it?”

“Yes now shut up and just fuck me Matt please”

“At least you said please”

He quickly pulls down your bottoms panties included, Kissing down your stomach once again until reaching your pussy giving it a light peck

“Already wet huh?”

You close your legs around his head, you notice his eyes scanning over the tattoo on your under right thigh

“Yeah and what your gonna do about it ??”

“Eat you the fuck out”

(I would write full smut for yall but I’m genuinely so bad at it..)

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Now naked cuddling in bed together watching SpongeBob while Matt plays with your hair making you doze off a little

“You tried sweetheart?”

“Kinda”

“Let me get some clothes on you then we can sleep yeah?”

“Yeah”

Matt grabs you a pair of his boxers and a shirt of his

“You got it or want me to do it”

“I’ll do it just throw on some boxers please, I love you and your body and your dick very much but please cover it up”

“Repeat what you said”

“Throw on some boxers please”

“After that”

“I love you?”

“I love you too”

He puts on his boxers while you slip on your as well and put his shirt on, he lays back in bed tacking you in the process

“Does this mean we’re back together?”

“Don’t rush it pretty boy ask me again in the morning and I’ll say yes as of right now though let’s sleep”

“I love you so much”

“I love you too Matt, I won’t leave you again I promise”

“You better you know much I hate when you leave, just stay”

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

Ragghhh hihiiii um this is kinda an authors note i guesss sorry if this is kinda wack shit I had writters block for 8 months and this is my first writing coming out of it so be nice 3:

[jimin-jungshook-over-literalbae]

Blinding Lights Chapter One

Hey guys! I wanted to try something new! This is content I’ve been playing around with for a long time but didn’t have any confidence in. This piece is already in it’s second chapter so I decide to try posting the first chapter to see if people are interested. I hope you guys like it!

Hybrids: Munchkin Cat Reader (Omega), Fox Jin (Omega), Panther Yoongi (Alpha), Golden Retriever Hoseok (Beta), Wolf Namjoon (Alpha), Calico Cat Jimin (Omega), Tiger Taehyung (Beta), Bunny Jungkook (Beta)

Masterlist

Word Count: 3312

Next Chapter

It’s easy to hate the world when you’re trapped in a box. Staring at the same walls and praying for a break in the mundane, ordinary, repetitive days. Hybrids hate being trapped. They crave freedom, open air, sunlight and comfort. Trapped Omegas are worse. Without a pack, their self-hatred only grows, leaving room for little else.

Since I was twenty, I had spent most of my time trapped in the small space under the floorboards. My newest owner said that’s where Hybrids belong unless they’re needed. My job is the please the boss’ clients. They get to live their fantasies. Some are sexual and other are more into physical pain. It’s a shock I have lost my mind completely.

It’s been seven years. Seven long year living a life worse than death. Learning to dread specific sounds, like now. Muted voices, the shuffling of feet, the whisper of the carpet being lifted, and the creak of the trap door. Next is the smell of my owner’s grossly expensive cologne. The person he’s with usually smells like some other gross cologne. It usually makes me feel like I should sneeze.

The man with my owner is a panther hybrids. He’s handsome, though in a less conventional way than the stereotypical pretty boy. The man appraises my small form, scantily clad in the outfit the maid put me in when she gave me my bath. I can’t read the look in his eyes, but the duffle bag in his hand sends my heart racing.

“I’ll leave you to your fun,” My owner makes his way back up the small ladder, closing the trap door and leaving us with no light but the bare single bulb. For a few moments, the Panther hybrids just studies me. He steps toward me and I shrink back, drawing my knees up to my chest.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” His voice is soft. Whether that is to put me at ease or because he’s scared we’ll be overheard, I’m not sure. He holds up a piece of paper. Written on it is ‘Can he hear us?’. I shake my head.

“Sound proof. He advertises not having cameras or microphones as a perk,” My voice cracks. He gives me a quick nod before rifling through his bag. He pulls out a walkie-talkie.

“I’m in,” His tone is clipped.

“Status?” A voice crackles over the speaker.

“One female munchkin hybrid. There’s a trap door under the carpet in the dining room. Close to the entrance. No guards in the room,” His words come out fast. This becomes more confusing the longer it goes. It feels like a fever dream.

“The hybrid?” The voice sounds different this time. Maybe a different person?

“No visible major injuries? She’s alert and conscious. One chain securing her. Cheap but sturdy. Shouldn’t take me long,” He pulls a couple of familiar tools out of his bag. My teeth dig into my bottom lip.

“10-4. Update me when we can move,” He sets down the device, picking up one of the tools,” And Yoongi? Just be careful.”

“I’m going to move your leg into a better position so I can get the chain off. You’re getting out of here,” He adjusts my leg and is about to start when I shake my head.

“Key is taped to the door. In sight but out of reach,” His eyes widen at my words.

“Bastard,” He mutters as he reaches up and removes the key. He unlocks the shackle on my ankle. My leg feels foreign without the added weight. I stand but stumble when I try to walk. Under everything else, I catch a faint whiff of his scent. Black pepper and rose. It twines with his Alpha’s scent. It nearly sends me into my Omega headspace.

“Hit it. Let’s get this asshole,” Yoongi throws the walkie-talkie back in his bag when he’s done and creates and creates a little distance between us. He hands me a t-shirt that is way too big. It fits me like a dress, going to my knees. He carefully positions me on his back, my legs and arms wrapped around him. My nose is pressed to his scent gland, relishing in his comforting scent.

“Don’t let go, no matter what. I’ve got you,” With the duffel bag, it must be difficult to carry me, but he doesn’t seem to be struggling.

The trap door opens, revealing a man with longish black hair and dark colored bunny ears. He reaches a hand down and helps Yoongi up. Tattoos wrap around his hand and disappear into his long sleeved t-shirt. He takes the duffel bag and glances around quickly.

“Van is outside the gate. I’ll guide you to the door. Stick close,” The bunny hybrid says.

“Bossy Brat,” Yoongi mutters. He follows the bunny hybrid to the front door. Then, almost like magic, we’re outside. Seven years of darkness leading to this moment of light.

He walks to the van and climbs in the back. The back of the van is mostly empty. The front seat is occupied by a Beta with a bright expression. I can’t help but tremble a little at the unfamiliar face.

“Let’s get you comfortable,” Yoongi gently lifts me from his back and settles me on a small pallet in the corner, near the seats. One of the blankets smells like him, and I quickly pull it around me. His scent soothes my nerves,” I’ll be back, Little One. Hobi, keep her safe for me.”

“Always. Go make sure Jiminie gets out safe,” As the person moves to the back of the van, I recognize him as another hybrid. He’s a golden retriever.

Yoongi leaves the van and I can barely suppress the whine that builds in me. I huddle in the little blanket, trying to stay out of Omegaspace. The Beta moves closer and I can’t stop myself from flinching. His scent makes its’ way to me. Mint and sunflowers. It’s a calming smell.

“Are you okay?” His voice is gentle,” My name is Hoseok.”

“Okay,” I meant to say ‘I’m okay’ but it’s hard to fight the drop.

Some time passes in a comfortable silence. The opening of the back door causes me to jump. The figure stepping in make me cower. His brown bear ears and the scar on his right cheek give him away. He’s the boss’ second in command, a Beta. He heads straight for Hoseok, and my body is moving before I can’t stop myself. I firmly place myself between Hoseok and the Bear. I hiss, only partially aware of the slip.

His hand closes around my throat, my feet leaving the floor of the van. A growl leaves Hoseok. My hand closes around his wrist, but it makes me feel smaller. My feet kick out, trying to find purchase to relieve some of the pressure on my throat.

“The boss wants to see you. Be a good little bitch and scurry to your master,” I can barely comprehend his words, the loss of breath getting to me.

“Let her go,” The voice behind me is much darker and rougher than I expected.

“I wouldn’t move, if I were you. It would be so easy to crush her throat,” His grip tightens just a little and I can tell he isn’t paying attention to me.

I dig my nails into his hand, my other hand going to where his thumb rests on my throat. You can’t grasp without your thumb. I manage to get my fingers under it, pushing it back hard. I feel it dislocate. I hit the ground hard and roll. I’m moving entirely by instinct, my Omega in full control. The two Betas leap at me and I panic. I scramble to the front and wedge myself in the front passenger seat floor. Then the sound stops.

“On the floor,” This voice is unfamiliar. A growl echoes through the van. I peek up to see a pink haired cat hybrid wit ha gun pointed at the unnamed Beta. The gun moves, pressing to the back of his head,” I said; down.”

I’ve never seen a more angry Beta as he lays on his stomach. Although I can’t smell him from here, in all the confusion, this reaction tells me the pink haired boy is an Omega. The Beta is dragged out of the van by people I can’t see from here.

“Missed the boss but got a few of his lackeys. Maybe they’ll have some info,” This comes from the pink haired Omega, his high pitched voice very distinctive.

“Lets load this one up and then we can head back to base,” This voice is unfamiliar.

“What happened to his thumb?” Yoongi. I can feel my Omega being pulled to his voice, to the safety and Alpha brings. The only thing keeping her here is the unknown voices.

“Your little Omega in there. She’s in a full drop right now,” This one is Hoseok.

“Can you guys load him up without me? I’m gonna check on her?” It’s Yoongi again.

“We’ve got him. She’s in the front passenger floor,” Hoseok’s voice already sounds like it’s getting farther away. They door beside me opens and I flinch.

Yoongi looks down at me, concern softening his expression. I move without thinking, somehow unwedging myself and wrapping myself around him. My face buries in his neck. His hands hold me gently.

“I’ve got you. I’m not going anywhere this time,” His cheek rubs on the top of my head, gently scenting me.

He somehow climbs into the passenger seat with me wrapped around him. We sit in silence for a bit. HIs calm presence and gentle scenting do a lot to clear my haze. Coming out of a drop always leaves me feeling exhausted and scrambled.

“Did you really dislocate his thumb?” There’s a chuckle hiding in his voice. I nod my head.

“He had his hand around my throat,” A soft growl leaves Yoongi at my words,” You can’t grip without your thumb. Dislocation was just a side effect. It wasn’t intentional.”

“A little badass, huh?” He muses, leaning me back some so he can examine my throat. It’s probably already bruising.

“I’m not that young,” I huff, crossing my arms,” I’m 27. I’m just short.”

“You’re the same age as Jimin and Tae. Still younger than me, though,” His tone is teasing. I roll my eyes,” What is this on the back of your shoulder?”

It’s like a shock of cold water. Memories bombarded me. Tears, blood, the smell of burning flesh. My hands begin to shake and I have to shove back another drop.

“A brand. So everyone knows who I belong to,” My voice is smaller, and more emotional, than I would like. To my surprise, another growl leaves him and his face buries in my neck.

“He won’t touch you again. I’ll kill him,” His voice is muffled and rough,” Mine.”

My heart skips a beat at his words. Is he claiming me? Why me, of all people? His chest rumbles with a soft purr that melts my heart as his warm breath caresses my neck. He can’t mean it. I was born alone. The driver’s side door opening interrupts my thoughts.

“Jungkookie and Jiminie are taking the ones we caught and dropping them off. Namjoon is meeting them there,” Hoseok climbs into the driver’s seat,” Lets get home, shall we?”

The look he gives me is warm and kind. I smile back hesitantly. I rest my head on Yoongi’s shoulder, listening to the two of them talk. At some point, I started dozing off, exhaustion weighing too heavy on my sleepy mind. I’m not fully asleep, but I’m not awake either. There’s a faint ringing and Yoongi shifts some.

“Hello?” Yoongi’s voice is a soft whisper against my hair.

“Where is the girl?” This voice is unfamiliar.

“I have her,” Yoongi’s answer is clipped.

“Yoongi,” The man’s voice is exasperated,” We don’t know if she’s safe.”

“I’m not letting her go there, Namjoon,” Yoongi tenses.

“We don’t know-“ Yoongi cuts him off.

“Nobody consents to living like that. You haven’t seen her. She’s so frightened,” His fingers dance up and down my back absentmindedly.

“I know you’ve grown attached but we still-“ Once again, Yoongi interrupts him.

“They branded her!” I can smell his anger and I whine, nuzzling into his neck. He lets out a breath.

“Just… bring her here. I just want to talk to her first,” The call ends and Yoongi makes a frustrated sound.

“It’s okay, hyung. He’ll know. I feel it too,” Hoseok says gently.

“If he doesn’t, I”m staying with her,” His lips press to my forehead. We drive for a while longer but then I can feel Yoongi nudging me awake.

“C’mon. There’s someone I want you to meet,” He helps me out of the van and his hand engulfs mine. I squeeze it softly, trying to quell my nerves.

I follow him through the building. We end up in an office, sitting on a couch across from a tall Alpha with light brown hair and gray wolf ears. I sit gingerly, playing with the hem of my t-shirt. His scent washes over me, pine and fire. A warm and exciting at the same time.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Namjoon,” When he smiles, I see dimples wink at me from his cheeks.

“I just have a few questions to ask you,” He crosses his long legs and leans back in his chair,” How long were you held there?”

“Seven years,” I don’t miss a beat. I kept count. It helped me hold onto my scrap of sanity,” I was twenty when he bought me.”

“Bought you?” He presses.

“I’m a munchkin hybrid. They’re often passed between rich households. The last count came in at less than a hundred, nationally. Even fewer are female. It’s why I’m so small, despite my age,” My hands hover uselessly. I would normally play with my tail to keep me calm, but that’s not possible right now,” I moved homes super often. Plus, the boss would visit on our anniversary.”

“You don’t have to answer this, but what was your job?” He phrases the question carefully.

“To satisfy whatever urges his crew or potential new clients,” I can’t stop my voice from shaking.

“Did you choose this job?” His question nearly sends me into anger.

“Who chooses that job? I was tortured and raped. I can’t even-“ I stop myself. Yoongi’s hand lands on my knee, squeezing comfortingly.

“You can’t what?” It’s Yoongi this time, his voice hesitant.

“Use my tail,” My voice is small and broken. I didn’t want to talk about it.

“W-what do you mean?” Even Namjoon seems stumped by that one.

“Not long after I got there, less than a year, I tried to escape. It’s why they started chaining me. It part of my punishment. It’s best I just show you,” A sob nearly chokes me. I stand robotically and turn, lifting the shirt enough to show my tail. It’s a broken, twisted mess. It’s basically shaped like a bow, zip ties used to hold it in place until it healed that way. I feel numb as I lower the shirt.

“You’re safe here,” Namjoon’s voice calming, like his scent,” Yoongi, you should take her to see Jin. She needs medical care to make sure there are no other issues.”

“Namj-“ The door behind me opens and I turn to see the black haired rabbit,” Sorry, didn’t know they were here.”

Now that we’re here, away from the mansion, I can catch his scent. It reminds me of a salty ocean breeze. The shock comes at realizing he’s a Beta. Rabbits are almost exclusively Omegas.

“We didn’t get a chance to meet earlier,” The rabbit offers me a smile, little bunny teeth on display,” I’m Jungkook.”

“Y/N,” I find it hard to meet his eyes. I’ve been too well trained, I guess.

“C’mon, pretty girl,” Yoongi hops to his feet and reaches for my hand,” Lets go see the doc.”

This time, we end up in a normal looking car. While he drives, Yoongi fiddles with the radio, looking for something he wants to listen to. Once it stops on a station, he offers me his hand. I take it quickly, his touch bringing comfort. I play with his fingers, trying to quell my nerves about meeting another unknown person. When he parks the car, I can feel anxiety rearing its’ ugly head.

“Hey,” His voice is soft,” I’ll stay with you, if that’s what you want. I won’t leave you.”

“Why-“ My voice breaks,” Why me?”

“Hmm?” His ear flicks, obviously confused.

“You’ve comforted me so much, but I don’t deserve that,” My lower lip trembles, despite my best attempts.

“Come here, Kitten,” He unlatches our seat belts and pulls me on to his side of the car. He leans his seat back and suddenly, our noses almost touching. My breath catches as his dark eyes peer up at me.

“With everything going on, you may not have noticed. You,” He bumps my nose with his, his hands resting comfortably on my sides,” are my mate. Our mate.”

My eyes go wide, the scattered and missing pieces suddenly making sense. In my daze, my Omega took a little control and nuzzled into his neck, my nose lightly nudging his scent gland. He lets out a breath, his arms wrapping around me gently.

“I’ll always be here,” My head lulls to the side, a whimper leaving me, as he nuzzles my scent gland. His lips brush it gently, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

“We should probably go in,” My voice is breathless, broken up by soft purrs.

“Probably,” I curl up on his chest. One of his hands trails up and down my spine, causing a content purr to leave me.

The ringing of his phone rudely interrupts us. He sighs and fumbles a little, managing to get it from his pocket. He answers and presses it to his ear.

“What?” His tone is grumpy,” Okay, okay, we’re coming.”

We clamber out of the car, his hand, once again, reaching for mine. He pulls me along, leading me through the small clinic. His knuckles tap on the door in front of us. It opens quickly.

“Come on it,” Gray-black fox ears nestle on a mop of blonde hair. A floral scent, orange blossom and lilies, permeates from the Omega,” I’m Dr. Kim Seokjin. Mates know me as Jin.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Y/N,” I peek up at his face for a few seconds, but I quickly feel awkward.

“Lets look you over and make sure you’re okay, hmm?” Jin’s voice is cheery.

The exam feels like it takes forever and parts of me fill with fear. Yoongi stays the whole time, holding my hand or petting my hair. When he gets to my tail, I can hear him gasp.

“That’s horrible,” His voice is broken,” So, for your tail, I’ll have to straighten it out. I can give you some meds and do it now. It should be healed by morning.”

I take the offered meds, which hit fast due to my hybrid metabolism. The next twenty minutes are grueling. I can feel him working, feel the bones breaking and readjusting.

“How are you feeling?” Jin asks when he’s done.

“Sleepy,” I answer honestly, struggling to stifle a yawn.

“You did so good, Kitten,” Yoongi’s voice is soft as his eyes meet mine,” Lets go home.”

He lifts me gently. I can hear them speaking but I can’t interpret their words, my brain too exhausted. The gentle motion of his walking lulls me to sleep, my head resting on his shoulder.

[sugaimhome]

mars - chapter one

genre : sci - fi, lots of smut, fluff, angst, slight yandere ngl

pairing: ot7 non idol bts x reader (this one focuses on taehyung)

summary: you’ve been friends with the members of the mars exploration team for years now, despite having known them for so long new feelings emerge in the isolation of life on mars.

warnings: sexual content, oral (female receiving) , fingering, slight dom + sub thingy going on, voyeurism.

words: 2.2k

A/N - i’ve proof read but I don’t have a proof reader so its a bit of a shit show i can imagine. i also haven’t quite figured out the timeline of this in my head so if it keeps changing i’m sorry [:

part: 1/?

“Palaeontologist and Genesisit to command room please” Taehyung calls over the speaker.

“Couldn’t he have just said my name?” you ask Yoongi who is, as you were a moment ago, half way through writing a sentence in his report paper. He just shrugs, only half listening. You tell him you’ll be back in 10 minutes, he doesn’t reply to that either. You sulk on the way to the command room, wishing you didn’t get ignored by Yoongi all the time.

The walk across the centre courtyard was chilly, you wish you’d picked up your jacket from the back of your office chair, you cross your arms and pick up your pace. It takes two times for your fingerprint to scan, your cursing under your breath when the door finally opens into the lobby, the air sucks around you, the familiar beeping of the “clean” buzzer allows a rush of warm air to hit you. You exhale in relief. 

“Good morning Palaeontologist and Genesist” Taehyung smiles from behind his computer screen. He looks like he’s up to mischief. 

“Do you want to keep calling me by my formal name or are you going to address me normally?” you ask, a tad of annoyance in your voice.

“I don’t know, all the “ist’s” make you sound cleverer than you are, and we’re broadcasting this home so formal is the code is it not, Palaeontologist and Genesit?”

Your heart drops. A broadcast home? You suddenly feel guilty for making Taehyung look disrespected. “Yes sir” you agree as you sit down. A light smirk covers his lips.

“Headquarters requires your report.” he pauses, pushing his glasses back onto his nose and biting his lip. “The report that's already late.”

Inside you're panicking, but you manage to calmly say. “I’ve been struggling to report on something that hasn’t changed. Animal DNA is still as stable as it was two months ago. Animal behaviours seem normal, other than the mating season,” a blush covers your cheeks. “Everything is how we would expect” Taehyung raises an eyebrow at you, the final straw in your decision to give him a punch later. “Sir” you finish. He presses the spacebar on his computer.

“Brilliant, thank you Y/N I'll send it off now” he's still smiling. 

“You, Kim Taehyung, are insufferable” you resort. He only chuckles. 

“I have a mission for you” You’re suddenly a lot more interested than you were a moment ago. You had been getting bored of doing the same thing over and over again, a mission sounded wonderful. “Can you send a voice over for everyone to meet here, we have an new announcement from HQ”

Though a small mission you’re happy to comply, pressing the voice over button and voicing over the speakers. “Can Botanist Yoongi, Biochemist Seokjin, Doctor Namjoon, Geologist Jimin, Hydrologist Jungkook and Marine Biologist Hoseok make their way to the command room.”

“Very funny” Taehyung comments sarcastically before snatching the still running audio device from you. “Hurry up Mars Expedition Team, we have headquarters news and a change of mission to report.” He turns the device off.

“Bet that Jungkook is the first here.” you suggest.

“Bet that Yoongi is last.” He replies. You admit, his bet is probably more likely. 

“What are we betting on?” you smile as he leans over you to place the audio device back where it belongs on his desk. He whispers into your ear, 

“If you lose you have to give head, and if I lose I have to give head.” He suggests, your breath gets caught in your throat. It's been like this for months now, this back and forth, you're just about to agree when the buzzer goes off in the hatch and Jungkook walks in. He almost swaggers into the room, he mentions something about being first as you move a professional distance from Taehyung with a smile on your face. 

Jimin is next, "I was in the middle of a sample experiment,"

"Sorry doctor rocks" Jungkook taunts, he gets a gentle slap around the head as a response and as he's fixing his hair the buzzer rings again. 

"Look who I found in the courtyard" it's Hoseok, followed by Yoongi, who after scouting the people in the room looks extremely proud to not be last. He scrunches his nose a little.

As he greets everyone you can almost feel Taehyung's annoyed aura. Yoongi had redeemed himself after ignoring you earlier. 

Namjoon and Jin filter in a couple minutes later, both complaining about being in the middle of something.

“This better be good” Yoongi claps his hands. Rubbing them together in mock excitement, or perhaps genuine excitement, you could never tell with him. 

“They are debating moving on to phrase two” Taehyung announces and in response the whole room falls quiet.

“You’re having a laugh” Seokjin's mouth almost falls open in shock.

“Nope” Taehyung looks torn, this experiment has been the sole reason for his existence for the past 5 and a half years, but he is as aware as the others that this operation is still very new, and could easily take a curveball. In response the room interrupts into complaints and worries, theories and gaps in theories. “The final vote comes down to us, we just have to write it in our next reports.” Taehyung reveals.

“It's madness” you say, everyone is on the same train of thought as you.

“Considering we are on the same page, this meeting is dismissed. See you all later.”

“Hoseok, Namjoon, Seokjin, Yoongi and I will be out on a scouting mission this afternoon Taehyung” Jimin announces, it had been a while since he had needed more experimental material, Taehyung only nods.

“See you in the morning then team.” One by one everyone slowly filters out the room, you give Taehyung a smile and wink before exiting behind Yoongi. He looks annoyed.

…

It was often that other members of the team went out to scout for material, be it within the terrarium or not it gave you the time to be alone for just a moment. As you walk to Taehyung's office you bump into Jungkook.

“Good Evening y/n” he greets you. “Fancy a movie after dinner tonight?”

“Sounds good, I heard there was a new Marvel movie, do you think it would have been uploaded to our satellites yet?” you ask, hoping to keep him occupied for half an hour so you could receive your winnings from the bet.

“I’ll have a look,” he responds, smiling. “See you later Y/N”

Jungkook had a special place in your heart, though not much younger than you he always felt as if he was much younger than he was, he was so polite, didn’t understand naughty jokes and was sometimes so oblivious to the world you just wanted to keep him safe. It is often you were the one to give him a nudge in interviews when he zones out or starts swinging on his chair or something. He can never keep still. Though you don’t think of him for long as your mind wanders to Taehyung again. 

This time your walk across the courtyard was less chilly, you’d made sure to pick up your jacket and over the day the sun had slowly warmed the biosphere. Your fingerprint scans on the first attempt, it must be a good omen. 

The command room is empty. You can’t help but feel betrayed by Taehyung. Perhaps he had gone out with the others and hadn’t got the chance to communicate it across to you? You shrug, about to leave when you feel the urge to sit at his desk. The budget of this experiment had, in places, put a halt on the comforts of the place. Taehyung's office chair was memory foam and the most comfortable of them all. After slumping down into the chair it's obvious that Taehyung has been here very recently, it's still warm. The budget definitely did not have leverage for heated chairs. “Taehyung?” you call, half expecting him to appear from under a meeting chair or even to fall from the ceiling. You look up to check just in case. 

“Tae?” you call again. No reply.

You huff. You’d been looking forward to this all day and hadn’t planned to be playing hide and seek. You debate leaving to find Jungkook for that movie night when the buzzer goes off in the Lobby and Taehyung is revealed leaning back against the outside door.

You freeze, feeling suddenly guilty. 

“Like a deer in headlights” he comments. “Were you going to sit there all night and wait for me?”

“I’ve only been here two minutes” you reply, trying to sound confident, but your voice is wavering a little. Cursing yourself, you move to stand up. “I suppose you’ll want your chair back.” 

“No, I quite like you there.” Taehyung replies. “Plus you’re missing a word”

Heat rushes to your cheeks “Sir.”

“Good Girl” he murmurs, walking into the room. He runs his hand along the top of all the meeting chairs, when he reaches the one with your name intricately inscribed into its back he pulls it out and sits down. Your stomach tightens. You’ve switched roles but somehow Taehyung holds all the power. “I was thinking about our deal earlier-” 

“Bet” You interrupt, there is a difference between a bet and a deal. A deal is a mutual agreement, a bet when one comes out over the other.

“I was thinking about our bet then.” he continues, leaning forward on his chair, you never quite realised how close your chairs were in meetings. 

“You were?” you ask in anticipation.

He doesn’t reply. After a few moments he stands from your chair, walking around the table to stand in front of you in his chair. Butterflies flutter around your body, your skin painfully goosebumped. Resorting to wiggling in your chair to get even a drop of pleasure and contact, Taehyung turns his lip up at you.

“So pathetically desperate” he comments “It’s disgusting.”

He drops to his knees, causing you to suck in a breath as he uses the palms of his hands to pull your legs apart. “I think it's unfair you get all the pleasure tonight.”

He’s undoing the button of your pants now, taking his time to pull down the zipper. As you rise to let him pull them down around to your ankles you comment “don’t be such a sorry loser”

He hums, pressing a thumb to your clit. The sudden contact is shocking and you try to push back on the wheels of the chair but they're locked. “So desperate to be touched and now you want to move away?” 

“I’m sensitive” you hiss, in response Taehyung only pushes his thumb harder.

“You’re all swollen.” 

“Been thinking about it all day, sir” you whine, no longer caring if you sound desperate.

“I bet they could all smell you” he comments, looking away from your cunt to mark your reaction.

“Don’t be silly Tae.”

“Bet they all wondered who got you all worked up” He presses little kisses to the inside of your knees, slowly working up your thighs. You have no words to respond with. “I am uncomfortable here, move to the desk.” 

Part of you wants to decline him, you like the feeling of being in his chair, but he had made it clear when you started this, he was in charge. So you do as you're told, accepting his hand as you sit bare on the edge of his desk. “Perfect” he says as he pulls his chair in front of you, pulling on the lever so he's at the lowest level. He leans forward and presses a kiss right to your clit. You jump in anticipation, one hand flying to the messy mop of his hair and the other to his desk, you knock something on your hand, distantly something makes a clicking noise. You quickly forget as he runs his tongue from your entrance to your clit, whilst circling the bud a few times he toys one finger at your entrance. “Already dripping wet.” he smirks, you're almost embarrassed and attempt to shut your legs.

“Don’t be shy.” he groans, your legs prevented from closing with the width of his shoulders “it’s hot.”

“Mmh” you respond, earning a low laugh from him. 

“You like that huh? Being so bare and vulnerable in front of me?” Taehyung had always been so good at saying the correct things, in making everything seem so much more sensual with a few words.

With the intensity of the moment you can only nod.

“Wonder if your legs would stay open if someone else came in right now” 

Involuntary you clench. “Huh?” you ask. He pushes a finger inside you, wiggling it about a little. His finger feels so soft inside of you.

“Would you let them touch you?” he's looking right up at you now, eyes locking with yours, waiting for a reaction.

You shake your head but your cunt pulses, giving you away. You whimper, how did you become so vulnerable? So needy? When did you start falling for Taehyung's traps?

“Whore” He sneers. Pushing another finger into you. “So dirty. Would let all the members touch you.”

You shudder, his fingers begin to move in and out your pussy. “What about Jungkook? He's not gone out tonight” 

You shake your head, a moan that had been stuck in your throat escaping. “Would you let him fuck you over my desk as I watched?”

“Taehyung you-” he interrupts your flow of words by removing his fingers and giving a slap to your pussy.

“I know” he continues as he pushes his fingers back in, three this time. “You don’t want cock.” his other hand comes to circle your clit. In shock you almost fall back on his desk. “But you want tongues and fingers, and if we had them you’d want all the toys in the world, wouldn’t you?” You have no words, not even a moan to give him. 

“That's what I thought” he smirks. He moves to place his tongue on your clit but you tangle a hand in his hair, stopping him in his tracks.

“Too much” you whine, starting to feel the knot in your stomach tighten. 

“Why would I care, this is what you wanted isn’t it?” he questions, using his free hand to remove your fingers from his hair and holding your hand in his, there’s nothing romantic in the gesture it's just restrictive. You moan. 

He smirks in response, kissing the side of your thigh before attaching his lips to your bud. You go to say something, anything, to get him to calm down but instead of words moan after moan escapes your lips.

There was one thing about Taehyung, he was cocky. Every time his head or fingers were between your legs you tried to not let it show how pleased you were, he’d never let you forget it. Today, moans tumble off your lips with no remorse. He smirks against you, humming in humour, the vibrations echo up your core.

You crumble. Everything goes black around you, white spots dance in the corner of your eyes and your body shakes in pleasure. Taehyung doesn’t let up his attack. You're overstimulated when you try to move away from him. He stops you with one hand around your ass. “One more, Y/N”

“Can’t-” you say, your voice betraying you. The initial overstimulation pain dwindles away and intense pleasure starts again. 

“Pretend I’m Jungkook this time” He says, twisting his fingers to hit a new angle inside of you and you're falling apart again. Your core is clenching and unclenching around Taehyung's fingers, or was it Jungkooks? You're so far out of it, neck thrown back, you can’t even remember who's between your legs.

“Fuck me” Taehyung laughs, it’s a smile you don’t see on him often. “That was something else”

Your voice is hoarse. You can’t speak.

“It's a good job everyone went out, I’ve never heard you moan so much” You blush in response.

“Sorry” you mumble. “Was good, thank you”

Your brain seems miles away from you, it could be at home on earth for all you know, the room was blurry, Taehyung's movements as he pulls you from the table and pulls your trousers back up seem distant. You focus on using your wobbly legs to keep upright. He’s so close, with his arms around your armpits to keep you upright, it looks like you're about to kiss but that would be pushing the boundaries, wouldn’t it? You can feel his breath on your lips though. 

Then he’s gone, you're sure you fall asleep, when you wake up 5 minutes later, you're sitting on your meeting chair and Taehyung is nowhere to be seen. You curse under your breath.

parts: masterlist 

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next (coming soon)

[donttalkaboutmemes]

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) Sentence Meme

Under the cut you will find 180+ sentences from Atlantis: The Lost Empire to use for your enjoyment!    

1.      “You fool! You’ve destroyed us all!”

2.      “The wave is gaining! We have to warn Atlantis!”

3.      “Good afternoon, gentlemen. First off, I’d like to thank this board for taking the time to hear my proposal.”

4.      “We’ve all heard of the legend of Atlantis, a continent somewhere in the mid-Atlantic that was home to an advance civilization possessing technology far beyond our own.”

5.      “Some of you may ask, why Atlantis? It’s just a myth, isn’t it? Pure fantasy?” Well, that is where you’d be wrong.”

6.      “Numerous ancient cultures all over the globe agree that Atlantis possessed a power source of some kind, more powerful than steam. Than coal.”

7.      “I propose that we find Atlantis, find that power source, and bring it back to the surface.”

8.      “This is a page from an illuminated text that describes a book called the Shepher’s Journal, said to have been a first-hand account of Atlantis and its exact whereabouts.”

9.      “Uh, would you gentlemen please excuse me for a moment?”

10.   “Showtime. Well, this is it. I am finally getting out of this dungeons.”

11.   “If I ever heard the word Atlantis again, I’ll step in front of a bus!”

12.   “This museum funds scientific expeditions based on facts, not legends and folklore.”

13.   “I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but this is a letter of resignation! If you reject my proposal, I’ll quit.”

14.   “You have a lot of potential. Don’t throw it all away chasing fairy tales.”

15.   “I can prove Atlantis exists!”

16.   “You want to go on an expedition? Here. Take a trolley to the Potomac and jump in! Maybe the cold water will clear your head.”

17.   “Who are you? How did you get in here?”

18.   “I’m acting on behalf of my employer, who has a most intriguing proposition for you. Are you interested?”

19.   “You will stand unless asked to be seated. Keep your sentences short and to the point. Are we clear?”

20.   “Relax. He doesn’t bite. Often.”

21.   “He brought that package to me years ago. He said if anything were to happen to him, I should give it to you when you were ready. Whatever that means.”

22.   “This journal is the key to finding the lost continent of Atlantis!”

23.   “Atlantis? Ha! I wasn’t born yesterday.”

24.   “I’ve spent my whole life studying dead languages. It’s not gibberish to me.”

25.   “My grandfather would have known if this were a fake. I would know. I will stake everything I own, everything that I believe in, that this is genuine.”

26.   “I’ll show them! I will make them believe!”

27.   “Forget the rowboat, son. We’ll travel in style.”

28.   “For years your granddad bent my ear with stories about that old book. I didn’t buy it for a minute.”

29.   “Your grandpa was a great man. You probably don’t realize how great.”

30.   “He died a broken man. If I could bring back just one shred of proof, that’d be enough for me.”

31.   “You know, in order to do what you’re proposing, you’re gonna need a crew.”

32.   “All we need now is an expert in gibberish.”

33.   “You can build on the foundation your grandfather left you, or you can go back to your boiler room.”

34.   “Our lives are remembered by the gifts we leave our children.”

35.   “Carrots. Why is there always carrots? I didn’t even eat carrots.”

36.   “Excuse me? I need to…uh…report in?”

37.   “Blondie, I got a bone to pick with you.”

38.   “You done stuffed my wagon full to bustin’ with nonessentials. Look at all this! Cinnamon, oregano, cilantro. What in the cockadoodle is cilantro?”

39.   “I got your four basic food groups! Beans, bacon, whiskey, and lard!”

40.   “All right, cowboy. Pack it up and move it out.”

41.   “Hey, junior. If you’re looking for the pony rides, they’re back there.”

42.   “Boy, when you settle a bet, you settle a bet.”

43.   “Your granddad always believed you couldn’t put a price on the pursuit of knowledge.”

44.   “Make us proud, boy!”

45.   “You ask too many questions. Who are you? Who sent you? Speak up!”

46.   “Do not be such a crybaby. Hold still.”

47.   “This is an outrage! You must leave at once!”

48.   “Now what have I told you about playing nice with the other kids?”

49.   “Get back! I got soap and I’m not afraid to use it!”

50.   “Back, foul creature! Back to the pit from which you came!”

51.   “Nice, isn’t it? The catalogue says that this little beauty can saw through a femur in 28 seconds. I’m bettin’ I can cut that time in half.”

52.   “How about some slides? The first slide is a depiction of a creature. A creature so frightening that sailors were said to be driven mad by the mere sight of it.”

53.   “Geez, I used to take lunch money from guys like this.”

54.   “This is an illustration of the Leviathan, the creature guarding the entrance to Atlantis.”

55.   “With something like that, I would have white wine.”

56.   “It’s a mythical sea serpent. He’s described in the book of Job. The Bible says out of his mouth go burning lights, sparks of fire shoot out.”

57.   “Do you want to do my job? Be my guest.”

58.   “We took a big hit down here, and we’re taking on water fast! I don’t wanna be around when it hits the boilers!”

59.   “You heard the lady! Let’s move!”

60.   “He took his suitcase? Honey, I don’t think he’s coming back.”

61.   “Seven hours ago we started this expedition with two hundred of the finest men and women I’ve ever known. We’re all that’s left.”

62.   “I won’t sugar-coat it, gentlemen. We have a crisis on our hands.”

63.   “We’ve been up this particular creek before and we’ve always come through, paddle or no paddle. I see no reason to change that policy now.”

64.   “Looks like all our chances for survival rest with you. You and that little book.”

65.   “Will you look at the size of this? It’s gotta be half a mile high, at least. It must have taken hundred, no, thousands of years to carve this thing.”

66.   “Two for flinching.”

67.   “That thing is going to keep me up all night. I know it.”

68.   “There you go. Put some meat on them bones.”

69.   “You’re so skinny if you turned sideways and stuck out your tongue, you’d look like a zipper.”

70.   “You know, we’ve been pretty tough on the kid. What do you say we cut him some slack?”

71.   “Don’t you ever close that book?”

72.   “In this passage here, the shepherd seems to be leading up to something. He calls it the Heart of Atlantis. It could be the power source legends refer to.”

73.   “Sometimes I get a little carried away, but hey you know, that’s what this is all about. I mean, discovery, teamwork, adventure. Unless, maybe you’re just in it for the money.”

74.   “I guess I’m still a little rusty at this. I haven’t gone camping since…well…the last time my grandpa took me.”

75.   “I never got to meet your grandfather. What was he like?”

76.   “No offense, but how does a teenager become the chief mechanic of a multi-million dollar expedition?”

77.   “I took this job when my dad retired, but the funny thing was he always wanted sons, right? One to run his machine shop and the other to be middleweight boxing champion. He got my sister and me instead.”

78.   “It was like a sign from God. I found myself in that boom.”

79.   “Trust me on this, you don’t wanna know. Don’t tell him. You shouldn’t have told me, but you did, and now I’m telling you, you don’t wanna know.”

80.   “All right, who’s not dead? Sound off.”

81.   “Who are you strangers and where did you come from?”

82.   “Your manner of speech is strange to me.”

83.   “Bout time someone hit him. I’m just sorry it wasn’t me.”

84.   “How do they know all these languages?”

85.   “Maybe English is in there somewhere.”

86.   “We are explorers from the surface world. We come in peace.”

87.   “Welcome to the city of Atlantis.”

88.   “There were not supposed to be people down here. This changes everything.”

89.   “You know the law. No outsiders may see the city and live.”

90.   “Your majesty? On behalf of my crew, may I say it is an honor to be welcomed to your city.”

91.   “You presume much to think you are welcome here.”

92.   “I know what you seek and you will not find it here. Your journey has been in vain.”

93.   “Some obstacles cannot be removed with a mere show of force.”

94.   “Return to your people. You must leave Atlantis at once.”

95.   “May I respectfully request that we stay one night, sir? That would give us time to rest, resupply, and be ready to travel by morning.”

96.   “Your heart has softened. 1,000 years ago you would have slain them on sight.”

97.   “1,000 years ago the streets were lit and our people did not have to scavenge for food at the edge of a crumbling city!”

98.   “We were once a great people. Now we live in ruins. The kings of our past would week if they could see how far we have fallen.”

99.   “If these outsiders can unlock the secrets of our past, perhaps we can save our future.”

100. “What they have to teach us we have already learned.”

101.   “Our way of life is dying.”

102.   “Our way of life is preserved. When you take the throne, you will understand.”

103.    “The king and his daughter don’t exactly see eye to eye. She seems to like us okay, but the king…I don’t know. I think he’s hiding something.”

104.     “If he’s hiding something, I want to know what it is.”

105.     “Someone needs to talk to that girl.”

106.     “I have some questions for you and I’m not leaving this city until they’re answered.”

107.      “I have some questions for you and you are not leaving this city until they are answered.”

108.      “There is so much to ask about your world.”

109.      “You are a scholar, are you not? Judging from your diminished physique and large forehead, you are clearly suited for nothing else.”

110.       “How did you get here? Well, I mean, not you personally but your culture. How did all of this end up down here?”

111.        “It is said that the gods became jealous of Atlantis. They sent a great cataclysm and banished up here.”

112.        “All I can remember is the sky going dark and people shouting and running. Then a bright light, like a star, floating about the city. My father said it called my mother to it.”

113.        “Are you telling me that you remember because you were there. No that’s…that’s impossible.”

114.        “How is it you found your way to this place?”

115.        “If it weren’t for this book, we never would have made it.”

116.       “Legend has it that your people possessed a power source of some kind that enable them.”

117.      “You mean you can understand this? This right here, you can read this?”

118.       “Such knowledge has been lost to us since the time of the flood.”

119.       “Follow the narrow passage for another league. There you will find the fifth marker.”

120.     “It looks like some sort of vehicle, but no matter what I try, it will not respond.”

121.     “That’s an easy thing to miss. You know, you deserve credit for even getting this far.”

122.      “This is great! With this thing I could see the whole city in no time at all!”

123.      “My grandpa used to tell me stories about this place as far back as I can remember. I just wish he could be standing here with me.”

124.    “Don’t forget to eat the head. That’s where all the nutrients are.”

125.    “The most we ever hoped to find was some crumbling buildings, maybe some broken pottery. Instead we find a living, thriving society.”

126.    “We are not thriving. True, our people live, but our culture is dying.”

127.     “We are like a stone the ocean beats against. With each passing year, a little more of us is worn away.”

128.      “I have brought you to this place to ask you for your help. There is a mural here with writing all around the pictures.”

129.      “You do swim, do you not?”

130.      “This is amazing! A complete history of Atlantis!”

131.      “It’s the heart of Atlantis!”

132.     “Don’t you get it? The power source I’ve been looking for, the bright light you remember. They’re the same thing!”

133.      “What’s going on? What’s with all the guns?”

134.      “I am such an idiot. This is just another treasure hunt for you.”

135.      “I would’ve told you sooner, but it was strictly on a need-to-know basis. And, well, now you know.”

136.      “I had to be sure you were one of us. Welcome to the club, son.”

137.      “I’m no mercenary.”

138.      “I prefer the term adventure capitalist.”

139.       “You’re the one who got us here. You led us right to the treasure chest.”

140.       “What’s to know? It’s big. It’s shiny. It’s going to make us all rich.”

141.        “You think it’s some kind of a diamond. I thought it was some kind of battery. But we’re both wrong.”

142.        “That crystal is the only thing keeping these people alive. You take that away and they’ll die.”

143.       “Academics. You never want to get your hands dirty.”

144.      “Think about it. If you gave back every stolen artifact from a museum, you’d be left with an empty building. We’re just providing a necessary service to the archeological community.”

145.     “Do yourself a favor. Don’t be like him. For once, do the smart thing.”

146.      “You will destroy yourselves.”

147.      “I suggest you put a bandage on that bleeding heart of yours. It doesn’t suit a mercenary.”

148.     “The heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of her king.”

149.     “You don’t have the slightest idea what this power is capable of.”

150.     “I can think of a few countries who’d pay anything to find out.”

151.     “All it says here is that the crystal is alive somehow.”

152.     “Why don’t you translate and I’ll wave the gun around.”

153.     “Hold your horses, lover boy.”

154.     “So this is how it ends, huh? Fine. You win. You’re wiping out an entire civilization but, hey, you’ll be rich.”

155.      “That’s what it’s all about, right? Money.”

156.      “Get off your soapbox. You’ve read Darwin. It’s called natural selection. We’re just helping it along.”

157.     “Look at it this way, son. You were the man who discovered Atlantis, and now you’re part of the exhibit.”

158.     “Be serious. This is wrong and you know it.”

159.    “We’re this close to our biggest payday ever and you pick now of all times to grow a conscience.”

160.    “We’ve done a lot of things we’re not proud of. Robbing graves, plundering tombs, double parking. But nobody got hurt. Well, maybe somebody we got hurt, but nobody we knew.”

161.     “She has been chosen. Like her mother before her.”

162.     “In times of danger the crystal will choose a host. One of royal blood to protect itself and its people. It will accept no other.”

163.     “The crystal thrives on the collective emotions of all who came before us. In return, it provides power, longevity, protection.”

164.     “In my arrogance I sought to use it as a weapon of war, but it’s power proved too great to control. It overwhelmed us and led to our destruction.”

165.     “That’s why you hid it beneath the city, to keep history from repeating itself.”

166.     “If she remains bonded to the crystal, she could be lost to it forever.”

167.    “The love of my daughter is all I have left.”

168.    “My burden would have become hers when the time was right, but now it falls to you.”

169.    “Return the crystal. Save Atlantis. Save my daughter.”

170.    “I followed you in and I’ll follow you out. It’s your decision.”

171.    “I think we’ve seen how effective my decisions have been.”

172.    “Let’s recap. I lead a band of plundering vandals to the greatest archeological find in recorded history thus enabling the kidnap and or murder of the royal family, not to mention personally delivering the most powerful force known to man into the hands of a mercenary nutcase who’s probably going to sell it to the Kaiser! Have I left anything out?”

173.  “It’s been my experience when you hit bottom, the only place left to go is up.”

174.  “I didn’t say it was the smart thing, but it is the right thing.”

175.  “We better make sure he doesn’t hurt himself.”

176.  “This is it! We’re going to rescue the princess! We’re going to save Atlantis! Or we’re going to die trying!”

177.   “I love it when I win.”

178.  “We were in this together! You promised me a percentage!”

179.  “I have to hand it to you. You’re a bigger pain in the neck than I would have ever thought possible.”

180. “I consider myself an even-tempered man. It takes a lot to get under my skin, but congratulations! You just won the solid-gold kewpie doll!”

181.  “That’s a darn shame, because I’m just getting warmed up!”

182.   “Atlantis will honor your names forever. I only wish there was more we could do for you.”

183.  “You sure you want to stay? There’s a heroes welcome waiting for the man who discovered Atlantis.”

184.  “I don’t think the world needs another hero.”

185.   “Let’s go over it again, just so we got it straight. You didn’t find anything?”

186.  “I hope this piece of proof is enough for you.”

[happyinjection]

♠️♥️High Card Short Story 4 “The Hectic Daily Life of Wendy Sato” (1/3)♦️♣️

Wendy, who just barely made it in time to work, got caught red-handed by Leo...

Original: https://twitter.com/highcard_pj/status/1536906606146818049

Author: https://twitter.com/poipheno

Artist: https://twitter.com/ebimoji3

—I was at my parents’ dojo, aged less than 10 years old at that time. I was dressed in a hakama, a wooden sword in my hand, in a middle stance. Standing in front of me was my father. He was also holding a wooden sword, but he wasn’t ready in position. His face was covered in a black haze, and thus his expression could not be seen. Though, by looking at how his lips were set in a straight line, I could tell that he was not smiling. I swung my sword at my father’s face.

One shall raise their sword in response to an attack.

Yet my father did not budge.

Before I knew it, I realized that my hands were going numb. The sword fell off my hand and clattered on the floor right in front of me, who was crouching down. Tears spilled out before I could hold them back.

“It is my greatest misfortune that you are my successor.”

The black haze which hid his face revealed a single floating yellow eye not unlike a hunting bird soaring through the night.

—I knew very well that my father would never say such things. This, was the weakness of my heart.

♠️♥️♦️♣️

“Mhm, mhm. Thanks. Seems like I can make it just in time.”

I was still in bed. Through the phone, my father asked if I had time for breakfast.

“I-I’ll have my breakfast. Don’t worry too much, dad. I’ve got to go now, see ya.”

I glanced at the clock. Had my father not called me, I would have been running very late. Quickly, I dashed to the washbasin.

—After a few quick preparations, I hastily picked up my bag and shoved my feet into my heels. As my hand grabbed on the doorknob, it suddenly hit me.

“Wait! I forgot something important!”

Under the dim lighting of the room was my X-playing card—the Ace of Spades, laying on my bed. Reflecting the morning sun like a mirror, this card never gets damaged.

People could utilize the cards in various ways, yet I couldn’t help but think of them as a bestower of doom. However, that was also a proof of my weakness.

—You must remain strong.

I slapped my face with both hands. I accidentally hit them harder than I thought I would, and my cheeks began to heat up from the impact.

“...Alright! Let’s do our best again today!” Pocketing my card, I walked out of the house, almost tripping in the process.

♠️♥️♦️♣️

“Good morning!”

When I made it to the Old Maid branch office, I saw Bernard-san in front of the shop, a broom in hand.

“Wendy-san. You’d better hurry inside.”

“On it!”

I rushed into the store without wasting a beat.

“Oi, aren’t you late?”

“Uhh.....”

From the back of the store, Leo was entering the showroom, and I inevitably ran into him. He was holding a steaming cup of coffee. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I saw that I arrived one minute past the scheduled time.

“Listen, you. I’m not saying that you must never be late, but even on the event of unfortunate circumstances, you should at least make an attempt to—”

“No, no, Leo-sama. Wendy-san arrived just in time. I was watching the clock when she came in.”

Bernard-san interrupted as he suddenly appeared behind my back.

“Come, Wendy-san. Please go to your desk. I need you to do some paperwork for me.”

“O-okay.”

Leo snorted, but then he walked over to his own desk, crossing his legs as he sipped at his coffee.

At Bernard-san’s suggestion, I finally took a seat.

In a hushed voice, I said, “thanks for always helping me...”

Bernard-san deliberately raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to one side.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about... but here are the documents, so please start working on them whenever you’re ready.”

Doing a one over on the papers, I realized that they were the usual paperwork. It would be embarrassing if I require more help just to get such things done.

After starting up my laptop, I took a hairband out of the drawer and tied my hair up. I put on my blue-light blocking glasses.

“Alright.........here we go.”

It was not long after that when I caught sight of someone poking his head out from inside the kitchen. Vijay, it turned out to be. He signaled at me to come closer with a flat expression on his face.

As I wondered about what he needed me for, I got up from my seat, stealing a glance at Leo’s desk. He was still on a phone call with one of our regular clients, smiling cheerfully.

I would surely get scolded again if I left my desk not halfway done with the paperwork, I thought, so I approached him while being as quiet as possible.

“What’s the matter, Vijay?”

“This is for you.”

It was a small mug of something with a nice, cloudy brown color. Chai. Vijay had once explained its preparation process in great detail, but I had forgotten about most of it.

“We’ve got some tea leaves of good quality. Judging by how pale you look, I believe you have skipped breakfast again?”

“......I owe you one.”

When I accepted the mug, the sweet aroma of milk and sugar instantly caressed my nostrils, followed by a faint undertone of spices. As I gratefully picked it up, a strand of hair fell from behind my ear. Apparently, the knot had been too loose.

“Do you want me to fix your hair?”

“......Thank you again.”

No matter what I did, I was always relying on other people’s help.

♠️♥️♦️♣️

TL notes: I’m in no way a professional translator so if you find any mistakes, please do not hesitate to inform me right away. I love the High Card gang and I found it very unfortunate that while it is meant to be a multimedia project, I can’t seem to find the translated versions of any materials (beside the anime) anywhere (if this is against copyright, I will take it down). Hopefully this small TL would help international viewers gain better understanding of HC universe and characters. The author of these SS himself said that he hoped fans would have their “so that’s what it is!” moments when they watch the anime after reading his short stories. So with that in mind, let’s enjoy High Card together~

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Christmas Reruns 2023 Day 6: Cold Winter's Light

Merry Christmas if you celebrate it and happy holidays if you don’t!  One of the things I love about Christmas is watching reruns of all the old classic Christmas movies–Christmas is a big time for nostalgia.  A few years ago, I decided to incorporate that tradition into my fandom life and post my CS holiday reruns.  So here you go!  Enough holiday (mostly) fluff to get you to New Year’s Day. (With a new story posting on Christmas Day.)

Rating: G

Word Count: 3080

Other chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Notes: Today’s story was my 2017 CSSS gift for @treluna2. At the time it was written, it was a future fic about CS and the Charmings celebrating the traditional Enchanted Forest holiday, Winter’s Light. A visitor they were not expecting shows up during one of the worst blizzards Storybrooke had ever seen. Happy Holidays!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

December, 2028

“Have I ever told you the story of your birth, Ava mine?” Killian asked as he sat beside his daughter’s bed on the night before her tenth birthday.

“Daddy!” Ava laughed joyously.  “You tell me that story every year on my birthday.”

“Ah, well you must indulge an old man his sentimentality, little love,” Killian said, the wrinkles beside his eyes crinkling merrily as he smiled adoringly down at the little blonde.  “It was, after all one of the best—and the most terrifying nights of my life.”

“Ok daddy,” Ava conceded, “you can tell the story again.”

“Settle in,” Killian said, tucking the covers securely around his little girl, “and prepare yourself for a thrilling tale.  You were born in the midst of the worst blizzard Storybrooke has ever seen…”

Emma leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, smiling indulgently at her little family.  Killian certainly knew how to tell a good story.  He also had a flare for dramatics…and a tendency to turn any story into something of a tall tale.  Every time he told the story of their daughter’s birth the blizzard got worse, the snow got higher, the winter wind got colder, the danger became greater, his heroics became more daring.  At this rate, by the time Ava was 30, that particular Winter’s Light would be remembered as a life and death experience for everyone present.

Emma remembered it a little differently, although even the true story was something of a thrilling tale.

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

December 2018

Emma collapsed on the sofa, wondering idly if she’d ever be able to get up again.  She felt roughly the size of a beached whale, and getting up from a soft, comfortable couch without help was quite the feat.

She felt a feisty kick, and rubbed her extended belly with a smile.  “I’m so not going to miss you kicking the crap out of me all day every day, kid.”

“The little lass giving you trouble today, Swan?” Killian asked, sitting on the other side of the sofa and massaging her aching feet.

“Not more than usual,” Emma said, “although I’ve been feeling more of those ‘practice’ contractions today than I have in the past.  It’s just that she never stops moving.  And I’m tired.  And my back aches.  And I’m as big as a house.  And I’m just soooooo over this whole pregnancy thing.”

Killian leaned over and kissed her gently.  “It won’t be long now, love.  Your strength and resilience throughout all these months of being with child never ceases to astound me, and I assure you I’ve never found you more beautiful or desirable.”

She shot him a skeptical look.

“Perhaps you’d fancy a proof of just how much I want you still,” he said with a wicked raise of one eyebrow. 

She laughed.  “Tempting, but you know we have to be over at my parents’ farm in twenty minutes for their Winter’s Light party.”

A couple years after they’d defeated the Black Fairy and restored peace to Storybrooke, Snow had suggested, as part of the town’s “living our happy beginning” initiative, that the residents of Storybrooke return to some of their old Enchanted Forest traditions.  The biggest and most beloved, apparently was the holiday called Winter’s Light, which occurred on December 22.

“You see,” Snow explained to Emma, “the winter solstice is on the 21st.  It’s the shortest day of the year, so the 22nd starts the return of the light.”

“So…you have a whole holiday dedicated to it?” Emma asked.

“Yeah,” Snow said, “and it’s the best day of the year!”

“So what exactly does one do on Winter’s Light?  What kind of traditions make it the best day ever?”

Killian smiled, excited as a child.  “There’s a candle lighting ceremony, where all the candles in the house are illuminated (perhaps the custom could be modernized here in the Land Without Magic to include the electric lights you are so fond of).  The youngest child in the household lights the first candle, and then everyone sings carols of the light.”

“And there are the gifts of light, of course,” David said.  “In the evening, family and friends gather together and give each other gifts to thank them for the light they bring into their lives.”

“It really is a heartwarming tradition,” Snow concluded.  “So what do you say, Emma?  Do you think we should revive Winter’s Light?”

“Sounds like a great idea to me!”

And it was.  In the years since the tradition had been restored, Winter’s Light slowly became Emma’s favorite holiday, the day of the year she looked forward to every year.

“I suppose you’re right, love,” Killian said, getting to his feet and offering a hand to his wife.  “Your mother would not thank us for keeping them waiting.”

“No she wouldn’t!” Emma laughed.  “Besides, I think there’s snow in the forecast for tonight.  I’d rather get to the farm before that gets all ramped up.”

It was a bit of a smaller gathering for Winter’s Light this year than in times past.  Ever since Anton’s magic bean farm business got off the ground, a lot of the town opted to go back to the Enchanted Forest for Winter’s Light.  Emma and Killian arrived at the Nolan farm just as the first snowflakes began to fly, and were enthusiastically welcomed by Emma’s parents and little brother, Granny, Leroy and Archie.

“Where are the rest of your dwarf brothers?” Emma asked after receiving a cup of Winter’s Light punch from her mother.

Leroy rolled his eyes.  “Had a bit of a falling out this morning,” he said.  “Seems the others decided I was too ‘grumpy’ to spend the holiday with.  Decided to go back to the Enchanted Forest and leave me here.”

“Whatever would give them that notion?” Killian asked in mock surprise.

“Watch it, pirate!  I’ve got my eyes on you!”

“I’m positively quaking in my boots,” Killian assured.

Emma laughed, playfully shoving Killian in the opposite direction.  “You keep antagonizing him, there may be bloodshed.  The look in his eyes…ooh.”

Emma clutched at her belly.

“Swan!  Are you well, love?” Killian asked, moving her gently to the sofa.

She waved him off, breathing deeply.  “It’s fine, babe.  Don’t worry about it.  Just a little contraction.”

“Shall I call Whale?” he asked.  “You’ve been getting your pains more and more frequently all day.”

“No, no, don’t bother him,” Emma said.  “It’s passing now.  Besides, I’m not due for another week.  If I take it easy, I should be fine.”

Killian looked at her skeptically for another moment, before nodding, still looking as though he was not entirely convinced of her statements.

The festivities were well under way when the small group got their first inklings that they might be in trouble.  Not only had the snow picked up, but so had the wind.  Emma glanced out the window to see nothing but unrelenting white.  “Wow, it’s really coming down out there,” she said.  “I can’t see two feet past your porchlight, Dad.  You think one of us should go on patrol to make sure everyone’s weathering the storm alright?”

“Well if one of us does, it’s not going to be you, honey,” David said, giving her a concerned look.  “You’re in no condition to work this close to your due date.  Killian told me you’ve been having contractions all day.  Maybe instead of patrolling the town, we ought to try to get you to the hospital.”

“Killian is an over-protective mother hen,” Emma said.  “He’d have wrapped me in bubble wrap and confined me to bed for the entire pregnancy if he could have.  I’m fine Dad.  There’s nothing to be concerned ab….ooof!”

This time the contraction hit her so hard and fast she doubled over, panting.  She hadn’t remembered pre-labor pains being quite this intense when she had Henry.  Maybe…maybe her husband and her dad had a point.

“Emma!” David shouted, grabbing her arm to keep her upright just as Emma felt a gush of water flow from her.  Okay, they definitely had a point.  If her freaking water had just broken it was time to get to the hospital.  ASAP.

David settled Emma onto the couch, propping up her feet, and then went off in search of Killian.  There was suddenly a whirlwind of activity in the old farm house, as everyone prepared to move the party to the hospital waiting room.

Granny packed away the food and put it in the refrigerator.  Snow grabbed Emma’s spare overnight bag that she’d packed for the hospital.  (Emma had been prepared for any eventuality, packing an overnight back at home and another at her parents’).  David and Killian rushed outside to scrape off the truck and get it ready for maternity transport.  Archie sat with Emma, coaching her through breathing exercises.  

And Leroy ran through the house shouting “The baby!  She’s COMING!!!!!!”

“Hey, can you grab my phone?” Emma asked Archie, panting through the pain of another contraction.  “Need to give Whale the heads up.”

Archie complied, but when Emma turned the phone on…nothing happened.

“Must be the storm,” Granny said.  “Must have knocked out cell service.  I guess we’re just lucky that the electricity hasn’t gone out yet.”

The room was suddenly plunged into darkness.

Leroy glared at Granny.  “You just had to open your big mouth, didn’t you?”

“Don’t panic!” Snow said, making her way into the living room, an arm full of candles and matches in tow.  “It’s Winter’s Light, remember!  I’ve got enough candles to light up this house like the fourth of July.”

“Doesn’t matter anyway,” Emma panted, clutching her middle.  “We’ll be off to the hospital any minute anyway.”

Emma heard the front door open, and then her dad and her husband trudged in looking sober.  “I don’t think any of us are going anywhere tonight,” David said, as Killian began pacing.  “We’ve got a full-blown blizzard going on out there.  Killian and I nearly got lost just going from the front door to the truck.  We try to make our way to town, we just get stranded and risk freezing to death.”

Emma felt a weight in the pit of her stomach that had nothing to do with the contractions that were suddenly coming faster and with more intensity.  “Are you telling me I’m going to have to have this baby here?  Without a doctor?  Or an epidural?”

Killian got to his knees beside the couch and took her hand, looking reassuringly into her eyes.  “Swan, I know this isn’t ideal.  I know this isn’t how we hoped this birth would take place, but you can do this!  We, all of us, will help you.”

Another contraction ripped through her, and she had to bite her lip to keep from yelling out.  Still, Killian’s hand was warm and solid in hers.  Her mother was bustling around, preparing a bed in the spare room to be used as the birthing chamber, and Archie was heading to the kitchen, stating his intention to start boiling water.

“Why the hell would we need boiled water?” Granny asked, rolling up her sleeves and preparing to wade into the fray, as it were.

“I don’t know,” Archie said, “but it’s what people always do in movies when someone goes into labor and they’re not near a hospital.”

It was crazy and chaotic, but somehow Emma found it all comforting, even in the midst of her pain and fear.

“Perhaps we’d best hail Whale on the talking phone?” Killian suggested.

David shook his head.  “’Fraid that won’t help us at this point.  If we can’t get out, Whale won’t be able to get in.”

“Besides,” Granny said, helping Emma to her feet and into the spare room, “it’s Winter’s Light.  I guarantee you Whale’s drunk off his ass.  He wouldn’t be any help to us tonight even if it was a balmy seventy-five degrees.”

“So who exactly is going to deliver my baby?” Emma asked, hearing a touch of hysteria in her own voice.

“Well, I’ve never done it before,” Grumpy said, “but I’ve been around when Doc did it.  I could get up in there and see what’s going on if you need me.”

Killian glared.  “You, dwarf will keep your bloody mitts away from my wife’s nether regions.”

“Well maybe if you’d done the same we wouldn’t be in this situation right now, would we?” Leroy shot back.

“What I do with my wife within the confines of our bedroom is our business, and I will not discuss it…”

“Alright guys, enough,” Granny said, slashing the air.  “Look, I’m a diner owner, not a midwife, but I’ve assisted a delivery or two.  I’ve got this covered.  Now everyone clear out.  Snow and I will help Emma into something more comfortable, and if we need you, we’ll let you know.”

And thus began the longest and most painful night of Emma’s life.  The pains followed one on top of another, washing over her in waves of agony.  “How the hell did you do this without any pain meds when I was born, mom?”

Snow smoothed a cold cloth over her forehead, crooning soothingly to her.  “It wasn’t easy, but I promise you, you’ll get through this.  It’ll all be over soon, and then you’ll have your brand new baby girl in your arms.  Focus on that.  It’ll make the pain a bit more manageable.”

Finally, as the first rays of the sun began to rise, Emma heard the most beautiful words Granny had ever uttered.  “I see the head!  Won’t be long now.  Just a few more good pushes!”

Good thing too.  Emma didn’t think she’d ever been so exhausted.  “Mom, could you get Killian.  He’ll want to be here for his daughter’s birth.”

“Of course, honey,” Snow said, smoothing Emma’s sweaty hair from her forehead and kissing her gently.  “We’ll be back in just a moment.”

Killian had, of course, been by Emma’s side from the first, coaching her, encouraging her, enduring the way she crushed his hand as her contractions hit, apologizing profusely for the pain he was causing her.

“Would you just stop,” Emma finally said after around the fifteenth agonized apology.  “We both wanted this baby, and we were both there when she was conceived.  You aren’t hurting me any more than I’m hurting myself.”

Finally, sometime around three in the morning, Snow had prevailed upon Killian to go get some sleep.  “You’ll be needed when the baby’s born, Killian.  I promise I’ll find you if anything changes, but for right now there’s nothing more you can do.”

Emma breathed through one more contraction as Killian burst through the door, taking his seat at her bedside.  “Swan!  Your mother says it’s nearly time.”

“Yeah,” Emma said, as she felt another contraction ramp up.  “I don’t know if I can do this, Killian.  I’m so tired and it hurts so damn much and it just won’t stop.”

“Listen to me darling,” Killian said, looking deeply into her eyes.  “You can do this!  You’re nearly there, love, and you’ve endured the night beautifully.  You’re bloody brilliant, amazing Swan, and there’s nothing you cannot do.  Just a few more pushes.”

“Hold me,” Emma bit out as Granny instructed her to push.

Killian dutifully sat behind her, holding her in his arms, whispering encouragement and praise.  Despite the pain and exhaustion, Emma felt herself relax and focus.  Killian seemed to be pouring his own strength into her, giving her exactly what she needed.

He always knew how to give her exactly what she needed.  From the first day they’d met.  He was her strength, her anchor, her true love and her joy.  Emma felt the tears gather in her eyes, overwhelmed with the emotion of the moment.  She was about to give birth to a baby who was so very wanted, so very loved, and she was going through the whole process with her husband and her parents at her side.  It was something the lost girl had never before thought she’d have.

Finally, with one last push, Ava made her way into the world.  As soon as her airways had been cleared, she let out a strong, outraged cry, as though displeased to suddenly find herself in this bright, cold, open world. Emma smiled in wonder as the lights flickered and then came back on just as Ava finished her cry.

“Swan,” Killian said in wonder, “it would appear our daughter, the product of our true love, has magic just as strong as her mum’s.”

Emma chuckled tiredly.  “Seems that way, babe.”

After a moment of waiting, Emma collapsed back against Killian as Granny finished bathing the baby and wrapped her securely in a blanket.

“Well,” Emma asked.  “Is she okay, Granny?”

Granny turned around and passed the tiny pink bundle into her mother’s waiting arms.  “She’s more than okay,” Granny said, the emotion evident in her voice.  “She’s perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  Congratulations mom and dad!”

Half an hour later, after Emma and the room had been set to rights and Emma had been tucked comfortably into the spare room bed, she lay within the circle of Killian’s arms, tiny Ava Alice held in her arms.

“Are you happy, Killian?” she asked, smiling up at him.

He reached down and ran one tiny finger gently across little Ava’s silky cheek.  A single tear made its way down his face.  “Swan, happy doesn’t even approach it, nor overjoyed, nor ecstatic.  Look at the miracle we produced between us.  She’s perfect, a tiny wonder, already the light of my life.  Thank you for the best Winter’s Light gift any man could ever be given.”

Careful not to disturb her daughter’s slumber, Emma leaned up and kissed him gently.  “Thank you for giving her to me.  Killian we’re a family now!  The only thing that could have made this moment better is if Henry could be here with us.”

“And he will be again, Swan,” Killian assured.  “One day he’ll find his own happy ending and return.  We’re a family after all, and we always, always will be.”

NEXT CHAPTER-->

[hakirachan]

Hey guys. Hakira here. Just a rant below the cut, read if you want. Or don’t. I don’t care.

I usually don’t vent on this blog. It’s mostly full of crack, shits and giggles, which is why you probably weren’t expecting this kind of post. But I just need to explain something in case I suddenly stop posting one day. (I know you guys probably don’t care; in fact, most of y’all probs won’t see this, but I needed to post this anyways. Sorry.) It’s kinda depressing so feel free to keep scrolling now that you know that.

So, I’m at a really shitty point in my life. It feels like everyone’s against me, like I’ve got almost nobody supporting me, and I feel like I’m hated by everyone I’ve ever looked up to. I know, sooo original. Well, it’s deeper than that.

I’m still living with my parents (somehow), but it’s always been pretty toxic ever since I was a kid. As the youngest, I can guarantee that the “youngest sibling is the favorite child, oldest gets all the work” stereotype is complete bullshit. I was told to do some things that kids that age shouldn’t have had to do. At just 6-7 years old, I was forced to take heavy bags & boxes (and I mean 40-50 pounds each) of my dad’s old shit down to the curb and wait there until they got picked up by his friend (“to make sure it didn’t get blown away” or something like that) in the middle of a fucking snowstorm, with temps below -10 degrees Fahrenheit [around -23 degrees Celsius]. Almost lost my fingers from that. They made me set out & pack up most things for a family campout on my own when I wasn’t even staying at the campsite; I was staying home with a mean, nicotine-addicted (took out a cigarette the moment my parents pulled out of the driveway; refused to stop smoking even though the smoke was making my 8-year-old body nauseous) babysitter because I had a B- in one of my classes. I know this doesn’t sound that bad, but the problem is that I wasn’t even 10 when these things were happening. It’s not really anything too serious, but I was still basically ripped out of my childhood way too early. But, enough about my childhood; now my present life. I’ve relied on my friends for comfort for most of my life because of my dysfunctional home. Recently, though, my friends have become more distant and toxic. Spreading rumors, talking shit, leaving me out, and pulling pranks that go too far (like ruining the outfit I worked so hard to make the day before my band concert). I’ve only got three friends I trust; however, 2 of them I hardly talk to anymore (not because anything happened, we’ve just got different things going on in our lives). So, there’s only one real friend who’s always stuck with me. However, there’s nothing he can do about my family at home. As I said earlier, my family’s always been toxic and dysfunctional. It should have gotten better over the years, but no. It’s gotten worse. They’ve cussed me out, threatened me, and recently, I’ve even been a victim to some domestic violence. I talked to the cops about it, and to a lady from the state who deals with these kinds of things. However, since there were no visible marks and no proof of it, they couldn’t log it as abuse because they can’t just go off of what is said; they need some hard evidence to actually do anything. So, since I don’t have the money to move out of my parent’s house, I had to watch my only hope at escaping this mental and verbal (and now some physical) abuse quite literally walk out the door. I’ve been having suicidal thoughts and self-harm urges for the longest time. And, I’m ashamed to admit it because I’ve talked so many people out of it irl, but recently I have been self-harming. Thing is, while I had helped so many other people, nobody ever helped me through these dark times in my life. In fact, some people (who I helped through their trauma) literally told me to self-harm and to just kill myself when I tried venting to them. I just can’t deal with this shit anymore. I’ve tried and I’ve tried, but I can’t see the “bright side” anymore. There is no more “bright side” for me. I’m on the edge right now, literally. But I’ve got you guys to thank for getting me this far. Thank you so much for being here for me, even though I don’t usually vent, and you guys didn’t know what I’ve been going through up until now, so you weren’t actively trying to support me. Even so, thanks for appreciating me and not treating me like I’m more worthless than a dead plant. I love you all, and I hope you guys have great lives. So, if I change my mind, then I’ll see you guys later. If not…well, don’t mourn me, I’ll be in a better place. So long, guys. also im gonna give this a few days in case things get better (though let’s be honest, they’re probably not gonna) so don’t miss me just yet. If I’m gone for like, over a week, then you can assume I finally freed myself from this hell

shoutout to my mutuals, you guys are awesome and were great help to me (im not gonna pin you so you don’t feel obliged to read/reply to my dumb rant): dumb-mc-sheep cldhart08 acronym49 cricketproofreads im-an-angy-alpaca trash-opposum

And special shoutouts to my two fav mutuals (sorry other moots) @family-disappointment and @avatarofstars! You two were some of the greatest motivators for me to keep going. I’m sorry that your efforts (while unintentional) probably weren’t enough this time. I love you both and wish you both the best lives you can have! (And sorry for bothering you with the tag, just wanted you to see this last little note to you both💜)

This is Hakira, signing out.

:)

[golbrocklovely]

since twitter's dying....

here's the last bit of colby's tweets from 2019.

i don’t have proof that these are his tweets, but believe me, they are his.

if it’s bold and italicized, it’s someone’s tweet to him.

if it’s in (), that’s just me commenting lol

~~~~~~~~~~~

@/badboywolfy: Country Road gonna go down in history as a cult classic

Dec. 1 - you know it

in the middle of it all

Dec. 4 - i’ve never felt more connected to the universe than i have this past week. it’s the weirdest thing

Dec. 8 - something’s watching over me

Dec. 10 - seeing MCR perform live in 10 days and i am definitely not okay

@/andrearussett: IM SO JEALOUS

i’ll send you a video of me in the pit

Dec. 11 - i loveeee twitter (reply to someone who said something mean, i assume. bc even i back then didn't get to see the tweet lol)

i want a hairless cat

Dec. 12 - sorry truth, dyin young, demon youth

(okay from this point down, it's mostly all fans asking questions, so whatever is indented is his response)

@/ColbyBrock i hope you know that we love you a lot

Dec. 16 - and i love you all too

@/ColbyBrock how is your mental health?

Dec. 17 - you know, life always has its ups and downs and it’s been super stressful recently to be honest. but i’m happy! and that’s all that matters. things are getting better

what's the first emo song you can think of off the top of your head (the tweet said something like this, but has been deleted since)

Dec. 18 - from first to last - emily

favorite series so far

definitely the one we just filmed ! it just gets more and more intense .. i hope you’re ready

@/ColbyBrock what’s one thing you’re looking forward to in 2020 ?

focusing on positives, leaving the negative people and comments behind

(haha......... IF THEY ONLY KNEW)

@/ColbyBrock what’s ur advice for 2020

i wanna challenge people to work on spreading love instead of hate 🖤 not really advice hahah but i think the internet has turned into a darker place this past year, and i really want people to think before they speak or tweet or whatever. spread love !

@/ColbyBrock do you think you’ll dye your hair a different color soon

hahah every single day i get people wanting something different. i’ve just learned to stick with what makes me happy .. but always open to suggestions 👀👀 maybe a dark purple next ?

@/ColbyBrock do you have any plans for your birthday yet

nah. i’ve been so busy i haven’t even thought about my birthday

@/ColbyBrock do you ever get nightmares about being haunted?

all the time. my minds been fucked.. not to scare anyone but i’ve been in so many dark places and after awhile it sticks with you in a way

@/ColbyBrock do you have any regrets about past videos or are you proud of everything you’ve put out?

i’m insecure about so many videos of me on the internet i wish you all knew

(he really knows how to make me sad....)

@/ColbyBrock what do you think about us? the fandom?

i LOVE you guys. you’re hilarious. all i can ask is if people will try to get along and be kind to each other. you’re all my family, leave the negativity and mean comments behind

@/ColbyBrock you should get a dog.

ugh i wish. i wouldn’t be able to love it and care for it like i’d want to or like it would deserve

@/ColbyBrock do you ever get annoyed of us?

hahah not in the slightest. but some of you can say some pretty mean things which i try to ignore now. no point of me giving that attention ya know ? love you all tho no matter what. say whatever you want

we love you colby and im sorry abt the mean people

it’s okay 🖤 90% of people are super nice and dope and that’s all that matters. comes with the job i guess

@/ColbyBrock are you answering questions for a youtube video but giving answers now and reading the reactions??

nope! sometimes it’s fun to just respond to as many people as i can. it’s been a while

@/ColbyBrock would you rather look at the stars or listen to the rain?

i like this. probably watch the stars with someone special

@/ColbyBrock what is your favorite thing to do on your free time? do you like to write? or anything?

believe it or not i’m kinda a loner .. i like to spend time by myself. usually just listening to music or watching dumb videos on YT

@/ColbyBrock if you could say something to your younger self, what would it be?

stop being so insecure kid , you’re okay

what's one thing we don't know about you? (or something like that)

i don’t have it all together like people think. every day is a journey to find myself, and that’s okay!

@/ColbyBrock I'm dying to know… Do you write poems?

maybe a lil here and there 🤐

@/ColbyBrock whats your advice when you’re in a kind of dark spot atm 🙈

take one step at a time. everyday needs to be a work in progress. or at least that’s what i’ve been trying lately

@/ColbyBrock did you dip

i’m about to , it’s getting late. love you all tho. was good talking

i wake up sad for no reason. why?

Dec. 21 - i think i’m gunna try to hibernate for the rest of the year i’ll let you know how it goes

Dec. 23 - i’m so much like my mom , we’re like the same person it’s weird

Really im more like my dad are u a dads boy or a moms boy for me i think ur a moms boy#loveyoucolby

definitelyyyy a mommas boy

Dec. 25 - i still sit at the kids table during christmas even though i’m almost 23 years old

Dec. 26 - you deserve the world !

Dec. 27 - sorry for your loss, im glad you’re ‘over it’.. it’s super interesting how people can choose when they wanna let go. shows you and teaches you a lot about the power of the human mind in my opinion (reply to fan)

i’m looking back at pictures of me in the trap house and damn i went through a chunky phase 🤣curse you taco bell

Dec. 28 - just watched a bunch of old VHS tapes of when i was only 1 year old .. life’s a trip i’m emotional

if i can help, that’s all i want

[desertsquiet]

Album of the month - January 2023: Sunshine Boy (Sessions & Demos) - Townes Van Zandt

The first month of 2023 has felt, at times, like the culmination of one of the worst prolonged emotional and psychological states I’ve ever experienced, one that started around the middle of November. I don’t think I’m completely out of it as of right now - actually, not at all - but I can only hope those negative peaks are starting to subside or at least become less in number. At the end of December/beginning of January, I did not feel like I had anything to look forward to for the new year. Nor anything to be proud of for 2022. Being on social media and seeing people (rightly) being proud of their accomplishments or expressing whatever they were looking forward to only angered me and sent me into an awful negative spiral, because I couldn’t have been in a more vastly different place at that moment. The real optimism for the many changes that were about to come into my life I had experienced just a couple of months prior completely gone. Vanished. Like it never existed. For the first ten days of January I was still on my winter break and I kept on being as moody and miserable as ever, having just had the final proof that no matter the setting, my mental state did not change or improve in the slightest. That I was the problem, not the place or the people around me. Which made me feel even worse. About the only part of my life that didn’t feel like it was crumbling down this month was my relationship/connection to music. It didn’t offer a magical solution to my problems, but it was a very strong presence and very often the only refuge from the literal hell my brain has become. In many ways it felt like it came to my rescue, by sending me new tracks and albums I could latch on to and form new, much needed connections with. There were so many and I am grateful to each and every one of them, but at the same time I knew what album I would be writing about in this post exactly 10 minutes into it.

A collection of studio sessions/alternative takes (Disc 1) and demos (Disc 2) from 1971-1972, “Sunshine Boy” allows you the incredible privilege of peaking into an atmosphere that is not quite a live nor a studio dimension, but something in between the two. A sweet middle spot that I shouldn’t be surprised to find out fits him so well, after all. But boy if it does. I don’t even know how to describe it properly, not sure if I have the words. I am however pretty sure that it’s already one of my absolute favorite, and absolutely one of the most precious Townes recordings I can think of. Disc 1 of this is just such a pleasure to hear. He sounds so good. He sounds so confident, relaxed, in the moment, enjoying every second of it. He sounds happy. He has a talented group of musicians around him and what comes through the most, more than almost anywhere else, is his love of performing with other people and constantly feeding off each other’s energy and creativity. There’s also an edge to many of these performances that he doesn’t show very often. While still mostly acoustic, the set is a lot more uptempo than usual, with the drummer especially asserting his presence in a way that rarely happens in his music but that, here, seems to work perfectly, aggressive bluesy rhytmn guitar playing at all times and other instruments that often play a percussive role. And the two excursions into downright electric territory are absolutely to die for: such a pity that an original as cool as Sunshine Boy did not make it on any of his studio albums from that period, but it was definitely NOT for lack of quality and oh my gosh, I’m sorry but this is the best version of Who Do You Love he ever did. I’m obsessed with it. He’s also just playing around with his own songs a lot, lyrically and melodically. Whether it’s because they’re still not “finished” and he’s still experimenting to see what works better or just because he’s in such a relaxed mental place that improvising comes very naturally, the result is so cool to hear. As for Disc 2…well. I always say that some of his songs are so gentle and quiet, and the subject matter is so personal, that they almost feel *too* private and intimate. Like sometimes you even forget that you’re listening with headphones and not in the same room with him as he sings directly to you. One of those is Greensboro Woman, without a doubt. Now imagine what levels of intimacy the demo version of that song can reach. I’m not even gonna try to find the words to describe that. So I’ll just say that the entire second half of this album is something very dangerous for me and that’s naturally why I’ve been listening to it non stop for a month. I do just also want to point out how cute his cover of ‘Old Paint’ is and how great the other unreleased original ‘Diamond Heel Blues’ is. I love his blues songs and his blues guitar playing and I’m always thrilled to have more of it. I think I’ve talked enough so that’s it. I guess I enjoyed this one. Just a little bit.

[shatar-aethelwynn]

Well, the truth is that archaeologists, physicists, biological anthropologists and anthropologists have debunked as Biblically inspired pseudoscience the publication about the alleged destruction of Tall el-Hammam by some kind of "cosmic airbust" that you have invoked. And of course the identification of this site with the Biblical Sodom is totally arbitrary. See for more details https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/tall-el-hammam/ (When Biblically Inspired Pseudoscience and Clickbait Cause Looting, written by a team of archaeologists working in this area).

Interesting. I’ve read the article you linked and I am not impressed. Half of it is more about criticizing the site lead’s religious beliefs than anything else. It has a clearly pointed agenda: to reveal that there is a clear agenda. How…unoriginal. The authors raise legitimate concerns, however I find their method of doing so is as sensational and biased as they accuse everyone else of being.

If we are to throw out a large amount of research from an archaeological site for no proven reason (and I say proven because at least one of the complaints is an “appears to be” and another is “they mention Sodom too many times”) other than that the people funding it aren’t atheists, and say it’s pseudoscience then I’m sorry, but we’re going to be throwing out a lot of other research as well. Because it is an unfortunate fact of life that you will need to deal with that some people can do science and archaeology and draw sound conclusions without being atheists. And some digs will be funded by people who have religious motivations. They will often be disappointed, but the alternative is no dig. That the research gets pounced upon to “prove” the ideas of less historically minded people does not make the work itself pseudoscience. It’s all pseudoscience if the person using it manipulated the quotes they use well enough.

That there is pushback on the paper does not in any way surprise me. Congratulations, you have demonstrated how science in academia works. Should I be impressed? Next there will be a paper refuting the rebuttals. Followed by a paper calling the refutations into question. Both sides will claim the other has an agenda. As is normal for science. I will simply be sitting here going “cool! More interesting research! Love when that happens! Unfortunate that I can't math!” because I don’t feel any obligation to say “This is actually Sodom”. Or did you not notice that I pointed out that there are now two sites people are pointing to. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if in another 10 years someone else comes along and says, “well actually, they’re both wrong it’s this new site.” My entire opinion on both sites is “People lived there! Wonder what they were like. What did they wear? What did they eat? I wonder what animals they liked.” If eventually indisputable proof that one of them is Sodom is found, great. If eventually indisputable proof is found that neither of them is Sodom, also great. Because either way, careful research has been done, and the Bible will remain what it has been: a collection of historical texts, with all the caveats and problems inherent in such.

Also, even if the air burst theory is satisfactorily disproven there are still questions that must be answered, which your article did not attempt to discuss: how did the people die? What happened to this site? Not an air burst? Disappointing because who doesn't love a giant explosion, but it's fine. So what’s the new theory?

“Instead, ancient peoples of the region likely developed oral histories and stories to explain these “ghost towns” located by the Dead Sea. Those stories then formed the basis for oral traditions that were eventually written down, more than a millennium later, in the Bible.” Congratulations, this is in fact how many people working on archaeological sites in the Levant, and many people learning about these two sites in particular, interpret this data. It is, in fact, fairly close to how I am currently inclined to interpret it, because I do not believe in biblical inerrancy.

“As anthropological archaeologists and critical thinkers, especially about heritage resources, we aren’t interested in equating real sites with mythical biblical cities.” I wonder where they would have fallen on the scale of opinions when the existence of Troy as anything other than a mythical city was an actual question. They are 100% correct that applying names of not-proven-real places to archaeological sites is dangerous and should be avoided. But to demand that no connection be made solely because the connection is to the Bible stinks of as deep a bias as they are accusing Collins (with no small justification, I admit) of. The authors all appear to worthy of respect on academic grounds, and I agree with their concerns over proper method, but not with how they word them.

“Illegally procured artifacts are marketed explicitly to people seeking a tangible connection with the Bible.” True. It’s an ongoing issue. Christians are absolutely a problem with this. It’s also a bit of a tangent from the main topic meant to make people angry and ignore that this is not actually a refutation of the site work. Looting would happen simply because it is an archaeological site. As evidenced by just about every archaeological site everywhere. Why do you think the archaeologists don’t announce their find immediately? It is an especially difficult and ongoing struggle with archaeological sites in the region simply because of where the site is located. The hypothetical connection with Sodom isn’t going to make that any different.

Finally, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will try to keep an eye out for further research on a new hypothesis of what happened at the site. And if you find one feel free to pass it along. But articles complaining that people with a theological bias shouldn’t be allowed to work on, talk about or make hypotheses about their sites because “bible, eww” is not going to do much more than make me roll my eyes.

[bizwizkid]

The One App That Brought Me Financial Freedom During College

Are you tired of running out of money? I was like that too. But then, I found a really cool app. It helped me save my money and stop asking my parents for help. Here's what worked for me: The app made my life so much easier.

The app called Cash App is useful for sending money to friends. I also utilize it for saving money, purchasing necessary items, and planning, all through my phone. From No Money to Saving Money

I remember seeing only $10 in my bank account. It felt scary. I thought, "How will I make it through the week?" Even buying snacks was hard. And I didn’t want to keep asking my parents for more money.

But then, a friend told me about Cash App. It was a game-changer. The next time I went out, I used the app to share the bill with my friends. I even got discounts on things like coffee. Little by little, I started saving. No more panic, no more asking for help.

If you’ve ever been worried about money, you know how great it feels when you start saving. Here are some ways I made it work for me:

Setting Spending Limits with Separate Accounts I used to overspend on things like dining out. To prevent this, I created a simple rule. I load a set amount of money onto my Cash Card every month for fun expenses. It's my "treat yourself" budget. Once the money was gone, I couldn't splurge anymore until next month. This kept me from burning through my cash and helped me be more mindful of my spending. It also prevented me from feeling deprived.

Using Cash Boosts to Save on Regular Buys I quickly realized that Cash Boost was more than just a cool feature. I began planning my usual purchases around these discounts. For example, I always grab coffee at the same shop. I used the Boost there and saved $1 or $2 every visit. It might not sound like much, but over time, those small wins stacked up. By the end of the year, I had saved more than I expected, just by timing my buys smarter.

Tracking My Spending Without Extra Apps One thing I love about Cash App is how it tracks all my transactions in one place. Each week, I’d scroll through my spending and see exactly where my money was going. This helped me notice patterns, like spending too much on takeout, and make easy adjustments. I didn’t need extra budgeting apps because Cash App was already keeping an eye on my habits.

Saving Passively with Cash App Investing I also wanted to save a little without feeling the pinch. So, I set up automatic weekly transfers to Cash App’s investing feature. I started small—just $5 a week. I didn’t even notice the money leaving my account, but it added up over time. Now, I’ve got a little savings cushion I can fall back on, all while managing my daily expenses.

Getting Paid Back Instantly in Group Settings Whenever I went out with friends and covered the bill, I’d open Cash App on the spot and have them send their share immediately. This saved me from those awkward “I’ll pay you back later” situations, which used to mess up my budget when people forgot. Now, I’m never stuck paying more than my share, and it keeps everything balanced.

These little tricks made a big difference in how I handle money, and it’s all thanks to Cash App’s simplicity and smart features. Over 70 million people trust Cash App every day. That’s not just a number—it’s proof that it works. Whether it’s splitting bills, sending money, or using boosts for discounts, people rely on it to manage their finances smartly. In just one year, by using boosts and being careful with spending, I saved over $300. That’s $300 that stayed in my pocket for things I actually needed. If millions are using it, why not you? Find What You Need with BizMap: Your Easy Source for USA Contacts Looking for more ways to make things easier? If you're ever in need of contact info for businesses in the USA, BizMap has you covered. It’s like a quick directory for all the numbers you need. Simple design, big list, and easy to use. Whether it's a business number or customer service, you’ll find it fast. Give BizMap a try when you need contact details in a hurry!

[marierosejosephtascher]

Hey,

I’m 99.9% certain you’re the one whose been sending me the anonymous hateful messages (including the death threat). Timing adds up (you’d usually write to me just after an interaction on the Royal-confessions blog), plus a bunch of other things, like StatCounter telling me that Anonymous is from Brazil, and you’ve liked posts referencing Brazil of all places… so yeah, you’re not nearly as sly as you think you are. You won’t be able to respond to this message (I’ve decided to block you - maybe I’ll unblock you in the future, who knows?), and if I’m wrong about all this, well… it’s really no skin of my back.

Guess we’ll know if “Anonymous” stops writing to me.

I just wanted to say that your actions are disgusting - Not you, your actions (which means that there’s hope for you yet). I’m sorry you’ve received death threats before, but using it as a justification to do it too is just harmful, ugly and doesn’t stop the cycle of hate.

I also think you really need help. Obsessing over other people’s opinions to the point that you’ll harass them within their inbox shows a lack of control over matters in your own life, and the fact that you carry so much hatred and anger within yourself (as seen by your emotional, exaggerated messages - eg.: “did you want them [BRF] to execute those journalists?”) really shows that you need to step back from BRF drama.

You preach wanting free speech for journalists, but you’re more than willing to silence others if their opinion doesn’t match your own. You say the Sussex fandom is toxic (and for sure, there are idiots out there), but your behaviour really is no better. 

Last thing - I want to like Kate, really, I do. But I can’t get over the fact that she was more than willing to stay silent over the bridesmaid dresses situation (a situation that went on for WEEKS and was more than incredibly damaging on Meghan’s reputation), just because it benefit her.

You can think that Catherine is all grace and poise, that’s your prerogative, but her doing that really makes me question her character.

As for Meghan, I’m more than willing to keep an open mind about her - maybe my opinion of her will change after I read Spare and watch the Netflix series, who knows? But I’m fully ready to take that chance - and maybe you should do the same with Kate.

(Or maybe we should both acknowledge that both women are complex and nuanced and not nearly as black-and-white as they seem, and the real villain here are the tabloids like the Daily Fail and the Sun).

So “Anonymous” - goodbye for now. 

I feel sorry for you, but I really do hope things change for the better for you.

But that can only happen if you change your behaviour (I seriously hope you never write another nasty death threat to anyone EVER again, because like I said - that’s just seriously messed up.).

Take care of yourself! xx

Dude, what the fuck are you talking about? You can block the anon who is sending you these threats and see it's not me. Literally, what the fuck??? I've never, ever, ever sent death threats to anyone in my 10 years on this website and unless you have actual proof that it's me, for you to come to my inbox and inform me that you're blocking me, is just laughable.

P.S. I love how you say that if you're wrong, it's no skin off your back but then you go ahead and accuse me of this vile act with zero proof like it's nothing.

[aapxxxx]

Entry 23

Daydreams of sunsets. Feeling free. Warm weather. Crickets. Walking around aimlessly. Adventure.

It’s been almost 8 months. I had my boy. Yes, another son. He is perfect. He is so perfect. He is everything I was missing.

I attempted to reach out to his father’s side. Although I haven’t heard anything from his family, I reached out to my sons brothers mother and we decided to do a dna test, just for proof. I mail out the tests tomorrow. I even reached out to his father……. He decided to ghost us lol.

Things with my boyfriend have been alright I guess. These days there’s a lot of tension. The spark is gone. I am falling out of love. I think of him more of a friend than anything. I don’t know what to do anymore.

School is going well. But I miss what life was like a year ago. I miss working in that field. I miss feeling like I was my own person again. I miss having the after-shift drives. I miss having time to do things in the day, alone. Ugh.

I still ache for the feeling I’ve been chasing for years. Will I ever feel it again?

I forgot having a baby means you’re a bit occupied for their first year or so. I feel like with my age, I’m running out of time to fulfill my youth dreams. Those movie moments I’ve written about time and time again. I will be 27 in 3 short months. Do you ever think about all the time we’ve spent together? I can still remember lying in bed, writing my first ever post. Red sheets, striped duvet cover. My oldest son was a small toddler. Sharing a room. No licence. Just pain. Now here we are. Two kids. A big apartment. Just bought a new car. A savings account. Taking the kids on our first ever vacation this summer. I’m technically as free as I’ve ever been. But I’ll never be 17 years old-lying in a patch of grass behind a strip mall-watching the sun set and rise-ran away from home with a boy who had no home- free again, will I? It’s pathetic that I daydream about moments nearly 10 years ago….