#nice rack rick

[andy-clutterbuck]

The Ones Who Live - 1x01 - Years

[twdfemmefetal]

Daryl Dixon Headcanon

How Daryl acts when he has a crush on you ⭒

Can’t look you in the eyes for shit

Daryl keeps his eyes far away from your line of sight. As if you couldn’t already tell he was more nervous around you than with anybody else, he fears catching your gaze because the mere thought of you being able to read what’s behind them and discovering his secret infactuation for you is mortifying. "Hey, Dar, can you show me where this part of the map leads?" You said as you approached a busy Daryl working on his bike. The archer pulled a rag from his back pocket to wipe off the grease from his hands and kept his distance from you as much as possible. "Ye, which area ya talk'm bout?" You turned to face him and connected your gaze with his. His eyes were blue, ocean blue. You didn't realize how beautiful the Georgia light made them stand out, but what you couldn't help but shake was the slight twinkle in his eyes. Daryl dropped the map he held and quickly shifted his eyes from you. "Fuck m'sorry ." Daryl shook his head and couldn't help but feel embarrassed at his clumsiness. His face turned tomato red as he watched you bend to pick it up with a soft chuckle. "It's okay!" With trembling hands, Daryl took the map from you again and hurried up with an answer.

Always brings you something extra

Daryl can’t help but think of you on his runs or hunting trips. When he passes a clothing rack, he always thinks of what colors or types of clothing would look good on you. He brings the clothes back in the guise of expanding the wardrobe for the people in the prison, knowing you’d always get first grabs at the clothes since you help take inventory. Daryl's lip quirks up when he sees you flaunting the shirt he picked for you, knowing how beautiful you would look in it. "Nice shirt." Daryl would comment, eyeing you just enough to savor the sight but not enough to show you how telling his gaze was.

Defends you, anytime, anywhere, whether you're present or not

As Daryl's crush on you grew stronger, his need to protect you grew exponentially. Daryl felt a desire to defend your honor, name, and what you stood for. In this world, you were becoming his light in a dark place. Having a short temper didn't help, especially when people had your name in their mouths. "We need volunteers to go look for supplies." Rick piped up. Daryl's eyes shifted to those who raised their hands, Glenn, Dale, T Dog, and you. His eyes widen slightly, shifting anxiously. The thought of you out there put him on edge. "Why don't ya just sit back and look pretty sweetheart, let the men handle this." Shane chuckled at your enthusiasm. "Dont talk to er' like that unless ya want an arrow up yer ass." Daryl practically growled at Shane, defending you from his misogynistic comments. You heard the other guys snort and flashed Daryl a soft smile, a silent 'thank you' as a mutual understanding between you two. Daryl nodded back at you in response, knowing he always has your back. Eventually, the group would understand that Daryl didn't play about you, and would start to assume something was going on between the both of you.

Lingering hands....can't help but find any excuse to touch you

Daryl is pretty good at staying restrained. He's not like other men; when he crushed on you, he crushed hard. He tried everything to not let his perversions of you unravel. How much he thought about loving you, touching you, and feeling you. At some point, he couldn't hold back. He couldn't help but let his fingers linger on you, whether it was to move you out of his way softly, or just to make sure to grab you while the group had separated after the fall of the prison. He always needed you near. You were bored, beyond belief, as Rick was explaining a new strategy of where to look for supplies near Alexandria. "Does anyone wanna volunteer to go? We need two people." You were the first to raise your hand, and quickly after, Daryl did as well. You glanced up at him with a soft smirk, he nodded at you in response, and Rick dismissed the meeting, causing everyone to leave the room as Rick was now to give you both the rundown. As you and Daryl started to head out of the house, you couldn't help but feel your legs turn to jelly when Daryl placed his hand on the small of your back to guide you out of the house. You looked up at him and shot him a soft smile. He didn't dare to see the look on your face when he did that. He didn't know why it felt like second nature, but god did he love it.

Jealous when anyone else makes you laugh or smile

Daryl didn't make it easy when it came to showing that he had feelings for you; in fact, you didn't believe it at first, no matter how many times Carol tried to tell you. It also didn't help that he would practically act like you're invisible anytime he was around you, not giving you the time of day to try to interact with you, let alone get to know you better. But deep down, it was the complete opposite of that, Daryl was so down bad for you, that when he saw Spencer making you laugh just a few feet away from his and Carol's porch, he felt his blood boil. The way you were flashing Spencer a cheeky smile, with a small twinkle in your eyes, and how you would softly nudge Spencer's shoulder when he made a “joke”. He couldn't control his anger anymore. He couldn’t help it; his feet were on the concrete before he could even process. He was up and walking towards you guys when he saw Spencer tuck a piece of your hair behind your ear. “Aye, girl, ya mind helpin' me out with sum?” Daryl would ask you while shooting daggers in Spencer’s direction. “Of course, Daryl! Anything for you.” You were beyond grateful for Daryl showing up in the middle of Spencer’s unwanted flirting. As you made your way towards Daryl, he placed a hand on the small of your lower back, guiding you along with him. You couldn’t help but blush as you felt his thumb softly rub against your exposed skin. Daryl couldn’t help but glare one last time behind his shoulder, making sure Spencer understood you were his.

Showing you how to hunt, survive, finding more excuses to get you alone with him

Daryl, as we all know, isn't the type to tell you he willingly wants to spend alone time with you. He would have to find excuses to get you to come on runs, hunts, and rides with him. He wouldn't allow you to see what he truly felt for you by showing you that it was just a guise for something more meaningful for him. “Girl, do ya wanna learn how to survive or not?” Daryl would scoff out as you looked up at him from your seat. “Daryl it’s just so damn early, why do we have to do this at the ass crack of dawn?” You couldn’t help but whine as you tried to wake up, softly rubbing the sleep from your eyes. Daryl just shook his head in response and grabbed onto your forearm, jostling you up and along with him down into the covers of the Georgia forest. Some time later, you and Daryl would be emerging from the tree line. You would be smiling from ear to ear when you had finally managed to crack Daryl and made him laugh at one of your jokes. But the pleading question returned to your mind once more. And you couldn't wait to hold it in anymore. "Daryl, why do you only take me with you?" He shot you a questioning glance and tensed up at your intrusive question. "C-cause yer' the only one with a god damn brain around here tha's why." His hesitation caught your ears, and it was impossible to miss the crimson hue that had quickly crept up to his cheeks and ears.

Angry outbursts at himself after he says something that could possibly hurt your feelings

It wouldn't take much to get on Daryl's nerves, but when he is crushing on someone, he would make the extra effort to sensor his words around you. Make sure to let out his anger on others and other objects before he would ever let it out on you, but Daryl isn't perfect, he would slip up sometimes and incidently hurt your feeling without meaning to. "God dammit woman, its like ya got shit for brains sum' times ya know that?!!" You flinched at the tone of his voice. You were used to his moods, his outbursts on others, but not on you, not like this. As much as you wanted to yell at him, cry, fight back in some sort of way, instead you chose to walk away. Daryl knew it was wrong, knew he shouldn't have said what he said to you that night; he was just so angry with how you almost went out of your way and almost got hurt on the run with him. He felt terrible, and wanted to hurt himself for how bad he hurt you. That same night, as you walked towards your cell to sleep for the night, you saw a single white rose laid out on your pillow. You couldn't help but let out a soft smile when realized that this was the archers way of apologizing. Daryl was never the type to verbally express himself, but for you, you understood just what he meant.

Big ol' softie to you once he gets comfortable with you

It would be no easy task to break Daryl out of his shell. But with trust, determination, and patience, you were soon rewarded by a very cuddly, protective Daryl. Once he gets comfortable enough and has expressed his feelings to you, Daryl acts like a big ol' teddy bear whenever he comes to bed at night's end. NO ONE can see him this way but you. He simply wouldn't allow people to see his soft side unless it was his lover. After a three-day run with Glenn, Daryl's return to the prison was finally the reassurance you needed to be able to relax once more. You knew that longer runs were typically riskier, and if they are prolonged any longer than they need to be, you always fear that something bad will happen. But once Carl had opened those gates and you heard his motorcycle's revving, you were ecstatic to see his face. You couldn't wait any longer as you latched your arms around his neck. Daryl wrapped his arm around your waist while he held the crossbow in the other hand, burying his neck in the crook of your neck. "Im so happy you're home, I missed you, D." His warm chuckle made you let him go as you softly looked up at him. "I missed ya, too, bunny."

[whateverisbeautiful]

Do you think Richonne have nicknames for each other? If so, what do you think they call each other?

When it comes to nicknames/terms of endearment, I am still on a high after TOWL let us know Michonne calls Rick “baby.” 😋 I love that and that one really feels right for her to call him. I’d be so curious to know when she would have first started calling him that. For what Rick calls Michonne, as much as I rack my brain trying to think of what else he would call her, I still just hear “baby” as well. Which does have a very nice ring to it, imagining Rick’s voice calling Michonne “baby.” I can see there being other terms of endearment and nicknames they have, I just don’t know exactly what because I can't quite hear other options in their voices for some reason. I know I’ve said it previously but I also think Rick really loves Michonne’s name and so I think "Michonne" is his favorite thing to call her. The way Rick says Michonne's name sometimes sounds like it's a term of endearment in itself. 😊

[carlsdarling]

kissing and teasing carl until he gets soo uncomfortably hard in his pants..only to leave him like that. MAYBE letting him grind against my hand so he can cum in his jeans if i’m feeling nice

Teasing

Y/N likes Carl, but Carl likes Enid and Y/N gets annoyed and teaches Carl a lesson. Bit more of a plot, than sex. Everyone is 18 or over.

WARNINGS: smut, nsfw, slightly Bratty! Reader

It pissed you off. In the morning you had left for a supply tour. In addition to you, Carl and Enid were also participating, and as always when Enid was around, Carl paid little attention to you and groveled around Enid. And Enid didn't even show much interest in him, at best amicable. That's how it appeared to you, anyway.

You gritted your teeth. Carl had picked up a red crop top with lace trim from a clothing rack at the supermarket you were looting and held it out to Enid. "I think this would look great on you," he proclaimed.

"I don't think so at all," you growled softly. The top was not Enid's style whatsoever. Enid raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.

And so it went on throughout the day. Enid this way, Enid that way. There was just no end to it. Why didn't Carl understand that you liked him? Or didn't he care?

Finally, as dawn broke, Rick declared the tour was over. "Good idea," you muttered with a nasty sideways glance at Carl who was still babbling at Enid. You packed a box of toothpaste, carried it outside, and stowed it in the trunk of one of the cars, then sat down in the back seat, sulking and brooding to yourself. The others were still busy in the surrounding stores, but you were fed up; you didn't feel like it anymore.

After a few minutes, Carl showed up on the street, carrying several packs of toilet paper. He spotted you, waved, and approached the car. After throwing the toilet paper into the trunk, he opened the car door and sat down next to you. "Whew," he sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead. His bandage looked scruffy and his hair was disarrayed.

"To what do I owe this honor?" you asked pointedly.

Carl eyed you uncomprehendingly. "What are you talking about?"

"Where's Enid?" you responded with a counter question.

"She went with Rosita and Maggie to that shoe store over there," he made a vague hand gesture down the street. "Enid really needs new boots; she walks around outside so much that the soles of her boots are coming off, and..." he expounded.

"I don't give a fuck about Enid's fucking boots!" you hissed.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" asked Carl angrily. Silently, you looked out at the empty street. In your opinion, Carl didn't deserve an answer. He exhaled a long drawn out breath. You eyed him from the side. His cheeks were flushed, and his hair fell into his forehead. Your gaze wandered to his hip, where his underwear showed above the waistband of his jeans.

"Your pants are slipping," you remarked. Carl grumbled something unintelligible and lifted his hips to adjust his jeans. "If you were hoping that Enid would somehow be impressed with you now and jerk you off afterwards, I guess you're out of luck," you said in an indifferent tone.

Carl looked at you in amazement. "What...what makes you think that's what I want?"

"Oh, you don't?" you said with a sneer. Carl looked down at his knees in shame. Somehow his behavior provoked you, and you moved closer to him and put your hand on his left thigh, drawing little circles on the fabric. Carl moaned softly, and within seconds you felt him getting hard. You stroked his hair back behind his ear and kissed his cheek, then traced a wet trail down his neck to his collarbone with your tongue. Carl unexpectedly turned his head and pressed his somewhat rough but soft lips to yours. He tasted of the Coke and salty peanuts he had eaten earlier. You returned the kiss almost angrily, biting lightly into Carl's plump lower lip.

"Keep doing that, please," he whimpered, pressing himself against your stroking hand. You had proceeded to caress his cock through his jeans, and Carl's hands moved to his belt and buttons; apparently he wanted to pull his pants down.

You slapped his hand slightly. "Don't do that," you admonished him.

"It's so uncomfortable when I'm hard in my jeans," Carl complained, squirming in his seat. "It hurts."

"The others are going to show up any minute. We need to do this quickly, and really, I don't know if you even deserve it." You stopped paying attention to his erection. "You're probably just imagining Enid. So maybe you should wait until Enid gets back from the shoe store and ask her to finish you off."

"No, I'm just thinking about you, Y/N," Carl assured desperately. "Please, Y/N, go on." He already was a mess; face flushed, hair messy, lips slightly parted, Carl was completely focused on his arousal.

"All right, on one condition, Carl," you said tartly. "That red top you offered Enid earlier when we were at the supermarket. You didn't actually offer it to me, and that's what made me so pissed," you bitched, pinching him mildly in the side so that he winced. "You're going back to the supermarket first thing tomorrow to get it for me."

"Yes, yes, anything you want," Carl vowed. "I didn't think you'd like the top. But I promise I'll get it for you."

Satisfied with that statement, you finally started again to pleasure Carl. He grinded against your hand and your wrist vigorously, while you were palming and rubbing him. Carl bucked his hips into your hand, moaning and whimpering, eyes screwed shut. Amused, you watched how fucked out he looked, how he lustfully wrenched his cute face. You continued to stroke and tease his cock, until Carl let out one final groan and cum. Wetness was spreading on the front of his jeans, and Carl's head sank back in exhaustion. Eyes still closed, he licked his lips, unable to speak. His breathing was heavy.

You spotted Enid walking toward the car, a shoebox stuck under her left arm. She opened the passenger door, gave you both a distracted look, and babbled, "It was almost impossible to find decent boots without high heels, apparently the store has been looted several times, and..." Then she seemed to register the strange atmosphere in the car. Examining, she observed first you, then Carl, who still looked fucked out and had hastily covered the wet spot in his crotch with his right hand. "Is there something wrong? Carl, you look kind of... disheveled," she complained.

"Um, I...I'm feeling hot, and I have sort of a headache," Carl lied.

Enid eyed him for almost a minute, him and his right hand still resting in his lap. "For sure," she then said scoffingly, shaking her head.

--

Tags: @loveforcarl @tessasweet @knochentrocken0808 @taylormarieee

[sukunasbow]

childhood friends, daryl dixon.

summary: in which you reunite with your childhood friend, only for him to underestimate your value in the current state of the world.

warnings: fem!reader, surgeon!reader, typical twd violence, and not proof read atm.

notes: request from anon! i put a small twist on this request so i hope you enjoy! also i really need to start proof reading my work right away cause i feel like there might be tons of little embarrassing mistakes i haven’t noticed so let me know if that’s a common thing on all my ‘not yet proof read’ fics because if so i’m going to go back and fix them, ty bbies!

One thing Daryl Dixon still remembers about his life before the dead started walking, is his childhood best friend. The girl that he always went to when he was upset, the girl that always knew how to cheer him up, and that same girl that eventually moved away before the two of them started high school, leaving him heartbroken as her and her family drove off to go live in a small community far away from him, not looking back.

Whenever the memories of that girl cloud his mind, he feels pathetic, quickly reminding himself that she’s probably a walker now, having absolutely no memory of him or her own childhood.

However, the one possibility that sounded insane to him, happens to be the reality. That girl is you, who’s younger self hated her parents for ripping her away from everything and everyone she’s known since birth to move to Alexandria, but now is extremely grateful for them, as she has a safe place to stay in during the world going to shit.

“(Y/N).” A loud voice calls you from outside your house, causing you to walk downstairs and open the door. “Deanna, what’s up? It’s like three in the morning.” You sigh, leaning on the door frame, wearing fluffy slippers and a pair of shorts with a tank top. “We have a group that just arrived, some of them need medical attention and check ups.” The older lady explains, bring your attention to the group of people standing in the middle of the road with Aaron. “Alright, one second.” You nod, grabbing your jacket off of the coat rack and quickly putting it on, then following Deanna towards the group.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is (Y/N) (L/N), she’s our nurse and she’s going to do routine check ups on everyone.” The leader of your community explains to the new residents, causing everyone to turn to face you. “Um, I’m gonna check the children first.” You say, a warm smile on your face, hoping to relieve the tension between everyone. “(Y/N)?” Someone says, causing your eyes to follow their voice, being greeted by the sight of someone you recognize. “Daryl?” You gasp. His eyes are wide as you run up to him and hug him, “Oh my god, I haven’t seen you in forever! I didn’t even know if you were…” You don’t finish your sentence, assuming he knows what you were going to say. “Yeah, same.” He breathes out, warming up to the hug and wrapping his arms around you. “You know her?” Another man cuts in, causing you to pull away from Daryl. “She was my friend way back, before high school.” He explains to the other man, “Sorry, who are you?” You ask. “Rick, Rick Grimes.” The man, who you now know as Rick, hesitantly replies. “Oh, nice to meet you. These are your children, yes?” You glance at the young girl he’s holding and the older boy that’s next to him. “Yes.” He nods. “Okay, Do you mind if I take them to the infirmary and check for bites or injuries? It’s a typical procedure here.” You explain. He doesn’t respond. “You can of course come with us.” You add, hoping it convinced him, “Yeah, sure.” He agrees this time. “Okay, I’ll see you soon.” You softly smile at Daryl before turning around, “Come with me, please.” You instruct Rick and his family. “(Y/N), let me know if there’s any issues.” Deanna stops you before you start walking, a concerned look in her eyes. You raise an eyebrow, slightly confused at her worried state, “Of course.” You continue walking.

“Okay, Daryl, your turn.” You walk out of the infirmary room, gesturing to the man that’s sitting on the porch of the building, waiting for the other member’s of his group do get done with their checkups. “Mk.” He gets up, following you back into the room, closing the door behind him. “So, just sit here.” You tap on the chair in the middle of the room, “I’m basically just asking you questions about how you feel and checking your temperature, things like that.” You say your usually ‘speech’, something you usually do in hopes of comforting new group members. “Alright.” He sits down, watching as you shuffle around the room, grabbing a pen and clipboard off of one of the counters. “First question, do you have any bites or scratches?” You ask him. “That’s a stupid question. That’s why these people got you askin’?” He scoffs. You bluntly stare at him, “It’s procedure.” The man shakes his head, “Naw.” You check the ‘no’ box on the paperwork. “Okay, common symptoms of being turned include a fever, so I’m going to check your temperature now.” You plsce your clipboard to the side, getting off of the small stool and walking towards a cabinet filled with medical equipment. “Ya even a real nurse?” Daryl asks. “I went to university, then graduated, then became a top surgeon, so yeah, I have most of the skills to help people.” You roll your eyes, turning around and sitting back down on the stool in front of him. “Ahh, big shot.” He hums as you check his temperature. “No fever, you’re hopefully, not infected.” You sarcastically smile. “Now, you and your friend Rick are coming on a supply run with me tomorrow morning, so go get some sleep.” You stand up and gesture for him to leave the infirmary. “Your coming on a supply run? I don’t think you should, it’s dangerous.” He gives you a weird look. “I think I can handle it.” You laugh his comment off. “Based off the rest of these people, y’all don’t stand a chance if these walks come down, not without my group.” He adds. “I can handle myself. Some of the other residents might not have as much skill as your group, but I assure you, I got just as much experience as you. I’ll be a great addition to the supply runs. Anyways, I usually do them, at least before you guys got here.” You glare at him, roughly closing the medical cabinet. He doesn’t say anything, worry and doubt in his mind as he leaves the room, shutting the door and leaving you alone to clean up.

“Morning.” You walk up to the two men that are standing just outside of the gate, talking to each other in low whispers.“Good morning.” Rick turns around when he hears your voice. You nod, not bothering to make any more conversation, considering your last conversation involved Daryl undermining your capability of navigating the state of the world outside of Alexandria. “Close the gates.” You yell back to the lady on watch, you think her name’s Rosita. “Got it.” She starts closing the gate as the three of you walk away from the safe haven, heading towards a nearby town.

“We need more baby food, for, uh, Judith.” You mumble, reading the list on the small crumpled paper you’re holding. “Daryl.” Rick’s panicked voice sends shivers down you spine, causing you to look up with a concerned look on your face, greeted by the sight of a small group of walkers inching closer to you and the two men. “Shit.” You huff. The three of you quickly get your knives ready, moving away from each other and towards the walkers. While Rick and Daryl deal with the rest of the dead, you deal with about five of your own. Plunging your knife into each of their skulls, you quickly kill all of them, leaving blood splatters all over your clothes. “Am I capable of going on supply runs, now?” You turn to face Daryl, opening your mouth to continue, but quickly running towards him when you notice a walker push him over and fall on top of his body. “Rick!” You call the other man’s name, who just finished dealing with another walker, to get his attention. He turns around and is quick to follow you towards the other man. However, you get there before him, standing over the Walker and jamming your knife into the back of it’s head. Letting out a tired sigh, you wipe some more blood off of your forehead, then shoving the body of the walker off of Daryl. “Thanks.” He manages to breathe out. “Mhm.” You nod. You know it’s stubborn to still be pissed about what he said to you when he almost got eaten alive, but considering you saved his life despite his lack of faith in your survival skills, it felt too ironic.

Walking up and down the aisles of the small and abandoned grocery store, Daryl follows you around like a small puppy. “Why are you following me around? Go follow Rick.” You shake your head, tossing another box of old pasta into your bag. “Rick’s in the other store, I wanted to shop in this store.” Daryl scratches the back of his neck, attempting to create an excuse to walk with you, or really, follow behind you. “Sure.” You roll your eyes. “Hold this.” You abruptly stop and pass your bag to Daryl, the man taking it from you and watching as you stand up on your toes to reach a different box of pasta that’s on the highest shelf. “Here.” You drop the pasta box down, Daryl managing to catch it with your bag. Standing back down, you take the bag back from him, before moving to walk down the next aisle. “I’m sorry, alright? I know you’re capable of handling yourself, I just hadn’t seen you in so long and all those other residents have barely even seen the outside world since moving to that place.” He huffs, grabbing your arm before you can continue to sulk around the store. “I haven’t seen you in, I don’t even know how long at this point, and one of the first real conversations we had, involved you making a snap judgement and regarding me as useless aside from being a nurse.” You look at him, your tone harsh. “I’m sorry, how many times I gotta say it?” Daryl scoffs. “I want you to admit that you were wrong.” You cross your arms, holding them up your chest, your mouth pressed into a firm line. “Fine.” He pauses, “I was wrong, you’re not useless, I never even meant to say that.” He continues. His voice is low like usual, but his facial expression tells a different story, a soft look in his eyes with a small but genuine smile forming. “You’re forgiven.” You hold yourself back from smiling, “I guess.” You shrug. “You’re more stubborn than me, huh?” He laughs. “Always been that way, remember when I didn’t talk to you for a full day because you took my ice cream?” You playfully bump his arm with your arm, “Oh, I remember.” He says.

Daryl never thought he’d see you again, but now that he’s standing right in front of you, the two of you laughing and making jokes, he can start to feel those certain butterflies he felt in his stomach from when he was younger. The butterflies that only showed up whenever he was near you.

[eriquin]

WIP Word Game

Tagged by @estrellami-1 with the word SOMETHING and by @sadisticaltarts with the word SOIL

Rules: You will be given a word. For Each letter in that word, share a snippet from a WIP, then tag some friends with a new word.

First one coming from Crown of Thorns:

S

Steve knocked on the open door, saying, “knock, knock,” like a middle-aged dad. Eddie grinned at him and twirled around a little, oversized t-shirt still held up against him. “What do you think?” he asked. “Would I be the belle of the ball?”

O

“Oh, damn it.” Eddie kicked the air in mock anger and nearly lost his balance. Steve looked like he was going to reach out to catch him, but he caught himself in time and didn’t need the help. “For real, though, I wanted to see if my fancy plant powers extended to, uh, dried leaves. And maybe regrowing them or something.” He sighed. “God, I would be set for life if I could do that. Imagine having an everlasting supply of high quality California weed in Indiana? It’d be like a dream.”

M

“Mel Brooks? It’s good to be the king?” He burst out laughing. “That one! Oh, that was hilarious.” He sighed. “That was one we couldn’t put on the TVs at Family Video because it was too risque.”

E

“Eh? Maybe? Robin and I kind of closed the store down when we went to look for you at Reefer Rick’s and we just never went back.” He leaned against the dresser and tapped his fingers. “I know it was closed for a while, but I think it’s open again. Nobody called us to ask if we wanted our jobs back, so I just assumed that we’re kind of fired. Oh, but we still have keys. If they haven’t changed the locks, we could just go after hours and take stuff.” He grinned. “No late fees for us.”

T

The bathroom was spacious, bigger than the one at the motel and much bigger than the one back at the trailer. It had a big window looking over the backyard and a full-sized tub, with a little white stool next to it. The showerhead had a hose attached, and Eddie realized that it could come down to hold in your hand and spray wherever. On the rack inside the tub, there were more shampoos and conditioners than he could count. Maybe some of them were Robin’s or Argyle’s, but he imagined that a good portion were Steve’s. The man hadn’t been called ‘The Hair’ in high school for nothing.

H

He washed his face and set everything up to shave. Part of it felt nice to be going back into a routine, which he’d abandoned since getting out of the hospital. He hadn’t been able to look at himself in the mirror for long enough to handle shaving. The nurses had helped him with it before he left, but he needed to deal with it now. He started slow.

I

“I don’t like tuna.”  “Picky.” He tore another strip of tape off. It made a loud noise as he did. “If you don’t like it, you can have PB and J.” 

N

“No, man, it’s fine,” he said, trying to push it off. “I’m just going to get your nice towels all gross.” “I’ve got a washer and bleach, Munson. It’s fine.” He pulled the towel back into place and crouched down in front of him to wash his face. 

G

“Got it.” Dustin pulled a notebook out of his backpack. “Plant. No growth. What’s he doing to demonstrate El’s powers?” Eddie sighed and scooted back until his back was to the wall under the window. It sounded like all they needed from him was to be nearby for Will to synchronize with. El looked more amused by it than he was.

Second one coming from The Oracle of Roane County

S

“So he had another vision and now he's lost in the woods?” Dustin summarized.  “Pretty much, yeah,” said Gareth. He turned to Grant. “Jeff is useless and might be lost too, now.”

O

“Okay, all right, enough!” he shouted, and everyone except Steve backed up. Steve didn’t seem intimidated in the least, which he was going to ignore as best he could. “I’m fine. I’m just...” The headphones were still over his ears, and the song was nearly over. He pulled them down around his neck and clicked the Walkman off. “First of all, thank you for not letting me die. Again.”

I

“I dreamt it,” said Eddie. “Dreamed of the ranger or whatever he was supposed to be. Even got a clear picture of his face and sketched it out.” “It was fucking eerie,” muttered Gareth.

L

Lucas looked over at the red-headed girl, who Eddie was just now realizing was probably Max. “Maybe we shouldn’t speculate on why this guy is targeting people.”  “No, maybe we should,” Max said. “We need to figure out who the other targets are, right? Before he hits another one?”

Okay, all done. Now tagging: @wynnyfryd, @queenofshenanigans, @acecrack-mack, @disastardly, @xxbottlecapx

Your word is SYMPTOM

[nerdraging4point0]

Scorpion and the Scales // Chapter Six // Polyverse AU

Tropes and Tags: MF, MFM, MFMM, instalove, too much sex, tattooed musicians, polyverse, friends to lovers.

Content warning: 18+ only MDNI, PinV, PinA, oral (f!recieveing, m!recieving), threesomes, light BDSM, voyeurism, exhibitionism, partner sharing, jealousy, angst.

This work below is fictionalized ideas and stories involving real people but does not directly reflect their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Please keep in mind that this is a work of fiction.

Active taglist: @ladyveronikawrites @tearfallpixie @beaker1636 @circle-with-me @synthetic-wasp-570 @itsjustemily @thesazzb @vinyardmauro @cookiesupplier @concreteemo @dominuslunae @mountains-to-move @sundamariis @caitcoreeeee @crimson-calligraphyx @letmeadoreyoux @starsomens @artificialbreezy @lma1986 @iknownothingpeople @lilrubles @shilohrosechicken 2@missduffsblog @jessicafg03 @thatchickwiththecamera @mysticdoodlez @chels3a-smile @sinkingteethinwhitenoise @deathblacksmoke @roley-poley-foley @ravieisunhinged @dethronetheveil @to-be-written @somewhere-diamond @somebodyels3 @sacredthefran @th0ughts-pr4yers @bloody-delusion-expert

RICK'S POV

The February wind outside howled like a pack of wolves as flurries danced past the frosty windowpane. The tour was great, but it's nice to be back where everything is familiar. I was lost in my thoughts at my desk, a mug of now cold coffee sitting off to my right when Vin’s name flashed on my screen. Sitting at my computer desk in my bedroom studio, I was deeply focused on reviewing and editing some music video footage I had recently shot. Our band just released a new album, and I was brainstorming more creative ways to promote it through visually striking music videos. As both the lead guitarist and an aspiring filmmaker, I was eager to take a hands-on role in the video production process. My mind was racing with ideas - perhaps I could assist the director, or even take full creative control and direct the video myself. Fueled by my passion for both music and film, I became completely engrossed in piecing together rough cuts on my editing software, trying out different sequences and visual effects. Just as I was fine-tuning a particularly complex montage sequence, the ringing notification jolted me out of my deep concentration.

I pushed the green button on my phone, putting it on speaker so I could keep working on my computer while I talked. "Hello," I answered absentmindedly, my eyes still focused on the screen in front of me as I edited videos. 

"Hey man," came Vin's cheery but muffled voice through the phone, the sounds of his chewing making it obvious he had food in his mouth. I knew he must be bored or feeling lonely since he never called just to chat otherwise.

I reached over to take a sip from my mug of now tepid coffee, grimacing at the lukewarm liquid that was no longer hot enough to be enjoyable. As Vin rambled on about his day so far, I found my focus divided between his meandering story and the editing work I was trying to finish up. His tone was aimless and wandering, confirming my suspicion that this call was just his way of combating boredom on a lazy afternoon. I made occasional noises of acknowledgement, letting him continue his monologue as background noise while I clicked and dragged video clips into place.

“Hey, so I got a call from Seth this morning. I guess he’s supposed to do a podcast with Chris tomorrow and called to confirm but the dude didn’t answer. I tried calling him and his phone is dead.”

I stopped working, turning in my seat to look at my phone with a furrowed brow. "You haven't heard from him lately have you?" Vin asked.

"No," I racked my brain for the last time I spoke to him and to be honest in our time off- all three weeks of it- I hadn't heard a peep from him. He'd been radio silent, social media silent, he was like a ghost. This was highly unusual for Chris, who was normally very active on social media and kept in frequent contact with friends. The fact that Seth had called looking to confirm a podcast recording and gotten no response was troubling. Chris wasn't the type to miss appointments or fail to return calls. A knot of worry began forming in my stomach as I thought back to our last conversation right before the break. Chris had seemed distracted and evasive, not his normal upbeat self.

As I gazed at the ominous clouds through the large window in my home office, I could see the flurries hadn’t yet started to stick to the ground. The sky was filled with menacing, steel-colored clouds that appeared swollen with moisture, ready to burst open and release their wintry payload at any moment. Though I was unsure just how much snow we'd be getting, the clouds foretold that it would be a significant amount - likely enough to disrupt travel plans and force people indoors.

Vin continued rambling excitedly through the phone about his successful streaming channel, oblivious to the weather outside. As he chattered on, I grabbed my heavy winter jacket from the closet and slipped it on over my hoodie to brace for the cold. I jammed my feet into sturdy boots and interrupted Vin mid-sentence to let him know I was headed over to check on Chris before the storm hit. Vin understood and we exchanged quick goodbyes before hanging up. I snatched my keys and wallet and headed out the front door into the freezing air, making sure to lock up behind me.

The apartment was eerily quiet as I unlocked the door, my voice echoing off the high ceilings as I called his name. No response. Where could he be? I scanned the living room to my left, noticing his expensive gaming system had been left untouched, neatly tucked into its designated space under the TV stand, the controllers precisely lined up next to it. My eyebrow raised in surprise - he never left his gaming system so tidy. The bright flashing lights and sounds of racing cars or epic battles were typically blaring at this hour as he lounged on the couch. His absence was odd. I wandered slowly through the open concept space - past the leather couch and recliner, both somehow free of his usual piles of laundry and takeout containers. The dining table was spotless, cleared of the stacks of mail and bills that normally covered it. I peeked into the kitchen expecting to see dishes piled up and counters covered in crumbs. But it was impossibly clean. The spotless marble gleamed under the lights, not a single dirty mug or plate left in the sink. The entire place felt sterile, like a model apartment ready for showing. Where was the comfortable clutter and busy energy that was usually present when he was home? Where were the signs of life? The apartment was untouched, everything perfectly in its place. Too perfect. Too quiet. Too still.

The takeout boxes from that vegan joint down the block are piling up in his trash. I open the fridge hoping to grab a snack, but it's practically barren - just a few protein shakes lining the door and not much else. The empty shelves and lack of fresh food signal that he hasn't been grocery shopping in a while. I gaze at the sparse contents, disappointed by the lack of options. Over the wind howling outside, I hear soft footsteps approaching. I stand up and gently close the fridge door, careful not to make any noise. As I turn around, our eyes meet and she freezes, poised on her tiptoes across the living room. Her eyes are wide, and her body stiff with tension. She looks caught off guard to see me standing in the kitchen. I offer a faint, awkward smile, unsure what to say. We stare at each other for a long moment, the howling wind outside filling the heavy silence between us. 

I can't take my eyes off her. She's wearing nothing but Chris’s horror mania shirt, her smooth legs on full display. Her dark hair cascades over her shoulders, looking slightly mussed in an alluring way. I know I've seen her before, but in this moment, I can't remember where. A deep blush spreads across her cheeks as she meets my gaze, making her even more irresistible. She starts fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, suddenly shy. But I'm drawn to her like a magnet. I want to be the one making her blush, making her nervous in that tantalizing way. I imagine what it would feel like to run my hands through that messy hair. She's a vision I can't look away from. I need to know who she is.

The apartment door opens and Chris comes in one hand holding a paper bag with what has to be food and coffee in his other. His brown eyes bug wide as he takes in me in his kitchen and her in his living room. The door closes slowly behind him as his lip curls into a smile, “Well, this is awkward.”

Setting the coffee and food on the table, Chris steps between me and his mystery girl, whispering something in her ear and she pads away back to his room. 

He turns to me. "What are you doing here, man?"

He's not mad. I've seen Mad Chris before, and this ain't it. I shrug. I gesture around the room. "I expected to find you in your boxers, surrounded by vanilla Coke cans and takeout boxes, face glued to the TV as you school some noobs at Halo. I didn't expect..." I point toward the bedroom. "Who is she?"

Chris grins as he picks up his coffee. "Eve. Remember that concert in Denver almost a year ago?"

"The one night stand you wouldn't shut up about as you dragged your sorry ass out of the hotel?"

Chris has always had a knack for pulling gorgeous women. Hell, I didn't even bat an eye when he was dating Emily or Melanie - I was completely wrapped up in my own relationship at the time. But this new girl of his...man, she's something else. The moment I saw her, I couldn't peel my eyes away. Her nervous smile, her cute face as she blushes, the way she moves...Chris hit the jackpot with this one. I hate to admit it, but I'm crazy jealous. For the first time, I find myself wishing I was in his shoes.

He'd gone on for hours about how spectacular the sex was, how it had been like a heavenly experience. I couldn't really understand. Sex for me was so...different. I never got myself physically involved with someone without knowing them enough to be certain I could make them writhe. For me, intimacy required a deep connection and understanding of my partner. I needed to know what made them tick, what drove them wild with pleasure. But for him, it seemed the act itself was enough. The sheer thrill of the moment overpowered any need for a profound bond. As long as the passion burned hot, he lost himself completely. We all seek intimacy in different ways, I suppose.

Now that I was connecting the dots it made sense all the days he’d be texting on his phone. him smiling down at the screen, his thumbs busily typing away messages to someone. His facial expressions and body language implied that some of those conversations were more intimate or exciting in nature. At the time, I was preoccupied with my own relationship troubles after a difficult breakup, leaving me feeling lonely, insecure and admittedly a bit resentful of other people's happiness. I simply looked the other way, too absorbed in my own problems to care or investigate further.

Now that I know he is alive I feel like I am suddenly a third wheel. I straighten my jacket and head for the door, ready to make a quick and quiet exit before they notice I'm leaving. But just as my hand reaches the doorknob, her voice stops me.

“Leaving already?” She's still wearing his shirt, though now with leggings peeking out from underneath the hem. Her long hair cascades over her right shoulder as she runs a brush through it, working patiently through the tangles. I turn to face her, but find myself struck speechless. No words come, either to my mind or my lips. I'm frozen, unable to articulate the storm of emotions swirling inside me. 

My hand is frozen on the doorknob as she steps closer, close enough I can see the beautiful color of her eyes. She throws the combed locks back over her shoulder giving me a reassuring smile. “It’s snowing like crazy, I’m sure Chris could have more food delivered. Stay for a while, please.”

I stand paralyzed, unable to turn the knob and exit into the blizzard outside. The howling wind rattles the windows as snow piles up, sealing us inside. But it's not the storm that roots me in place - it's her. As she approaches, her eyes lock onto mine, luminous pools of emerald that see right through me. 

I don't like feeling so exposed, I like to be sure I know what I'm doing, saying, wearing before I go anywhere, talk to anyone. I take so much time planning how my outfit will look, although my wardrobe is all black it is complimentary black, each piece fitting perfectly with the next. I carefully coordinate every detail, from the textures and drapes of my fabrics, to the subtle sheens on my leather accessories. My style is precise, polished, intentional. Even my hair is meticulously styled, whether I decide to shave it close or let it grow out a bit. My shoes are both functional and stylish - sleek boots or oxfords that allow me to stride with purpose. Everything I do is calculated, I run through every step, every word, every motion that I will take when I go somewhere. I visualize each scenario, planning my actions and reactions. I examine every angle of how I will be perceived. The satisfaction I feel when my external presentation aligns perfectly with my internal sense of self is profound. The confidence I exude stems from the control I exert over each aspect of my persona. My wardrobe, my grooming, my mannerisms - they are an artful composition designed to eliminate any unease. I find freedom in the mastery of my image and interactions. What some may see as exhausting is for me energizing - it is deeply fulfilling to meticulously shape how I am viewed by the world.

In this unexpected moment, my mind goes blank and I find myself utterly unprepared. All the carefully crafted excuses and explanations I had ready vanish into thin air. A wave of fear washes over me as I fumble for words, stuttering and stammering incoherently. I grasp for any plausible justification, rambling about the treacherous drive and hazardous weather conditions, but the absurdity of cautioning you against venturing out in the very storm I'm about to confront myself quickly dawns on me. My mouth flaps uselessly, spewing disjointed fragments like a fish flung onto land and gasping for breath. I'm flailing helplessly, lost in this unforeseen situation. Finally, my brain catches up and I clamp my lips together, silencing the nonsensical babble. An uneasy silence settles between us and I shift uncomfortably, racking my mind for something - anything - sensible to say. But I come up empty. The carefully constructed facade I had prepared so meticulously has shattered, leaving me exposed and unprepared in this unexpected moment.

She smiles so softly tilting her head as she asks me to stay one more time. The snow provides the perfect excuse to linger a little longer in her intoxicating presence. She must feel it too, the magnetic pull between us that demands more time together. As the flakes continue to fall outside, blanketing the world in white, inside sparks a flame that melts my frozen hesitance. 

I suddenly remember why I came, turning to Chris as I shove my hands in my pockets. “Seth called Vin, said you didn’t answer about your podcast scheduled for tomorrow.” Chris was busy shoving something in his mouth pausing mid bite with eyes wide. He swallowed hard mumbling curses under his breath as he dropped his food on the table to drag his phone out of his pocket.

 I watched as he frantically scrolled through missed calls and unread texts, no doubt seeing the reminders about tomorrow's podcast that he had ignored earlier. A look of frustration and self-annoyance crossed over Chris' face. He was upset with himself for overlooking something so important. As he processed the situation, Chris seemed to sink into a state of stress and anxiety. His eyes held a faraway look, likely imagining the work he'd have to hustle to get done before tomorrow's recording.

"You said you wouldn't be busy while I was here," she sounded wounded. "Now I feel guilty." Chris turned to her with an apologetic look, realizing that his oversight had not only affected his work responsibilities but also his personal commitments. He opened his mouth as if to explain or make amends, but no words came out. I could see the remorse on his face and knew he felt terrible.

“Well, hey, i’m free tomorrow. I have some errands to run and maybe she could tag along…” I find myself offering to have her tag along to run errands, even though I know so little about this person. Typically, I prefer my solitude when taking care of mundane tasks and avoid having others accompany me. Yet, in this moment, I feel compelled to extend an invitation. She intrigues me, and I'm curious to learn more in a relaxed, casual setting as we check off items on our to-do lists. I want to observe how we interact outside structured conversation - note the cadence of our chatter, what makes her laugh, what irks her. The everyday offers a glimpse into personality. In the routine of errands, guards drop and authenticity emerges.

“I wouldn’t want to bother you,” Her eyes dart nervously between the scuffed hardwood floor and Chris's warm, reassuring gaze from across the room.

“If Rick is offering it’s not a bother, he wouldn’t offer if he didn’t mean it.” Chris reassures her with a smile as he puts his phone to his ear, “Seth, hey man, sorry about that…” his conversation trails off as he paces to the back of the apartment. 

Of course that man knows me better than I know myself sometimes. I’m still standing there awkwardly in the door finding my eyes dropping to the handle as if it will be a quick escape from this uncomfortable situation. "I should go," I feel the words roll out of my mouth and almost instantly regret them, "I’ve got projects at home I need to finish before tomorrow. I’ll be back around 11, we’ll head out then." I don't let her respond or persuade me to stay again, instead taking the door knob in a vice grip and slipping out of the door and down the hall before she can say anything. My heart pounds as I make my hasty exit, feeling a mix of relief at avoiding further awkwardness but also regret that I couldn't bring myself to stay. All the way home I mentally kick myself for offering to take her out tomorrow in the first place. Now I can't cancel as that would be rude, but I can already feel my mind start to anxiously overthink the situation - what am I gonna do, what am I gonna say, what will I wear? My stomach ties itself in knots as I imagine all the ways I could embarrass myself, but also the possibility that maybe, just maybe, it will go well after all. I try to push the swirling thoughts from my mind, take a deep breath, and focus on finishing my work so I'll be ready for whatever tomorrow brings.

[metamorefishsis]

rickorty fic where they bake a pie together and kiss afterwords

This was stupid. Rick hated doing mundane shit like this. Baking a fucking pie? What was he, a Jerry? But Morty'd asked him so nicely, and he was supposed to be getting better, and Dr. Wong told him to spend more quality time with his family that didn't involve imminent death, so he couldn't have said no.

Morty was a pretty good baker, Rick noted. He took after his grandma. Good kid. He was clumsy on his feet, but his hands were quick and nimble, finding no trouble in weaving the intricate lattice of dough on the top of the pie.

Rick couldn't look away. He knew he should. But as Morty's hands retreated from the pie tin and wiped sweat from his head, Rick's own palms perspired, and when Morty turned around and tightened the ribbon of his apron, Rick's own heart tightened just the same.

"Rick?" Morty was staring at him.

"Uh— wh-what'd you say? Wasn't listening."

Morty scoffed and rolled his eyes. "I wanted you to put the pie in the oven."

"Right."

Rick was careful with the tin. He would never have admitted it, but he didn't want to ruin Morty's hard work. When Rick stood up after sliding the pie onto the oven rack, Morty had an odd expression on his face.

"What?"

Morty beckoned for Rick to lean down. Rick's old back groaned for a break, but he obliged. Morty smiled sweetly and lifted a flour-caked hand to tug Rick's face closer.

"Morty. What. What are you doing?"

"Um." Morty jerked backwards like he'd touched a hot iron. "Sorry."

For a moment Rick considered standing up and forgetting the strange way Morty was acting, but fuck, Morty looked so cute in his little pie filling stained apron right now, and if Rick didn't kiss him, he would've had to kill himself instead.

When Morty pulled away after the kiss, his eyes were sparkling. It was disgustingly cliché. Rick didn't mind.

"Alright. How long does this sucker need to bake for?" Rick asked, standing up. He knew dwelling on the kiss for too long would make his heart do things that it had long since given up on doing.

That pie was going to taste better than anything else ever had.

[thesoftboiledegg]

Last year, Spencer's had a whole rack full of new Rick and Morty merchandise to celebrate season six's arrival. I keep hoping I'll see one for season seven, but no dice. In fact, all the Rick and Morty hubs have been slacking.

I saw this item in one of those bootleg canvas print stores:

And that's it for the new merchandise. I went to Hot Topic and Spencer's, and nothing. Charlotte Russe had nothing. I checked out the other mall today, and nothing in Rue 21. Nothing new in those Hot Topic and Spencer's locations, either.

The Rick and Morty cubes weren't having a great day:

Pickle Rick and the cubes on the lower shelves were much happier.

I checked out a nearby head shop and finally found one new item: this mat with everyone having a nice turkey-and-weed dinner. Everyone but Morty, anyway.

Anyway, Box Lunch is supposed to be the "nerd" hangout, but they only sell one Rick and Morty shirt. I helpfully let them know that they need more:

I checked out the Box Lunch website, and just like Hot Topic, 99% of their Rick and Morty merchandise is online. Some of the designs are pretty out there:

Are the eyes from an episode that I don't remember? I have no idea how they tie in. 👁‍🗨

Anyway, as much as I hate to admit it, I've gotta hand it to Spencer's. Even though it's dank, even though they sell fake poop and keychains with ballsacks on them, even though someone always manages to set off one of the screaming rubber chickens when I'm in there, even though they have a boob ball sitting near the register that all the employees signed for some reason...they load their shelves with Rick and Morty merchandise.

No "Haha uh, we don't actually watch that silly show, we keep all our stuff online!" When you go to Spencer's, you're going to see hats and wallets with Rick flipping you off, and you're going to like it! ☝

[manygeese]

Chapter 4 yallllllllllll ❤️ Jason wants a found family

tag list and tumblr version under the cut

It was day two of working at the McLean Farm, and the morning was just as frigid as it was the day before. Thankfully, he had learned that his shift didn’t start until 6:00, and the walk from his apartment to the farm was only fifteen minutes, so no longer did he have to get going at 5:00.

After a lengthy walk, Jason arrived at the farm, knocking on the door of the farmhouse. “We only get to working after everyone’s got breakfast, so you’re free to come in and get something if you haven’t eaten already,” Piper had told him the other morning. He hoped the offer was still standing.

Mr. McLean opened the door, wearing an embroidered apron and holding a spatula. A grin grew on the man’s face as he reached out to clap Jason on the shoulder. “Hey there, kid! Come in, I’m making pancakes.”

Jason shuffled inside and shucked off his coat. He hung it on the coat rack by the door.

“Y’know, my son made that coat rack himself. My boy’s a craftsman,” Mr. McLean said with a proud smile. Wait, was his son Leo? Is that why Leo lived on the farm? Jason felt color rise to his cheeks just at the thought of the other man. He had been so embarrassing yesterday- seriously, who walks up to somebody they just met and goes “your hair is nice and I want to touch it”?

“We know, Mr. McLean,” came several voices from the kitchen. It was followed by tired, but genuine laughter.

“Wow, I wonder if his daughter made that quilt too?” A tall woman with twin braids snarked, taking a sip from her Currier and Ives mug. Katie, if Jason remembered correctly.

The green-eyed girl next to Katie snickered- Miranda, Katie’s little sister. “Maybe she made that tablecloth as well.”

Clarisse, a gruff woman with broad shoulders with a good half a foot on Jason, let out a full belly laugh. The blond man next to her just refilled his coffee mug that read “THE DOCTOR IS IN THE HOUSE” in big red letters, promptly chugging it once it had cooled off. Was his name Will? The blond guy whose name was probably Will- listen, Jason was really bad with names- stuck his mug back under the coffee machine once it was empty.

Mr. McLean laughed along with them, grabbing the handle of the pan on the burner and flipping the bubbly pancake. The aroma of the perfectly baked pancake made Jason nearly faint with how good it was. When was the last time someone cooked for him?

“Someone get Jason a plate and a cup,” Piper ordered as she came downstairs. She buttoned her flannel shirt over her t-shirt, a puffy coat hanging off of one of her shoulders. She threw the jacket over a chair she had pulled out from the dining table, taking a seat.

Miranda reached over to the cupboard behind her and pulled out a plain plate and mug. She handed them to Jason with a polite smile. Mr. McLean slapped a few lukewarm pancakes on his plate, in addition to the freshest one he had been fixing when Jason came in. “Thanks,” Jason breathed, offering a shy nod to both Miranda and Mr. McLean.

Out of the corner of his eye, as he filled his mug with coffee and grabbed some silverware, Jason noticed Piper beckoning him over to the dining table. Once he turned his head fully over to her, she motioned for him to take the seat next to her.

He accepted the invitation, sliding into the chair with the finesse of a nervous toddler, offering a lopsided smile to her before he began eating. This was exactly when Piper decided to ask her first question. “So, Jason, what brought you here?”

He chewed faster, which he regretted he had to do, since the pancakes tasted really good. He hadn’t eaten anything half as tasty in- how long had it been since Thalia left? Fifteen, sixteen years? He hadn’t eaten anything half as tasty in fifteen or sixteen years. He swallowed awkwardly and wondered how honest he wanted to be. Ultimately, he decided, “I got fired from my old office job in the city. Figured it might be a nice change of pace to move out here.”

Piper nodded, folding her hands together like a James Bond villain and resting her elbows on the table. Her face was completely covered by the way she tilted her head forward, except for her eyes, which narrowed at him. He had a feeling he was being read like a book. He straightened up a little and scooted the chair closer to the table.

“Got any family, Jason?”

“Technically.”

“What do you mean, ‘technically’?”

Jason knew he was getting a tad bit too honest with the person who was effectively his boss, but he had made this bed. He pretty much had to lie in it. “My mother died back when I was twelve, at which point my older sister left the house. I haven’t heard from her since, which leaves, or left, me with my father. And he was the one who fired me in the first place, so, um, that’s what I mean by ‘technically’.”

Piper’s already large eyes widened. She took her elbows off of the table and stopped leaning forward, instead opting to cross her arms over her stomach. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“You don’t have to be.”

One of Piper's eyebrows rose, but a smirk grew on her face. “Well, I’m gonna be. You sound like a guy worth being sorry for.”

Jason furrowed his brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked, authentically confused.

Piper just barked out a laugh and got up from her seat, grabbing her coat again and putting it on. She proceeded towards the front door without a further word.

~*~

It was around noon that Mr. McLean came to get Jason for lunch. “We eat all our meals together. We’re a family,” the man had said, and if Jason were still working at an office, that would be a red flag, but this man made amazing pancakes, so he was inclined to believe it.

They were all seated around the dining table. All the other farmhands had brought their own lunches, which Jason hadn’t realized was a thing they were supposed to do. The McLeans were nice enough to make him a PBNJ, though. Jason felt suspiciously like a kindergartner on the first day of school, sitting at a cafeteria table surrounded by kids he had never seen a day in his life. The difference was his mom had never bothered to pack him a lunch, so he always got a soggy burger and a carton of chocolate milk, plus whatever questionable vegetable the school offered.

“Speaking of family,” Mr. McLean piped up after Clarisse mentioned that she was going to help her cousin move to a new town, “Jason here might have noticed that we all have different mugs.”

Miranda and Katie groaned in sync, which made them laugh. Will just rolled his eyes and smiled as he sipped what must have been his fifth cup of black coffee. Piper shook her head fondly.

“We’ve made it a tradition to get all our kin a special mug,” Mr. McLean continued.

“Like an initiation,” Katie explained, raising her Currier and Ives mug. Miranda raised her mug too, which was shaped like a watering can.

“It all started with my dad. He walked me out to market one day and got me this mug with my favorite characters from the Peanuts on it- still my favorite comic strip. I have literal books full of them, Piper got them for me for Christmas, and yes, I do realize I’m getting off track. But I insisted that Dad should get one too, so I bought him a nice wildflower one with my own money that I’d gotten from my job at the corner store.” Mr. McLean sighed wistfully.

“Tradition is to get new members of the family a mug on their third month here. I got mine-” Clarisse raised her own cup, emblazoned with the face of a boar- “five years back.”

Jason nodded along, pretending like he wasn’t ecstatic at the idea of being a part of a family. He caught Piper grinning at him from the corner of his eye.

When he was a kid, Jason would always bring up these hypotheticals to his friends. He would ask what kind of animal they’d be, or instrument, or color. He would eagerly await for the answer every time, even if he had asked the same question a few months before. He knew his friends would tell him would be a dog if he were an animal, or a cello if he were an instrument, or cornflower blue for a color, but the words never failed to make him smile. It was being seen, Jason thought, that made him feel so giddy about it.

Even if he knew he would be a wolf, not a dog. There was in important difference, despite what Dakota always said.

“Frank was the guy before you, and his mug was a replica of his grandmother’s old fine china,” Piper added. “It took months to find something that looked like it, so he got his a little later than most, but he was real appreciative of it. He’s gonna take it with him on the move.”

Jason nodded absentmindedly, but he was struck with the urge to snoop. He knew all of the mugs- Piper’s psychedelic one was hard to miss- except for one. He excused himself from the table under the pretenses of washing out and putting away his mug, probably getting back to work while he was up, too. The others just waved goodbye, going back to their conversation with the ease of a group of old ladies in a particularly active book club.

After the inside of the cup was thoroughly cleaned (double and triple washed, since Jason was nothing if not meticulous), he went to the cupboard. Using the cabinet’s open door as cover, he sneakily grabbed the one mug not described to him to inspect it.

It had a warm brown background with grass sprouting up at the bottom. There was a cartoon radish, an onion, and a carrot with little smiling faces lined up above the text “I’m rooting for you!” When turned upside down, the name “Leo” was written in red marker in the handwriting of an eight year old. Cute, Jason thought. Very cute.

~*~

A quiet fall afternoon was a great time to do some thinking, or at least, that’s what Jason’s brain decided it was a great time for. With wheat as his only company, Jason allowed himself to get lost in his own mind for a while.

He really, really wanted that mug. And this wasn’t like wanting a trophy, just something to be proud of. This wasn’t like being spelling bee champ (which was nothing short of a miracle that it happened) or getting an 100 on a test. It was like being asked “where were you today” if you missed a day of school, or seeing someone positively light up when they make eye contact with you. Jason wanted that mug like he wanted a place in someone’s heart.

But to worm your way into someone’s heart, you had to work for it. In Jason’s mind, you couldn’t just expect unconditional love, even if that was the definition of the word. You had to earn it. Jason philosophized that he just hadn’t done enough for his father or Thalia to make them care. Father certainly hadn’t cared enough, judging by all the yelling and berating he did. Thalia didn’t even care enough to stay. But Jason was sure he could do better. He could make them care. He’d make Mr. McLean, and Piper, and Clarisse, and Miranda, and Katie, and Will, and Leo (especially Leo) love him.

All in all, Jason was eagerly awaiting the three month anniversary of his employment for that precious mug, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to work for it. That’s what he was there for, after all.

@katiefromcabin7 @iwannascreameurekaa @froglyberrys @justlikearat @existential-life-crisis @jasonisntboring @poppitron360 @erosjournal @ihatenotreading

[andy-clutterbuck]

Rick's leather sling | requested by EVERYONE

[the-prsc]

Day 5

Previously on PRSC... 

The second cross-band camp is formed, The Conglomerate. This is the combo of Rush (as a whole), Emerson and Palmer of ELP, and finally, Chris and Rick from Yes.

Keith has (for want of a better term) lost his shit following the murder of his friend and bandmate, Greg. He’s racked with guilt and angst. So far, this has led to attempts to loot the Rush camp. This makes the other bands put him into isolation.

Death Count: 1 

In the Conglomerate... 

The prog supergroup of a camp is flourishing with the increase of personnel. Chris (of the Yes group) has remembered that he brought his lighter with him into the arena and has had it with him all along. This has made a large number of differences. Chris has been making himself useful, making basic torches that he can light easily with his lighter. This of course means that the bands can work longer hours and then have more relaxing evenings afterwards. The others have democratically been assigned positions in the Conglomerate: 

 Alex oversees hunting/fishing, working (reluctantly) with Keith 

When Chris isn’t working on light sources, he and Geddy gather resources like wood, mushrooms and vegetables. 

When the four of them get back from these missions, Alex meets Rick around the fire, and they cook it all to be eaten later (while also having a great laugh!) 

Neil does all the heavy lifting jobs and manual labor. He is the strongest (in body and mind) of the guys at the conglomerate, and he rarely shows any sign of weakness. Carl (from ELP), helps him with these tasks and tries to make himself useful elsewhere 

They were visited by one of Fripp’s messengers earlier this morning. This caused something of an awkwardness as this messenger was Bill, previously of Yes, Bruford. Needless to say, Chris kept his distance, and the others didn’t give much information away to "The Court".

Over In Epping Forest... 

Genesis, are doing surprisingly well considering their somewhat rough start and two pretty much unusable members (Tony due to his boredom and Peter as he is too whimsy). Tony’s Etch-a-Sketch Mona Lisa is coming along nicely, with the hair pretty much complete now! They have the most efficient food gathering of any of the bands because of their new advancements in fishing "equipment". They are also cooking the fish properly on a cooking rack that Phil, Steve and Mike put their heads together to create. Not bad, Genesis! 

Politics In the Court... 

Robert Fripp has been sending scouts to various areas of the arena looking for other bands so he can learn of their progress (and make sure to be one step ahead of anything they may try). These chosen people are possibly his most brainwashed band mates, Bill and Jamie(referred to as James by Fripp). Fripp’s endless control over the arena is worrying David rather a lot. As you may know, he has been demanding to be referred to as "The Crimson King" for some time and now with his men in charge of "Foreign Intelligence" and "Defense", our violin playing friend is worried that The Court may not be as democratic as he was encouraged to believe... 

That’s all for today, so we’ll see you tomorrow for... 

The Prog Rock Survival Competition!

[living-life-at-the-coolest]

Ava- A Supernatural Imagine- Sam and robot reader

Meet the Winchesters

Authors note:I know I know, kind of cliché summary. Trust me the story is a lot better. Anyway just going to put it out there now this is a strange story. It's completely different from my usual...You have been warned.

Deans Pov.

"As you can see we are trying our best to achieve the perfect female. We have been experimenting for years and we have finally got them on the rack. And you said you were with the Vix Corporation am I right?" "Oh yeah, our company is buying one of these…robots and they sent us out to check." I couldn't help but be a little creeped out at the fact they were making robot people. I mean I like my ladies to be a little feisty. I can tell I'm not the only one that feels this way Sam and Cas both look a little disturbed. This has pecked our interest though. Dad saw this as a threat so here we are. Evidently some people are worried the robots will rebel and wipe out the humans. We're here to make sure that doesn't happen.' "So how do they communicate and respond? Are they just like you or me?" Sam was probably the most interested in this case. "Umm, yes they do have emotion it's controlled by us until they are capable to handle it themselves." Sam continued on "So they're not perfect little angels?" I couldn't help but smirk at the face Cas was making. "They can be whatever you want them to be." I'm pretty sure Rick is the guy's name. He seems nice enough, he just seems really proud of his work. "Would you like to see how it's done" We all nodded and followed him to what I assume is the control room. It just had a bunch of tempting buttons with this clear glass screen. Rick starts pressing some buttons and the computer starts building this women!

Sam's Pov.

While I'm not too thrilled on using robots to satisfy our needs, this was amazing! The computer built this women who literally looked perfect! She had these confusing eyes that showed every color you wanted and showed ever emotion all at the same time. She had brunette hair that was cut in a pixie cut. Her face was sprinkled with these cute freckles. It was hard to tell how old she was supposed to be. "State your information." Rick said through a microphone. "I am A.I 0704076 hybrid. I am copy 2,706. I am a sophisticated software used to be a friend, take care of children, and satisfy sexual desires and so much more." She said this so swiftly it was hard to keep up with her. I had to admit I was amazed, she looks so…human. She looks like the perfect human. "Could you move around for me please?" She seemed hesitant to do so but tried anyway. She got the hang of moving pretty quickly. Rick asked her a few more questions then she decided to ask one of her own. "Would you like to name me?" "Yes, thank you for asking. Your name from now on is Ava." They both seemed pleased. She even smiled. "Hello, my name is Ava."

Authors note:So I hope you liked it! It took me a bit of time but I was happy to do something different. So tell me how you liked it! Tell me if you like the whole different prospective thing or if you prefer the "normal" thing. I will also answer any questions you may have since I know this is kind of a confusing story. Oh and make sure to click that kudos button! BYE!

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Rappers rarely hesitate when it comes to dropping a bag on themselves, but they also don't mind spending racks on their peers. From cars to jewelry and everything in between, members of the hip-hop community have gifted each other some of the most extravagant gifts imaginable and some of them will surprise you.Remember the time Jay-Z gave out Rolex watches as a party invite? Back in 2019, Hov gave VIP status a whole new meaning. Instead of going the route of having calligraphy written on nice parchment paper to invite people to his Shawn Carter Foundation Gala, he sent out bottles of Ace of Spades champagne, which costs about $300, and rose-gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches, which have a price tag of nearly $40,000. Big money, to say the least.Meek Mill and Swizz Beatz were among those to receive the wrist piece and shared their excitement via social media. "Hov sent these as VIP passes smh this rich shit is getting out of control," Meek said. "I'm not joking lol," he added. As for Swizz, the beatmaker shared a photo of the luxury watch and bottle of bubbly on IG and said, "Hov is on another level with the invite game."A year later in 2020, Kanye West gave 2 Chainz an early birthday gift: a customized Sherp Pro ATV. A Sherp Pro ATV is a Russian-Ukrainian-manufactured all-terrain vehicle that can ride over boulders, fallen trees, marshes, deep snow and much more. The company, which was founded in 2012, makes several other models, but for Chainz's 43rd birthday, Yeezy gave him the pro model. The Sherp Pro ATV is worth somewhere north of $120,000.In January of 2025, Hunxho showed Lil Baby an expesive gesture by gifting the Quality Control rapper a new Rolex.Take a look below to see more of the high-price tagged gifts that rappers have given each other.Jay-Z Sends Out $40,000 Rolex Watches as Party InvitesJay-Z sent out Rolex watches as VIP invites to some of his his rapper and entrepreneur friends for his Shawn Carter Foundation Gala in 2019. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Oyster, 40 mm, in Everose gold will run you $39,350.Kanye West Gifts 2 Chainz an ATV In 2020, 2 Chainz was treated to a very special gift from Kanye West, a customized Sherp Pro ATV. The purchase is likely a birthday gift to Chainz, who celebrates his big day on Sept. 12. According to Yahoo! Sports, the vehicle is worth upwards of $120,000.French Montana and Khloe Kardashian Buy Diddy a Pearl Escalade TruckTo celebrate his 45th birthday in 2014, French Montana and Khloe Kardashian gave Diddy a pearl-white Cadillac Escalade SUV. The car, which is estimated to be worth more than $70,000, is almost too extravagant to look at.Cardi B Surprises Offset With a Refrigerator Containing $500,000 for His BirthdayWhat do you get a man who has it all? Well, if you're Cardi B, you give him a refrigerator full of cash. For Offset's 28th birthday back in December of 2019, the "Bodak Yellow" rapper gave the Migos member $500,000 in cash that was placed on the shelf of a stainless steel refrigerator.Drake Gifts DJ Khaled and His Son With Matching Diamond RingsIn December of 2016, Drake gave DJ Khaled and his firstborn son, Asahd, matching diamond rings to celebrate the then-newborn baby's birth.50 Cent Gifts 6ix9ine a Diamond-Encrusted InhalerTaking a break from the usual car or watch, 50 Cent bestowed a diamond-encrusted inhaler upon 6ix9ine before he did his time in prison for federal firearms and racketeering charges in 2018. According to jeweler Jimmyxboi of DoneRight and Co, who crafted the piece, the charm and chain was about $135,000.Kanye West Buys CyHi the Prynce a BentleyIn 2018, Kanye West bought G.O.O.D. Music rapper CyHi the Prynce what appears to be a Bentley Mulsanne Sedan, which goes for between $310,000 and $341,000.Drake Gifts 21 Savage With a FerrariDrizzy gave 21 Savage a 2016 red Ferrari 488, which is worth $275,000.Rick Ross Gives Meek Mill a Range Rover for His 25th BirthdayWith Range Rovers costing anywhere between $40,000 and 140,000, Rick Ross spent several racks on Meek Mill's black Range for his 25th birthday in 2012.Jay-Z Gifts Meek Mill With a Roc-A-Fella Records ChainTo commemorate the relationship between Roc Nation and Meek Mill, Jay-Z gifted Meek the chain off his neck. Artists signed to Jay's Roc-A-Fella Records received a Roc chain in previous years. Fabolous is another rapper who wasn't signed to Roc-A-Fella, but has received one of the chains. He received it as a 40th birthday gift.Cardi B Gives Megan Thee Stallion a “WAP”-Inspired Hermés Birkin BagTo mark the success of their single "Wap," Cardi B spared no expense on her collaborator Megan Thee Stallion by giving the 25-year-old rapper a Hermès Birkin Bag last month. For a bag of this caliber, the price tends to range from $27,000 to $500,000 and that doesn't include the custom artwork Cardi had drawn on the purse to commemorate their Billboard Hot 100 No.1 song.Lil Yachty Gives Quavo $27,000 for His BirthdayLil Yachty gives Quavo a grand for every year he's been born. For his 27th birthday, the Migos rapper presented his friend with $27,000.Gunna Hands Young Thug a $100,000 "Cake" for His BirthdayFor his 29th birthday, Gunna blessed his mentor, Young Thug, with $100,000 cash. The Young Stoner Life Records affiliate arranged the cash like a cake with a candle placed in the center of a dinner roll that sat in between stacks of twenty dollar bills.Quavo Gives Saweetie a Diamond Snowflake PendantAround Christmastime in 2018, Quavo gifted Saweetie a $75,000 necklace. The chain is an iced out pendant with a blind out snowflake to go along with the "icy girl" moniker the rapper has created for herself.Offset Buys Cardi B a Rolls-Royce SUV for Her BirthdayTo commemorate her 28th year of life and possibly win back her affection amid the announcement of their impending divorce, Offset purchased Cardi B a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. The car costs over $300,000 and 'Set also included an $8,000 car seat for their 2-year-old daughter, Kulture. Thankfully for Set and Bardi, one of hip-hop's top couples made amends.Lil Tjay Buys Ice Spice a $150,000 Richard Millie WatchJust about a month after Lil Tjay and Ice Spice linked up for a collab on their 2023 track, "Gangsta Boo," Tjay put the ice on Spice with a timepiece crafted by renowned Swiss watch brand, Richard Mille. According to high-profile jewelry dealer, Benny Da Jeweler, the watch is worth a reported $150,000.Playboi Carti Gifts YoungBoy Never Broke Again a New ChainIn June of 2023, Playboi Carti commissioned Jewelry Unlimited to reportedly gift NBA YoungBoy with a chain made from top to bottom with baguette stones along with an upside-down cross pendant comprised of 11 solitaire stones. The famous jewelry company claims that Carti's gift to YB is in celebration of an upcoming joint project from the two rhymers.Travis Scott Gives Future a Melted Utopia Dream ChainIn June of 2024, Travis Scott gifted Future a melted Utopia dream chain, designed by famed jeweler Eliantte.Hunxho Gives Lil Baby a Rolex In January of 2025, Hunxho blessed Lil Baby with a brand new Rolex at the Quality Control rapper's private album release party for the LP WHAM.See 10 Rappers’ Purchases That Broke the Bank Source link

[itsgrimeytime]

Home is Where the Heart is (Part Seven) || Farmer!Rick Grimes (TWD) x Teacher!GN!reader AU

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...

Taglist: @1tsk1tty

rick grimes taglist: @golden-hoax @mgparker

AVAILABLE ON AO3

Inspiration: Like Real People Do by Hozier and Begin Again by Taylor Swift.

Summary: Your life was spinning out of control, you knew that. After a string of particularly shattering events, you decided it was time to start anew. With a little help from one of your Grandma's rentals, you found yourself in the small town of Alexandria. The last thing you expected was your neighbor, Rick Grimes.

TWs: a little angsty (but Rick is there to fix it), crying, infidelity, broken engagement, thunderstorms, and heartbreak.

[[A/N: You finally tell Rick your story. Get my hurt/comfort girlies in here!!! Because you are about to EAT. Enjoy :))]]

You blinked, the dark of the night peeking through your windows and the pounding of the rain on your roof filling your ears.

Flashing to your phone, your eyes flickered over the time -'3:25 AM'.

You groaned, rolling over into the other side of your bed -comforter moving with you. You tried to close your eyes again, picture something beautiful, something nice and calm-

A loud crack of thunder echoed through the night.

"Jesus Christ," you muttered -moving back over to the other side, maybe it was bad luck.

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to wordlessly situate your body -everything still felt uncomfortable. You were trying though, desperately. It wasn't like you had any plans the next day, you just... you wanted to sleep. Needed to sleep.

It had been a rough day, and all you could think about was-

"I need the ring back," he said, nothing even faltering over his face -no pity, regret, nothing.

How could he show up after a year of nothing?

Your eyes shot open, breath heavy in your chest -god. You hadn't thought about that in so long, you thought you were-

"There's someone else, always has been."

Your stomach turned, and your eyes got foggy -you swallowed, dryly. This wasn't fair, you were so far away -you were starting over. He doesn't deserve to haunt you like this.

You wasted three years on him, and he took one second to ruin it all. You were supposed to get married-

With a sob racking up your throat, you finally caved -throwing back the blanket. Blinking up at your ceiling, you tried so desperately to stop the tears -he didn't deserve to make you cry anymore.

You thought you were doing so much better.

The sob squeaked out of your lips before you could hold it back, arms reaching out to hold against yourself -squeezing. Your heart, even though it was distant, shattered in your chest; you could feel what you felt then -the exact same.

Blearily through tears, you grabbed your phone -breaths hollowing out your lungs and mind running so wild. Good god, why did it hurt so bad?

Your finger dashed through your conversations, hovering over the contact. Grandma 💞. Something in your froze solid, she'd always been so wrapped up in this, it wasn't fair-

You set your phone back down, sitting properly on the side of the bed -putting your elbows on your knees, and covering your eyes with your hands. Breaths rattled out of you, but they weren't getting any slower; the sobs had stopped, but the tears kept going. It took you a few minutes there to realize this wasn't going to go alone.

Wiping at your eyes, you let out a big breath -eyes moving to the window. The sky was getting that kind of bright it did in the early mornings, and through the rain splashing against your window, you could see the blue shingles of-

You paused. Rick.

"If you ever... need anythin', I'm just a door down. Anythin'."

"I'll make time for ya, you're more important than that other stuff anyway, darlin'."

You were sliding your shoes on before you could even second guess it.

It was like you were on autopilot, you felt the rain -heavy on your clothes. You knew it was cold -goosebumps rattling across your skin, but you couldn't feel it.

And all you could hear was the pounding of your heart in your ears, and the boom of the thunder -you weren't sure which one made your hands shake. Your lip was trembling and your breath catching in your throat -you blearily stepped toward his house.

The puddles sloshed around you, soaking through your shoes but your mind wasn't thinking of that. Just the quiet timber of his voice, the twinkle in his smile, the all-encompassing woodsy smell he seemed to carry around, and his eyes -so blue.

All you could think was that you wanted him, needed him. You weren't exactly sure why, but it felt like you were broken into pieces and he was the only thing that could fix it.

By the time you reached shelter under his porch though, you were soaked -tears washing down your face just as consistent as the rain was moments before. Your hands were shaking and your chest was heavy, your hand felt so far away.

With a breath, your knuckles brushed onto the door -a quiet knock, but one all the same.

You took a deep breath in and had a moment where you realized just what you were doing. Guilt twisted into your gut, as your head swirled, showing up at his house at 3 am was not what he meant.

But your feet wouldn't move, you tried so hard to turn yourself back into the rain -maybe it would help if you stayed out there a little more. Bring you down to earth, make your mind clearer.

You won't put this on him, you reprimanded yourself, he doesn't deserve it. You should just go home and-

"Do ya 'ave any idea what ti-"

His voice was cut short, blue eyes settling on you -detailing over your soaked clothes and the redness you knew to be under your eyes. He hesitated only a little.

"Is everythin' okay, darlin'?"

Something in you snapped, tears falling faster and breaths puffing out of your chest -the tiniest whimper echoing through your lips.

Rick rushed forward at the noise, stepping out of his house without a second thought -hands gently holding your face, keeping your eyes locked on him, "Hey, hey, sweetheart, it's okay, I've gotcha. You're safe-"

You didn't say anything, sniffling a little pathetically -but something in you calmed ever so slightly. His eyes trained on you and the warmth of his hands, you felt safe.

"-c'mon, let's get ya inside."

His hands moved quickly, wrapping around your hand and pulling you inside without hesitation. Another sob riled up through your throat, and Rick turned to the noise without another thought.

"Breathe, baby, you're alright," he hummed -taking your hands and placing them on his chest, "-follow my lead."

Your mind halted, watching the up and down of his chest -mindlessly you acknowledged the stain your hands were leaving on his shirt and the dripping water staining his floor.

"Good, you're doing real good, darlin'," he praised, blue eyes watching you with something so gentle you couldn't quite name.

When he finally seemed satisfied with your breathing, he brought you to a chair in the hallway -letting your hands leave his chest, "Stay 'ere, alright? I'll be right back with some fresh clothes and a towel."

You nodded your head, words couldn't make their way up your throat. The house felt so warm and welcome, you felt better just by sitting there. Your eyes just lingered on a family photo on the wall, Rick's big smile.

Before you could blink, he was back -towel and clothes in hand. With a thought, he placed the stack beside you -getting on his knees, and fidgeting with your laces. Gently, as if you were made of fragile china, he pulled them off -putting them close to the door, where you saw a few other pairs lined up.

"We'll dry 'em later," he spoke, absent-mindedly, almost to himself.

"C'mon," he held out his hand, the other holding the towel clothes to his chest, "-let's getcha changed. 'At okay, sweetheart?"

"Yeah," you whispered, roughly, accepting his hand as he led you to the bathroom.

"Dry yourself off, change," he spoke, leading you into the room for privacy -blue eyes carefully skating across your face, "-I'll be right 'ere, waitin', okay? I'm not leavin' ya."

Something in your chest stung, he won't leave you.

You pulled the door shut, quietly getting undressed -clothes falling to the floor with a plop, soaked. And dabbing yourself with the towel, it wasn't going to all go away but you tried. Finally, you pulled on the dry clothes -your nose was overwhelmed with just... Rick, and you distantly realized they must be his.

Without thinking, you chanced a look in the mirror. Your eyes were puffy and red, tear streaks clear on your face -your fingers rushing up to rub at them, wipe them away. His shirt was big, sleeves going down farther than intended and hanging a little further than your hips; the pants were the same, you used the string to tie them tight against your waist.

A pair of socks fell to the floor. You smiled a little picking up the bundle and putting them on -he'd even got you socks?

Quickly, toweling off your face and hair, you let out a big sigh and roamed back to the door.

Just like he said, Rick was leaning against the table -pajamas still wet from your hands, and hair mussed from sleep. He seemed a little distracted then, worry furrowing his brow, but then he saw you.

His eyes flickered something bright, trailing over the clothes for a moment too long -like he was appreciating the sight, "There ya are."

He seemed to see you were more relaxed then, but even still, he approached you slowly, and cautiously. Experimentally stepping closer, he waited for a reaction -consent. The idea of him handling you so gently made you want to cry for an entirely different reason.

So, without a word, you stepped forward and wrapped your arms around his neck -digging your face into it. The scruff there buzzed along your skin, but you didn't mind -you just wanted him everywhere, and it felt like it was here. It felt safe.

Slowly, his hands gathered around your waist -hands warm and pressed into your skin like he wanted you to know he was there. With a slow movement, he turned his head and pressed a kiss to your temple -carefully.

Your eyes teared up, when was the last time you'd been held like this?

"I'm sorry," you whispered into his skin.

Rick seemed to take a moment, before carefully pulling you back to face him, calloused fingertips trailing your jaw -tilting you to look at him, "'S no reason to be sorry, sweetheart."

"I woke you up at 3 am because-" you started, but your voice stopped suddenly in your throat.

He looked at you, concern filtering through his gaze and eyebrows furrowing, "Let's go sit down. We can talk if ya want to, ya don't 'ave to say anythin' though."

That's how you ended up here, on his couch -curled into his side with his arm wrapped around you, and hand absent-mindedly tracing circles into your back.

The patter of the rain against the windows made your head go a little fuzzy, and being this close to him didn't exactly help either. All you could smell was the slight scent of rain and just Rick, and with your head pressed into his neck and shoulder, you could feel the heat thrum under his skin.

Every few moments you could feel him glance at you, but your eyes stayed focused on the rain against the windows.

Your mouth opened before you could really think about it.

"I had a fiancé."

The boom of thunder outside broke up the silence for a moment, Rick only listening quietly. You knew he was because his hand moved to your shoulder -squeezing it once solidly and then going back to circles.

"Back in the city," you clarified, moving a hand to fidget with the shirt you were wearing, "-he... We were together for three years."

Silently, his free hand pulled yours away from the shirt -lazily pulling it onto his lap, and interlocking your fingers. He squeezed it once.

There was a breath.

You could feel the words brush into the air, "What happened?"

You bit your lip, gnawing into it for a second, "He disappeared for a year. Wouldn't return my calls, and left all of his stuff."

Rick stayed quiet -patiently.

"We had friends that he talked to, so I... I knew he was alive," you breathed out -taking your interlocked hands and separating them, just so you could run your fingers over the creases in his palm, "-but I didn't see him until a few months before I... before I came here."

He let out a breath, squeezing your shoulder again.

"It was over, I already knew that I just didn't know why-" your voice cracked a little, and Rick turned his head to kiss the top of yours without hesitation, "-He showed up and asked me for the ring back."

You leaned further into him, and he neatly adjusted -fingertips pressed into the skin of your shoulder.

"Told me..." you started, eyes getting a little watery and tone a little wet, "-Told me there was someone else, that he- That he had been cheating on me the whole time, and he needed the ring to... to propose to her."

Rick tensed up for a moment, jaw tightening.

"I took all his stuff to my Grandma's, so he could get it from there, and she-" you mindlessly traced a line in his palm, "-she told me to come here, that she'd take care of everything. Told me about the job and the house she rents out and I..."

You fell silent a moment.

"Never looked back," you continued, "-and I just couldn't get that day out of my head, when he... when he needed the ring."

He hummed, fingers rubbing against your shoulder rhythmically. Back and forth like a ticking clock.

"I just... I kept wondering what I did wrong," you faltered, "-if I was... unlovable or something, or if he'd ever even loved me at all-"

"You didn't do anythin' wrong," he interrupted, it rumbled low in his chest -still slightly sleep-slurred but with conviction.

"How do you-"

"I know," he hummed, voice gruff but still so soft, "-If it's anyone's fault, baby, it's his."

Your heart picked up on the 'baby' this time, something in your mind clear enough to know he had said it now. And he meant it. You wondered briefly if he could hear it in your chest, or feel it.

"He took advantage of ya," he hummed -something tight in his tone, "-and whatever reason he did it for is bullshit."

He was mad, you could tell. Something in you felt so warm at him being mad for you, mad that someone had hurt you.

"Yeah?" You asked -small and barely there.

"'Course, sweetheart," he relented, soft and smooth, "-you didn't deserve any of 'at. No one does, but 'specially not you."

"I know," you said, quieter.

"Good," he responded, voice a little spent, "-dick didn't deserve ya anyway."

You laughed a little, fingers still pressed into his palm, and you could feel his chuckle vibrate through his chest. He pulled his hand away from your fingers to grab your other one, properly holding your hand this time. You felt his head tilt down to look at it, thumb rubbing the back of your hand.

"I wanna talk in the mornin' but," he started, voice low, "-I just want ya to know I'm not lettin' 'at happen to you again."

"How are you gonna-"

"I wanna," he continued, slow and steady, "-I wanna try somethin' with you. And I don't want ya to answer now, I'm not expectin' ya to," his thumb kept rubbing into your skin -gentle swirls, "-but if we did. I'd never let 'at happen to ya again. Ever."

You pursed your lips together into a line, you didn't know what to say -your heart squeezed in your chest. This... this, with him, didn't hurt.

But it could one day, you thought distantly.

You shook it away, focusing on the motion of his chest; he didn't want you to answer now anyway.

"You wanna sleep?" He offered, voice a barely there whisper.

"Here?"

"'M not moving," he mumbled, voice just a touch more slurred, "-too comfortable."

You smiled a little, as he leaned into you slightly, pulling a blanket off the back of the couch and making sure plenty rested on you, before moving to himself.

"Think on it, okay?" He hummed, fingers still tracing shapes on your back, "-'Ere's no rush, I'll wait as long as ya need me to."

You breathed out, situating yourself into his side as you fit perfectly -his arm tightened around you. Holding you in place, and all at once protecting you -from what you weren't sure, but it didn't matter.

Closing your eyes, with the rain pattering outside and Rick tight into your side (his breaths lulling you to sleep), your mind settled.

You already knew your answer.

[norajworld]

Rappers rarely hesitate when it comes to dropping a bag on themselves, but they also don't mind spending racks on their peers. From cars to jewelry and everything in between, members of the hip-hop community have gifted each other some of the most extravagant gifts imaginable and some of them will surprise you.Remember the time Jay-Z gave out Rolex watches as a party invite? Back in 2019, Hov gave VIP status a whole new meaning. Instead of going the route of having calligraphy written on nice parchment paper to invite people to his Shawn Carter Foundation Gala, he sent out bottles of Ace of Spades champagne, which costs about $300, and rose-gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches, which have a price tag of nearly $40,000. Big money, to say the least.Meek Mill and Swizz Beatz were among those to receive the wrist piece and shared their excitement via social media. "Hov sent these as VIP passes smh this rich shit is getting out of control," Meek said. "I'm not joking lol," he added. As for Swizz, the beatmaker shared a photo of the luxury watch and bottle of bubbly on IG and said, "Hov is on another level with the invite game."A year later in 2020, Kanye West gave 2 Chainz an early birthday gift: a customized Sherp Pro ATV. A Sherp Pro ATV is a Russian-Ukrainian-manufactured all-terrain vehicle that can ride over boulders, fallen trees, marshes, deep snow and much more. The company, which was founded in 2012, makes several other models, but for Chainz's 43rd birthday, Yeezy gave him the pro model. The Sherp Pro ATV is worth somewhere north of $120,000.In January of 2025, Hunxho showed Lil Baby an expesive gesture by gifting the Quality Control rapper a new Rolex.Take a look below to see more of the high-price tagged gifts that rappers have given each other.Jay-Z Sends Out $40,000 Rolex Watches as Party InvitesJay-Z sent out Rolex watches as VIP invites to some of his his rapper and entrepreneur friends for his Shawn Carter Foundation Gala in 2019. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Oyster, 40 mm, in Everose gold will run you $39,350.Kanye West Gifts 2 Chainz an ATV In 2020, 2 Chainz was treated to a very special gift from Kanye West, a customized Sherp Pro ATV. The purchase is likely a birthday gift to Chainz, who celebrates his big day on Sept. 12. According to Yahoo! Sports, the vehicle is worth upwards of $120,000.French Montana and Khloe Kardashian Buy Diddy a Pearl Escalade TruckTo celebrate his 45th birthday in 2014, French Montana and Khloe Kardashian gave Diddy a pearl-white Cadillac Escalade SUV. The car, which is estimated to be worth more than $70,000, is almost too extravagant to look at.Cardi B Surprises Offset With a Refrigerator Containing $500,000 for His BirthdayWhat do you get a man who has it all? Well, if you're Cardi B, you give him a refrigerator full of cash. For Offset's 28th birthday back in December of 2019, the "Bodak Yellow" rapper gave the Migos member $500,000 in cash that was placed on the shelf of a stainless steel refrigerator.Drake Gifts DJ Khaled and His Son With Matching Diamond RingsIn December of 2016, Drake gave DJ Khaled and his firstborn son, Asahd, matching diamond rings to celebrate the then-newborn baby's birth.50 Cent Gifts 6ix9ine a Diamond-Encrusted InhalerTaking a break from the usual car or watch, 50 Cent bestowed a diamond-encrusted inhaler upon 6ix9ine before he did his time in prison for federal firearms and racketeering charges in 2018. According to jeweler Jimmyxboi of DoneRight and Co, who crafted the piece, the charm and chain was about $135,000.Kanye West Buys CyHi the Prynce a BentleyIn 2018, Kanye West bought G.O.O.D. Music rapper CyHi the Prynce what appears to be a Bentley Mulsanne Sedan, which goes for between $310,000 and $341,000.Drake Gifts 21 Savage With a FerrariDrizzy gave 21 Savage a 2016 red Ferrari 488, which is worth $275,000.Rick Ross Gives Meek Mill a Range Rover for His 25th BirthdayWith Range Rovers costing anywhere between $40,000 and 140,000, Rick Ross spent several racks on Meek Mill's black Range for his 25th birthday in 2012.Jay-Z Gifts Meek Mill With a Roc-A-Fella Records ChainTo commemorate the relationship between Roc Nation and Meek Mill, Jay-Z gifted Meek the chain off his neck. Artists signed to Jay's Roc-A-Fella Records received a Roc chain in previous years. Fabolous is another rapper who wasn't signed to Roc-A-Fella, but has received one of the chains. He received it as a 40th birthday gift.Cardi B Gives Megan Thee Stallion a “WAP”-Inspired Hermés Birkin BagTo mark the success of their single "Wap," Cardi B spared no expense on her collaborator Megan Thee Stallion by giving the 25-year-old rapper a Hermès Birkin Bag last month. For a bag of this caliber, the price tends to range from $27,000 to $500,000 and that doesn't include the custom artwork Cardi had drawn on the purse to commemorate their Billboard Hot 100 No.1 song.Lil Yachty Gives Quavo $27,000 for His BirthdayLil Yachty gives Quavo a grand for every year he's been born. For his 27th birthday, the Migos rapper presented his friend with $27,000.Gunna Hands Young Thug a $100,000 "Cake" for His BirthdayFor his 29th birthday, Gunna blessed his mentor, Young Thug, with $100,000 cash. The Young Stoner Life Records affiliate arranged the cash like a cake with a candle placed in the center of a dinner roll that sat in between stacks of twenty dollar bills.Quavo Gives Saweetie a Diamond Snowflake PendantAround Christmastime in 2018, Quavo gifted Saweetie a $75,000 necklace. The chain is an iced out pendant with a blind out snowflake to go along with the "icy girl" moniker the rapper has created for herself.Offset Buys Cardi B a Rolls-Royce SUV for Her BirthdayTo commemorate her 28th year of life and possibly win back her affection amid the announcement of their impending divorce, Offset purchased Cardi B a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. The car costs over $300,000 and 'Set also included an $8,000 car seat for their 2-year-old daughter, Kulture. Thankfully for Set and Bardi, one of hip-hop's top couples made amends.Lil Tjay Buys Ice Spice a $150,000 Richard Millie WatchJust about a month after Lil Tjay and Ice Spice linked up for a collab on their 2023 track, "Gangsta Boo," Tjay put the ice on Spice with a timepiece crafted by renowned Swiss watch brand, Richard Mille. According to high-profile jewelry dealer, Benny Da Jeweler, the watch is worth a reported $150,000.Playboi Carti Gifts YoungBoy Never Broke Again a New ChainIn June of 2023, Playboi Carti commissioned Jewelry Unlimited to reportedly gift NBA YoungBoy with a chain made from top to bottom with baguette stones along with an upside-down cross pendant comprised of 11 solitaire stones. The famous jewelry company claims that Carti's gift to YB is in celebration of an upcoming joint project from the two rhymers.Travis Scott Gives Future a Melted Utopia Dream ChainIn June of 2024, Travis Scott gifted Future a melted Utopia dream chain, designed by famed jeweler Eliantte.Hunxho Gives Lil Baby a Rolex In January of 2025, Hunxho blessed Lil Baby with a brand new Rolex at the Quality Control rapper's private album release party for the LP WHAM.See 10 Rappers’ Purchases That Broke the Bank Source link