#s'mores are not up to code

[songweaver]

[hwaslayer]

wildfire (cs) | seventeen.

—spotify playlist | series masterlist

—summary: assistant professor in bioengineering, incredibly attractive, lonely and divorced; that’s how most people describe san. but despite the events that have happened in his life, san has a lot going for himself. he’s a successful, sought out professor due to his brilliant contributions to science at just an early age of 32. he worked hard to get where he was now; head deep into his research, his publications, building his lab and creating a name for himself. everything was good and smooth sailing— until it wasn’t. because when he meets you, a bioengineering grad student interested in rotating in his lab, he finds himself ready to risk all the blood, sweat and tears he put in throughout the years just to keep you close— his need for you spiraling out of control like a wildfire.

—pairing: asst. professor!choi san x grad student!f. reader

—genre: (18+ - minors dni) strangers to lovers, grad school au | fluff, angst, smut

—word count: 4.8k

—chapter content/warnings: cussing, mature language/sexually implied content, very much a filler chapter but a wholesome domestic one!, couple of small flashbacks, oral (f. & m. receiving)/34+35, doggy style, mentions of multiple orgasms, the smut is not suuuuper descriptive - just enough lol, my oh my the tables have turned!, sorry if i missed anything 😞

⇢ 1.5 YEARS LATER

You turn towards the door when you hear someone pressing your door code into the keypad. It beeps twice before the door swings open and in walks San.

"Hey baby." He kicks his shoes off with a smile, immediately coming behind you to press a kiss to the back of your head.

"Hey."

"Sorry it took longer than expected, there was an accident. It was traffic for a bit at some point."

"All good. I got a little lazy and didn't start baking until a bit ago to distract myself." 

"Baking, hm?" He chuckles, setting down the takeout bag down on your kitchen counter. "What're you baking, love?"

"I found a recipe for s'mores cookies online and it looked really good. Just the perfect sugar crash I need, especially when I'm at the hospital trying to sort through our study patients."

"Sounds delicious, actually." You finish scooping the cookie dough onto the baking sheet, sliding it into the oven to bake for about 30 minutes. You turn to San and finally give your man a quick peck on the lips before he starts to pull out the takeout containers from the bag. "To top it off, I got your favorites from the Chinese restaurant near my house. Might be a bit cold so we probably have to re-heat these."

"Thank you, Sannie."

"Anytime, baby."

The past year and a half had been nothing but busy and productive. Waves of excitement, stress and anxiety. But, you wouldn't have it any other way. At first, you questioned your transfer; but over time, as the study picked up and your projects continued to develop and produce beautiful, effective results, you found yourself slipping into a perfect routine. Feeling happier than ever, like you've finally found your niche, a spot carved just for you by the universe itself. Despite being busy himself with slowly prepping the new space with Jongho, teaching and his other lab obligations, San was always there to support you and push you forward every step of the way.

You've gotten your name on a few papers that highlighted some of the work you've contributed [especially Sunwoo's], you've agreed to do a few talks at smaller symposiums— still traveling near [and far] to participate as an attendee or presenter. Everything just feels.. right, like this was where you were meant to be despite the ups and downs it took to get you here.

—FLASHBACK

"Is she ready?" Christopher asks as he sits next to Jongho and San, rolling the symposium agenda in his hand.

"Let me slip in right there." Namjoon pops out of nowhere, squeezing himself through the row in order to sit on San's free side.

"Where'd you guys come from?" Jongho cocks a brow up as they sit, nonchalantly settling down without any question or concern.

"Outside, where else?"

"I didn't even think you two were still here. We didn't run into you guys towards the last half." San says furrowing his brows, catching a glimpse of Yunho settling on a seat in the far corner of the room alone. "Even Yunho's here?"

"Who is going to miss a joint presentation with Y/N and Qi Jaemi? Especially a presentation about tools we've used in the lab being the driving force in a clinical setting?"

"True." Chris laughs. "I'm excited to hear it." He nudges San when you come into view on stage next to Professor Qi. "All you, huh?" You probably can't see San in the crowd right now as you're getting mic'd up, but he thinks it's best you don't. His cheeks are flushed red because he's shy with his friends teasing him left and right, but yes.

That's all him, and he's fucking proud of it.

"Yeah, she is all mine."

"She's come a long way. I knew the opportunity would help her thrive. She was perfect for it." Namjoon says, tugging on his blazer.

"She might top you on the charts, bro." Jongho jokes while San nudges him.

"I don't care. Fine by me if my lady shines."

"You're so—" The lights dim, and the host is getting ready to kick off the start of the next session. It's a smaller session during this symposium; there are other big talks currently happening, some from Nobel laureates, some from highly accredited folks in the bioengineering game. But the four [along with Yunho], are sitting here to support you and your work. They've all been following your progress over time, interested to see how everything grows.

How you excel, how you blossom.

"Hi everyone, my name is Jaemi, and this is my grad student, Y/N. She's been doing fantastic work both in the lab and in the clinical setting, so I asked her to join me today to present her findings with our study patients and how we're driving some of these studies with the knowledge we've grabbed from running rodent behavior experiments in lab." Professor Qi steps out of the spotlight in order for you to introduce yourself. San's got big twinkles in his eyes, pure of love and adoration. He's so in love, he almost finds himself doing a standing ovation until Namjoon presses his hand against his chest and subtly nods.

"Keep your ass down." Jongho laughs to himself, making San click his teeth and sigh in response.

"But, that's my lady."

"So, let your lady do her thing and applaud her after she's done. You'll probably make her more nervous."

"Fine." San pouts, a small smirk creeping up on his lips the more he stares at you and watches you do your thing with Professor Qi on stage.

—END

All of this unfolded the way it was meant to.

As for San, he's been busying himself with Jongho, getting things together for their new lab space in the other building. They've already got their equipment and the layouts of each room set up, and they've slowly started to move a few of their lab members over to start collaborating and working on a new developing project they had been discussing. He plans to finally hire himself a lab manager who can help oversee his labs and help him run the day-to-day operations while he focuses on his classes and running things behind the scenes. 

San seems way happier, and you couldn't ask for more. He's definitely busier [as if he wasn't already], but he never fails to make time for you. Regardless of how exhausted he may be.

San is unwavering.

After San reheats the food, he sets everything down onto your coffee table, along with your chopsticks and a can of your favorited sweet tea [as of recently]. You plop next to your man after the cookies finish baking, setting them on a small heart-shaped plate alongside of the food. You put on the show you two had been indulging in, a show inspired by the theme of Clue and a case of 'whodunnit.' You love the show, but you mainly love watching San get worked up over his own theories. 

"So, I heard." You poke at your rice and sesame chicken before scooping up a small amount with your chopsticks.

"What?" He looks at you before returning his attention to your TV, chopsticks almost missing his mouth while he furrows his brow at the scene. 

"I heard Yunho and Iseul separated." San chuckles a bit.

"Oh, that. Yeah." San continues to eat, unbothered. Part of him is always going to wish them well and hope for the best regardless, because he's not the type of person to wish any negativity even on his worst enemy. But, he can't say he's not glad to finally see the karma come back around. All in time, he supposes. "I learned about the separation through Chris."

"Hm." You hum. "Yunho must have probably come to his senses."

"Maybe."

"Would you.. ever become friends with Yunho again?" San pauses before he shakes his head.

"Nah. We just weren't meant to be in each other's lives and I've accepted it. Hope he's good, though." You softly smile at him before laying your head on his shoulder before eating some more. "Did you hear about the other bit with Iseul?" He continues to eat, eyes trained on your TV screen.

"I just heard her papers were under investigation, but I don't know the details. Jiung and them didn't know either."

"The panel is investigating her and her lab because they're claiming there was falsified data in her some of her papers. They don't think she had anything to do with it directly, but she's still being scrutinized for not catching it and for not overseeing her lab members who worked on the project properly."

"Really?" You look at him with wide-eyes. "Did you.. ever get wind of that or get a feeling about it?" He shrugs.

"Not really, I honestly didn't think she'd ever be in this predicament. I've read her papers and have seen the work her lab members do."

"Hm. Do you think she didn't know anything about it at all?"

"To tell you honestly, I'm not sure."

"Well. Guess you really don't know someone like you think you do."

"Yeah." Is all San says before he gives you a small smile and presses a kiss to your forehead. "I know you, though."

"Do you?" You tease and he taps the tip of your nose.

"Better than I know myself, I'd like to think." 

"Yeah." You giggle, kissing his lips sweetly. "So, tomorrow." You set your things down onto the coffee table, prompting San to stand and gather all the dishes to wash in the sink.

"Tomorrow, yes." He chuckles. "What time is your mom coming?"

"She said not too early because she wants to sleep in." San laughs louder.

"Felt that for sure. Excited to spend the day with two beautiful ladies, though."

"My mom is excited, too. We finally have a man to drive us around." You tease jokingly and he snorts.

"At your service, indeed." San wipes his hands dry after setting the dishes onto your drying rack. He indulges in the fresh cookies you made, plopping himself back down next to you with an arm draped over the back of the couch. You cuddle up against him, laughing as you continue to watch your show together without any major distractions for the first time that night. Well, until—

"Baby." San cuts in after a moment of silence that falls between the two of you mid-episode.

"Hm?" You hum, your arm wrapped around him while you rest your head on his shoulder.

"You should really take your weekends off like this. Don't burn yourself out, especially since you do so much heavy lifting in the lab and hospital." San's fingers gently rub at your arm.

"Says you, huh?"

"Nah uh, you don't get to do that." He pinches your side, making you giggle and squeal. "Don't be like me. If there's anything I truly want and value, it's to make us different than the past. I want us to work together and be on the same page no matter what."

"I know, Sannie. I want that for us, too." 

"You know you can always come to me if anything's wrong or if you aren't feeling your best. I'll always do what I can to work it out and make you feel better." He taps your nose. "I'm here to take care of you, but I also want you to take care and make sure you aren't overworking yourself."

"I think I'm doing pretty good with setting up boundaries for myself. But, that goes for you, too. I know it's been hectic getting the new lab space ready." He shrugs a bit.

"Hasn't been too bad having Namjoon and Jongho there. I appreciate their help a lot."

"That's good. I'm glad. I'm glad you always have Jongho and them to lean on." He nods before looking back down at you with a small smirk.

"Have I told you how proud I am of you?"

"A few times, but I could use the reminder." You match his energy, crawling onto his lap. He looks up at you with the sun, the moon, the universe, in his eyes, his arms wrapped lazily around your waist.

"I'd be happy to give you another reminder." He sits up to hold you flush against his body, lips grazing your neck to litter feathery kisses across the surface. "Maybe.. one that I could show you instead?"

"Oh yeah?" You giggle, squealing when San suddenly lifts you up into his arms and wraps your legs around him— carrying you to the room in your one bedroom apartment. The show is a long lost thought in the background; San gently dropping you onto your mattress. He removes his shirt from his body, tossing it to the floor with yours.

Until you're both bare. 

He kisses you heavily, messily, until he fixes his position on the bed and rests his head against your pillows. He brings you towards him, gently having you sit on is face while you work away at his cock. He laps away while you throat him deeply, loud moans vibrating against the other while you continue your motions.

That 69, all that face time.

And right before you're about to tip over the edge, San snatches your orgasm away from you, pushing you down— ass raised high for him while he's got your cheek pressed to the mattress. He fucks you into oblivion, pistoling his hips into you at a rough, harsh pace; San damn near drooling over the red marks he's leaving on your ass. He pounds into you, earning the repeated moans and calls of his name until your body feels like it'll go limp any minute.

White noise.

Static.

The orgasm rippling through your entire body as San continues to chase his own high. He praises you the entire time, his deep moans, growls, echoing in the room. Your legs feel like jello, and your body is still dealing with the post-orgasm aftershocks, but you're too far gone to care. Too deep into San, too deep into your love for this man. He finally reaches his end, releasing his seed into you, letting it drip down your pussy when he pulls out and disconnects himself from you— tip of his cock messily spreading the stragglers along your ass unintentionally.

San presses a hot trail of kisses up your spine before holding you close and turning you over— brushing the hair away from your face as he stares deep into your eyes, examines every bit of your beauty. He's not done with you yet, no. As a matter of fact, he dips forward to kiss you slowly, deeply. Hands roaming across your body, pinching and teasing at your nipples.

Leaving hickeys on your breasts because only he can see his own artwork.

Then, he goes again, and again. Fucking you with your head damn near hung over the edge of the bed, pounding into you against the shower wall.

Pushing you to your climax for another two times that night.

Because you're his good girl, and he's so damn proud of you.

Your phone starts blaring on the nightstand, causing you to jolt awake— an eye still shut as you lean over to answer the call from your mom.

"Hey mom?"

"Hey lovey! I'm gonna be there in about 30 minutes. Sorry, I figured I'd come earlier, hope that's okay. Couldn't sleep in as much as I wanted to." You suddenly feel more awake than earlier, immediately throwing your legs over the edge of the bed while San's hand lazily falls onto the mattress.

"Yeah, of course. We'll be ready for you." 

"Sounds good! Excited to see you two." Your mom says cheerfully before ending the call. You let out a breath as you set your phone down, gently nudging San awake. "Sannie."

"Hm." He hums sleepily, not moving from his position in the bed. You quietly laugh to yourself seeing his bed hair and red cheeks, hand roaming the mattress to find any sign of you nearby.

"San, get up. Mom is on her way."

"I'm so tired." He groans and whines. "Wore me the fuck out last night."

"Choi San!" You scold him as you hurriedly grab his shirt from the floor and slipping it on, rushing to the bathroom to quickly wash up and get ready before your mom comes knocking.

"What?" He sits up groggily, running his hand down his face, the sheets still covering his bare torso. "It's the truth."

"She's gonna be here any minute." You blabber while brushing your teeth. "Please put on some clothes." San chuckles and dips forward to grab his boxer briefs from the floor— the result of you two choosing to sleep bare that previous evening.

"Okay, okay." He slips into his boxers and walks over to the bathroom to join you in getting ready for the day. You throw on a denim mini skirt and a long sleeve button-up top with knee-high boots. San dresses in slacks and a short-sleeve button up, his hair softly framing his face. Just as he messily ruffles his hair and sprays on a bit of his favorite cologne, your mom knocks on the front door. You happily swing the door open and squeal at the same time your mom does, engaging in a tight, comforting bear hug. 

"My hunbun, how's it going? I know it's been awhile since your schedule has been so busy." Your mom cups your cheeks and pulls you in for another big hug. San comes out of your room, smiling at the moment you're having with her. Your mom smiles at him just as she pulls away, making her way over to him with arms wide open. "San!"

"Hey mom." He says, wrapping his arms around her tightly. 

"So handsome, my god." Your mom mutters while pulling away, making you and San laugh. She quickly shoves a bag full of food she cooked into your fridge, telling you to share with San so it doesn't go to waste. Your mom knew your schedule had been crazy— from your class schedule, to working in the lab and in the hospital for the clinical study. She worried about you more often than not, even texting San to make sure you were getting enough rest in between.

Hence, all his reminders.

"Not even." San blushes. "Anyway, you two beautiful ladies ready to head out?" You and your mom nod, grabbing your purse from the counter before heading out of your apartment.

You and your mom link arms as San is leading the way to his car. He opens the passenger and back door for you and your mom, making sure the both of you are comfortable before driving off to the first destination. 

Today was meant to be a day to spend good time with your mom and San, being that all three of you finally aligned on schedules. Your mom kept hinting that she wanted to head to the outdoor outlet about 30 minutes away from your apartment before indulging in a deep tissue massage, then an early birthday dinner celebration for your mom.

During the car ride over, your mom asks San for updates and how things are going with his lab and the new lab space. You love the way they both easily converse with each other, making it ten times more comfortable for you [and less work of carrying conversation]. They tease and joke around with each other, making you laugh in between. 

You're grateful they were able to build a good relationship over time, just like you and San's mom. San's dad is still slightly closed off and keeps his distance, but you weren't gonna force it if he wanted to keep it that way.

—FLASHBACK

"Where is she, where is she, where is she!" San's mom repeats as she races out the front door and to the car. You laugh as she approaches the window, San barely putting the car in park. You step out and immediately embrace her in a hug while she quickly waves at San and forgets about her son all together.

"Hi to you, too." San laughs as he digs his hands into his pockets, watching as you two head into the house. He shuts the door close and steps out of his shoes, his mom pouring the melon juice she made into cups. She rushes over to the dining table to hand you a big bag, and San already knows she bought you a few things from his parents' trip to Paris. She takes out the items to go through them one by one, the both of you completely oblivious to San standing nearby. He sees his dad come out from his study and into the hallway towards the kitchen, eyes peering over his glasses.

"San." His father says, looking back down at the tablet in his hands. He sees the two of you laughing and drinking the melon juice.

"Look who's here! Y/N came by with San." 

"Hi Mr. Choi." You can openly call San's mother 'mom,' but you hadn't built that relationship with his father and you weren't sure you ever would.

"Hi Y/N." He says. Politely, but he doesn't give you much attention after that, asking San's mom about their upcoming schedule. San comes from behind you, gently rubbing at your lower back, placing a kiss to your temple as a way to reassure you.

"I'm sorry, love. He always bothers me at the wrong time." San's mom playfully rolls her eyes. "So you two, tell me what's new. Especially you, dear." She brushes your hair back. "How's the clinical study going?"

—END

When the three of you arrive at the outlet, San is able to find a parking spot nearby. The outlet has a couple of stores both you and your mom are excited to hit, leaving San to trail behind— happily watching as you two move from store to store, piling on bags and bags. Eventually, he takes over and holds both of your bags, letting you guys freely enjoy yourselves as you continue to shop and enjoy each other's company. Amidst all the shopping excitement, you, San and your mom sit down for some iced drinks and pretzel dogs; snacking away for a bout of energy to walk through the last half of the outlet before heading to the massage appointment.

At the end of the shopping trip, you and San go halfsies on buying your mom a cute Louie Vuitton bag she had been eyeing. She almost cries when she comes back from the bathroom, watching the staff pack it up nicely and wrap it up in a big bow to top it off. She continued to urge you two to return it, but you brushed it off and pretended to not hear her.

Your mom deserved every bit of today, and you were glad you and San could deliver. She, too, had been working so hard, pulling in overtime just to keep herself busy and on her feet. She deserved to be spoiled.

The spa is only 15 minutes away and not busy when you arrive. The three of you are taken inside to separate rooms, stripped down to robes and asked to get comfortable. You didn't realize just how much you needed the massage until it finally takes its course, your eyes shutting contently and in peace.

You were definitely close to falling asleep a few times, might have actually dozed off once.

After the 60 minute deep tissue massage, you feel like a brand new person. You feel more light on your feet, less tense and tight around certain pain points. San pulls you in for a sweet kiss when you reunite, your mom teasing the both of you for being 'too cute for words.'

For dinner, San made reservations at a fancy restaurant right near the coastside, making sure to put in a good word for your mom's birthday when he called. It's a very busy Italian restaurant— big in size, staff running from end to end while chefs are calling out orders in the back. There's a ton of chatter going on from table to table, booth to booth. The host brings you to a booth right near the window, giving you a good view of the sun setting below the horizon, ocean waves crashing against the shore at a distance.

"This is beautiful, San." He smiles.

"You like?"

"I love." Your mom says in awe, staring out the window.

"All on me."

"But, you covered the massage. And my purse, god my purse?!"

"And I'll cover dinner." He chuckles. "It's your birthday. I wanna treat you, okay?" You laugh.

"He does have a point, ma. Today was a birthday celebration for you." The host comes back with two roses, handing it to both you and your mom in tiny vases. 

"Roses for you ladies." The host says, doing a curt bow.

"This comes with it, too?"

"Course. And another surprise later."

"Uh oh, we get a birthday song and cake!" San laughs and shushes you.

"Baby." He mumbles under his breath and gently pinches your side, making you laugh loudly as you skim the menu.

"Thank you, love." You respond.

"Of course. Any appetizers you wanna start off with?"

"The calamari sounds good."

"And the spinach artichoke dip with chips." San nods.

"Solid choices. I agree." The three of you order some non-alcoholic drinks before giving the waiter your order for appetizers and the main courses. It doesn't take long for the appetizers and drinks to arrive, keeping you busy until the main entrees arrive. You, San and your mom talk a little bit about your time in Professor Qi's lab and how you seem to be doing better about balancing your workload. They listen as you explain what next steps are, what directions you're hoping to take with your projects in the future.

Well, at least, you feel more positive about implementing changes to your routine so that you aren't overworking yourself or burning out quickly.

"I'll be right back, I need to go to the bathroom." San nods and gives your thigh a squeeze before scooting out of the booth to let you go.

"I think it's all the way towards the back." He says. You nod and he continues to stand, watching until he feels confident you're headed in the right direction. You scurry off to the bathroom towards the back of the dark, dimly lit restaurant, leaving San to entertain your mom while you're away momentarily. But you don't worry at all, especially when they don't even seem to mind you being gone; too deep into their own conversation about you, your relationship. Seemed to be the perfect moment, anyway.

"I'm glad she's finding a little bit more of a balance with her schedule now, San." He nods and smiles toothlessly.

"I am, too. I'll keep reminding her. Don't worry." She nods and laughs a bit.

"I'm just worried about her, as always. I know it took her a lot to get into grad school and where she is today. She struggled for awhile and finally felt like she was in a good place, like she had purpose. I know all she wants to do is work hard and push through, but I don't want her to get sick or hurt herself. I don't want anything to happen to her, and I especially don't want all of this to be taken away from her in any fashion."

"It won't. She's amazing at what she does, and she's passionate about it. It doesn't take much to see that. But, I think she knows her boundaries well. She knows when she can and can't push herself, or when she shouldn't. She'll find her rhythm over time and it'll be better." Your mom sips on her water and slowly nods.

"You take good care of her. I can tell you genuinely care about my daughter."

"I do. I love her. I really love her. Deeply." He pauses before fiddling with the edge of the napkin. He feels his nerves growing, and he's trying his best to push it away. "A-And if it's not too much to consider now, I'd like to get your permission and blessing to care for her and take care of her, especially after she graduates."

"Y-You're asking now?" Your mom asks in slight disbelief, even though she's mostly in shock because San is asking now. It's not that she doesn't believe him, or doesn't think he'd keep his word. It's the fact that he's even doing it in the first place so early on. 

"I, yeah." San chuckles. "I'm sorry, mom. I don't mean to scare you, but I'm certain about her." San sips on his drink. "I don't necessarily hop from one relationship to another. I'm not that kind of guy. And I know you might've heard a bit about my last marriage, but I can assure you—"

"I know, San. I know." Your mom puts her hand on his arm and gives it a reassuring squeeze. "Y/N told me all about it. I hope you don't mind. She told me everything about Iseul and Yunho. Those unbelievable bastards."

"Oh— yeah. Right." San laughs with your mom before they sit in silence for a bit. 

"I'd love for you to take care of my daughter and be there by her side." Your mom breaks the silence with her sweet statement. "You've been a good support system for her and I can't thank you enough for being there. For remaining by her side despite the hard circumstances."

"Always. I'll always be there. She's my priority."

"And I know you mean it." Your mom looks at him and reaches over the table to gently squeeze his hand. Because for the first time, she sees the real, genuine definition of love, support, safety and comfort— all wrapped up in one person.

San.

And you just so happened to be his end goal.

—taglist: @asjkdk @interweab @woojirang @svintsandghosts @cheolliehugs @persphonesorchid @mxnsxngie @jycas @cowboydk @vcutparis @chngbnwf @struggling101 @sanhwalvr @angelqueendom @barbielibra @brown88 @choisansplushie @yunhoswrldddd @hyukssunflower @vickykazuya @lucid-galaxys-world @jaytheatiny @pommelex @thechaotictheoryy @vixensss @santineez @nopension @domfikeluva @in-somnias-world @my-atiny-kookie-rkive @mountiiny @naoristerling @onmymymyway @thecutiepieme @wyrated @randajjjad

[hellishjoel]

off to the races

6.3k / dbf!joel x f!reader

Series Masterlist | Next Chapter

pt. 1 pt. 2 pt. 3 pt. 4

series summary: You and your parents rent a lakeside cabin, Joel and Sarah Miller are your neighbors. You’re all grown up, and you’ll do anything to prove to Joel you’re a woman now. 

warnings/information: MA 18+ (minors DNI), NO OUTBREAK, neighbor!joel, age gap (reader is in their early 20’s while Joel is in his 40’s), alcohol consumption, slight daddy issues lol, cursing, use of pet names, dominant!joel, maybe a lil brat tamer!joel, oral sex (m receiving), a lil praise kink, a lil degradation kink, facial, etc. you know ;)

A/N: needed to get cool slutty daddy out of my system. He’s just a Lana coded man!! I plan on turning this into a series, I hope it get's some love! let me know what you think by sending me an ask!

Your desperate eyes met his, trying to gauge what he thought. You hated how you looked like you wanted him so bad. He was your neighbor, your friend’s dad, but you wanted him to be something for you too.  “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doin-”  His words made your chest go tight and your eyes filled with pure horror. What have you done?! “But you need to be the one to walk away, because I don’t think I can.”

Summers in Danbury were what you looked forward to all year long when you were younger. You would love the long drive to the lakeside cabin, swimming in the dazzling blue water all day, and catching fireflies at night before ending it with roasting s'mores over the campfire. 

Now, all Danbury reminded you of were your parents stripping your feeling of independence as soon as you stepped in their embrace and the lack of cell service. 

It wasn’t all that bad, though. Who were you to complain about an all-expense paid vacation on the water? Your parents were fine, you just graduated from university, everything was just.. good. It almost made you a little bored, thinking about the impending summer. 

The warm sun’s kiss on your skin was a welcomed greeting after spending the past 9 months away at school out of state, your eyes twinkling below your sunglasses as you stepped out of the car. It was good to be back in Texas.

“Look, there she is!” Your dad cooed as he was eager to point out the sign that sat beside the entrance of the cabin that read ‘Life is Better at the Cabin’. Cheesy. It wasn’t your choice of decor since it was just a rental property, but still. You also despised the ‘The Secret Ingredient is Always Love’ sign in the kitchen. 

You plopped your bags down at the end of your bed, the one just down the hall from your parents, quick to plug in your phone charger though it made little difference with your lack of a strong signal. 

You turned your head to the window, seeing an old, beaten pickup truck turn onto gravel, a small smile peaking on your lips. 

“Hey, look who it is!” Your dad cheered eagerly from the living room, appearing to also be gazing out the window at the sight coming down the road and pulling into the house next to yours. 

The truck in question belonged to Joel Miller and his daughter, Sarah. Sarah had been your close friend each and every summer since you were little. You two were attached at the hip once your family started vacationing here, despite her being a fair five years younger. You two got along nonetheless. 

You stepped outside to greet them, as your mother and father were already out doing, your face lighting up as Sarah made a b-line to your embrace. “Oh my god! Look at you!” She praised, her eyes lighting up at your appearance. 

You two didn’t get the chance to spend the past few summers together due to business with school or internships on your part, so her surprise in seeing you a few years grown up was warranted. 

“Look at me? Look at you!” You said through punched lungs as she hugged you so tight you were losing your breath. 

If you thought Sarah’s tight hug was bad, you weren’t prepared to see what was waiting on the other side of the pickup truck. 

Your lips parted at the sight of Joel Miller. He was sort of… handsome. Was that wrong to think that? I mean, he was so much older than you, someone’s dad, Sarah’s dad. You tried not to let your eyes linger for too long but his voice pitched into the conversation and you had been caught. 

“Hey, Skids.” Ugh. That dreaded nickname you had yet to wear off. “Haven’t seen you these past few summers. Happy to be done with school?” Joel’s southern drawl was a shock to your system after being up in the Midwest for school. 

He was tall and rugged, so unkempt. His hair was tousled everywhere and his beard was growing with salt and pepper stippling through the landscape of his jawline. He looked hot, the faint glisten and stain of sweat marking the collar of his shirt and at the sides of his biceps. 

You blinked a few times before a graceful smile fluttered on your lips.

“Hi, Mr. Miller.” You gently cooed. What? If he could call you by that horrid nickname he had given you when you were barely ten, you could call him by his surname. Your eyes caught his own shift, his jaw twitching at his name being called like that. It was just his name after all, right? 

“Joel.” He corrected with a raised eyebrow, your eyes finally dragging themselves away from his handsome character as they turned to your parents, who were obsessing over Sarah. She was about to go into her senior year of high school, so of course, they had all of the basic questions to ask her. Are you taking any advanced classes? Are you still on the swim team? Do you know where you want to go to college?

You tried to look interested, but you could still feel Joel’s gravitating stare in your direction. 

You were just imagining things, right? He was looking one foot over, to Sarah and your family. Except he wasn’t. You know because you snuck a casual glance over to him, and he was still on you. His gaze alone made a shiver travel up your spine. 

While Sarah and your parents were nestled in their own world of conversation, you take a few subtle steps away and join him by his truck. It still felt warm, the engine relaxing after a good drive in the Texas heat. 

“You need a new truck. She looks like she’s on her deathbed.” You point out, the one corner of his mouth tugging up as he kept his eye on Sarah and your folks with his arms crossed in front of his broad chest. 

“She’s just fine.” He retorts nonchalantly. You hated that about him. You could never figure out what he was thinking, unpredictable but not exactly chaotic. 

“She?” You asked with raised eyebrows. “I always knew you had a special woman in your life. Didn’t know she was so old, though.” You egged him on, your favorite pastime in the summers; Grinding the gears of an old man who had a bigger attitude than you most days. 

“You still have quite the mouth on you. Glad to see that hasn’t changed.” Joel said sarcastically as he pushed himself off the front of the truck with his hip, his head nodding off to the side in a silent way of telling you to follow him. You watched as he pulled down the tailgate, rust screeching until it stopped with a generous thump. 

“Supposed to be Sarah helping me with this, but since she’s busy being Miss Danbury, you can help me.” He said as he pointed to some firewood and other bigger pieces of wood in varying sizes. 

“What do you plan on doing with all this wood anyway? I think the Amazon is looking for it.” You huffed but climbed up into the back of the truck bed without him asking you to. His protective hand instinctively guided your hip for stability, and you felt a rush of air pump through your lungs. “Thanks.” You murmur before you start reaching for stacks you could handle. 

“Sarah wanted to throw y'all a bonfire with it being your first day back for the summer or what have you.” Before you could stop yourself, you were already cooing at him as you jumped down from the tailgate, watching as Joel gave a tight face of annoyance. Don’t do that, you’re gonna get yourself hurt. 

It took Joel all of two seconds to grab two of the larger cut pieces, throwing each of them onto his shoulders. You couldn’t help but stare at his biceps that cradled the wood, the tan skin and muscles popping out of the dark green t-shirt he wore. Focus, focus, focus, focus, focusfocusfocus. 

“And the bigger pieces? What are those for?” You asked out of sheer curiosity now once he threw them down in the back of his lawn, the sight of your parents and Sarah long gone. 

He shrugged and shook his head, his hands on his hips as a layer of sweat started to build up around his hairline. “Just carvin’ projects. The rest can be used for scrap lumber around the lake properties.” His head finally turned to look at you, his eyes raking you up and down for a moment before nodding to your lake house rental. “Doin’ property maintenance over the summer on the houses ‘round here.”

“So if we need maintenance, we call you now?” You asked with a dubious face, to which he nodded. 

This man never stopped. It made sense, you supposed. You reflected on the summers in the past, knowing Joel to manage his own contracting business and picking up odd jobs around town. You remember one summer, he redid the flooring of an old bakery in town and then built custom shelves for the loaves of bread and bagels. Another summer, he repaved people’s driveways with blacktop. He was a laborer, a blue-collar man through and through. 

“That’s right, Skids.” The nickname made you scowl at him again, but you wouldn’t mind seeing Joel Miller laid under your kitchen sink or repairing the window in your bedroom so it could finally let in some fresh air. Frankly, you just wouldn’t mind seeing Joel Miller. 

After Joel reclaimed his daughter from your parents with a snarky yet subtle, Thanks for all your help, kiddo to Sarah, he said goodbye to you and your family as everyone parted ways back to their own homes. 

-

You were tired from the drive, but you didn’t lack attendance to the bonfire Sarah was putting together specifically for you in a welcome back to Danbury! sort of celebration. She invited the other nearby neighbors, so by the time you finally joined, it was packed with people sitting around the fire. People who lived on the lake loved a good party, anything with beer to keep them occupied. 

It was a lot of talking and bottles clinking, marshmallows on sticks, and a crackling fire blazing at the center of everyone. You weren’t one for beer but Sarah insisted on feeding you bottle after bottle. 

She liked sharing secrets with you, away from her dad. She considered you someone she could tell anything to. And you felt the same way. So not more than half an hour later, you two were giggling and sitting on the tailgate of Joel’s old pickup truck when you saw him start to saunter over.  You saw him coming first, snatching Sarah’s bottle out of her hand and taking a sharp inhale as you hid away your own. Sarah’s secret, right? 

“Dad,” she playfully whined when he came over to bust their little party. 

He was silent for a moment before he looked at the dwindling flames. “Fire’s gettin’ low.” He pointed out, looking between the two of you.

His face was lit up in a mix of gold hue from the fire and silver from the moon. His face had this intensity, a bucked-out jawline, cheekbone, and nose. It was like he was carved from stone. 

Sarah was silent, not wanting to leave behind her friends at the bonfire to shuffle over more wood. You softly nodded as you took a swig of her beer bottle in your hand before setting it down once you hopped off the truck bed. 

“I can help.” You offered. Joel looked down at you hesitantly, sneaking a glance to where your parents sat around the growing circle of people.

“Yeah.. yeah, ‘lright.” Joel said as the two of you walked off to the dividing line on his property, the wood you had dropped carelessly earlier in the day now in a neat stack. You certainly weren’t drunk, but slamming Sarah’s beer along with the other ones she ushered you before was now messing with your head, the edges of your vision a little fuzzy, especially in the dark since the glow of the bonfire was at such a distance. 

Before you knew it, you were stacking the wood into your arms, too much maybe. Joel called out your name in a warning tone. 

“No, I got it! See?” You tried to reason with a cocky smile as he shook his head. 

“You don’t like to listen.” He gruffly said as he started picking up the smaller pieces as they fell out of your arms. 

You couldn’t help the playful scoff that left your lips, still insistent on stacking more in your arms, going as far as tucking some in your elbows but all they did was drop at your feet once you went to reach for more. 

“Stop bein’ so damn difficult.” He piped up again as he snagged your wrist, halting your movements. 

“Yeah? I thought you liked difficult women.” Your words were fast like a whip, your eyes challenging his own as the two of you shared unnecessarily long eye contact. 

“Drop-- the wood. Stop bein’ a-” 

“A what?” You challenged. The distance between you two suddenly felt like it was becoming air-tight, his eyes narrowing on yours as his features hardened. He didn’t look mad, lord knows you’d never want to actually make Joel Miller mad. He just looked-- provoked. 

“A brat.” He finally bit, your teeth clenching at the name. The shock of it all made your arms finally burst open like a dam breaching with water, all of them falling to your feet as you let out an involuntary squeal. God, you did not want him to hear that noise leave you like that. 

You finally tugged away your wrist from his hand, your eyes leaving his daggered gaze to examine your palm that had a decent size splinter plunged into the center of it. 

“Shit,” You swore, feeling whatever heat you had left in your body pooling to your stringing finger. 

You heard Joel let out a debated sigh before he took you by your wrist, much more gentle this time, and tried to bring it up closer to his eyes to examine it. 

“Can’t see for shit out here.” He grumbled. You couldn’t see it either but you could feel right where it spread searing pain through the rest of your hand. 

“I got some tweezers in my workshop, I’ll get it out.” Joel offered as he started walking a few paces but you let out an involuntary whimper at the sound of him taking it out. 

“You don’t want that to get infected, do you?” He asked with a true voice of reason, to which you let out a sigh of agreement and followed him to his workshop.

You had only been inside Joel’s workshop a handful of times. You remember once your dad dragged you over so he could talk to Joel about his truck, and you had to wait there and wait there until they finished gabbing. Another time was when you explored it on your own, your eyes fascinated by the little world he surrounded himself in. It wasn’t all wood like you’d expect it to be. He had old guns mounted on the wall, ladders hung up in the rafters, and dusty old fishing plaques that made you disgusted at the sight. It housed his tools, the same ones he had been using for years. He knew where they were by heart, not even looking when he reached for something. Everything had its place, down to the tweezers he immediately found in an old little toolbox. 

“Here,” he said as he pointed to an old metal stool as tall as your waist. You sat down on the cold metal, a little hiss of discomfort leaving you as he sighed. “Always somethin’.” Joel shook his head and offered you a spare dusty blanket, shaking your head. 

“Just-- fix my hand. Please.” You said as you displayed your palm to him, now seeing it in the light for the first time. Okay.. it didn’t actually look as bad as it felt. Joel actually smiled as he looked at the tiny sliver shoved into the skin. 

“..Might have to amputate it.” He said with a half-serious tone, as joking as Joel could sound. But there was a little glint in his eye, one of satisfaction from his own joke.  

“Joel Miller has a sense of humor? I’m surprised. And pleasantly delighted.” You teased as he huffed and shook his head, the smile that graced his lips already came and gone. Sort of. He just looked down at your hand so you couldn’t directly see it anymore. 

It took you until now to see that he changed out of his dark green shirt from this afternoon and into an old 80’s rock band shirt with a worn dark navy flannel over it. He must have showered after laboring in the Texas heat. The thought made your stomach churn in excitement. 

You shivered at how cold you felt all of a sudden, no longer by the warm fire and on this damn metal stool. You shifted uncomfortably on it, cursing yourself for wearing jean shorts. 

Joel let out an exasperated sigh as he stood up straighter and shoved off his flannel, your eyes softening at the sight. 

“You want me to take tweezers to your hand but you keep... shiftin’ around. Stand up.” He directed, and this time you didn’t debate with him. You hopped off the metal stool and he laid down the flannel. It was a nice gesture and you were grateful. You hoped the goosebumps were from the temperature, not how close he was. 

Joel pulled up another metal stool so he could steady himself, reeling himself in as close as he could and holding your palm open in his as his eyes squinted a little bit. 

You felt frozen in place, your lips parting as you slowly looked down to one of his knees that parted between your own legs. Fuck. You weren’t sure if it was the little buzz of beer still in your system but something drove you to have enough courage to gently lay your hand just above his kneecap. 

His eyes flicked up to yours, trying to read what was behind your thought process right now. He looked so confident, you feared you looked all shifty. 

You could feel the worn denim of his jeans under your palm but underneath, he was warm. He was as hot as a furnace as your body craved it. 

“The sliver.” You pointed back out, your voice smaller since you two were in such close proximity. You watched his chest heave as he took a deep breath, grumbling something under his breath before he focused back to his initial task. 

You pursed your lips as you both watched and felt the tweezers line up to the red and irritated skin, his movements precise and patient until you watched him clench the tool closed. 

You let out an involuntary breath of both relief and anticipation, just wanting it out already. 

“Hold on, just gotta make sure I..” Joel’s voice trailed off as he slowly pulled the tiny sliver from your palm, an uncomfortable whine leaving the back of your throat. 

His thigh twitched under your palm at the sound, not even realizing your hand had sunk higher up his jean-clad thigh. 

“Got it.” He finally said, swiping the tip of the tweezer on the table to display the nasty little piece of wood that had caused you all this grief. You let out a breath through your nostrils and nodded. 

“Thank God, no amputation.” You joked, to which he awarded you a small smile. 

“I’ll call the surgeon and tell ‘em to turn around. We’re good here.” Joel said as he gently released your wrist. You watched his features carefully, seeing his lips part as he glanced down to his leg that your hand still held for balance. 

“What’er you doin’?” He finally asked, his voice dropping an octave at the question. Shit. 

Don’t read this wrong, or this will be the most awkward interaction you and Joel have had to date. This is worse than when he saw you fall out of the inner tube while boating, worse than when some kid tripped you at the town barbeque, worse than when you fell off Sarah’s scooter so hard that he gave you the nickname Skids. 

“Woah, Skids! Better slow down!” God, that was so many years ago. His chuckle still echoed in your ears.

Now you were older, you were a woman. You had long legs and glowing skin, and a smile that knocked guy’s out of the fuckin’ park! But he was older too, older than you, younger than your dad but god, not by much. You were so close to him, you could inhale the distant smell of the bonfire, the one he probably made instead of Sarah. He also smelled like an old spice deodorant and fucking cigarettes. 

He was stingy, and greasy, and hot, and Joel. 

Your years of anticipation thinking about him like this was over. 

You bit down on your lower lip, your mind was foggy with the rushing in your heart,  feeling your ears pound and your palm still seared. He was a head taller than you while you sat together, and before you could stop yourself, you were leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his pulse. 

Your lips lingered around his neck for a moment, the sensitive skin of your mouth feeling beard stubble and tasting distant cologne. Your breath fanned over the skin, clammy but sweet with his sweat. 

He didn’t stop you, his eyes merely watching you carefully. 

“What’er you doin’?” He asked again, but this time, his words sounded more-- goading. Do it, I know you won’t. You’re chicken shit. If you know what you want, do it. 

Your heart raced as you nearly leaped off the stool, closing the distance between you two as you stood between his legs. Your hand moved higher on his thigh, so close that you were nearly touching the leather of his belt. Your mouth returned to the sweet spot of his pulse while your injured hand reached up to the opposite side of his neck to gently hold him there. 

“Joel,” you whispered his name breathlessly, asking him for more, feeling his head drop down beside yours. You feared you embarrassed yourself, he wasn’t reciprocating, he wasn’t--

The thoughts brewing in your head bubbled down to a boil as his firm arm wrapped itself low around your waist, keeping you to his front as he pulled down to look at you with a stern look on his face.. You were so fucked. 

Your desperate eyes met his, trying to gauge what he thought. You hated how you looked like you wanted him so bad. He was your neighbor, your friend’s dad, but you wanted him to be something for you too. 

“I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doin-” 

His words made your chest go tight and your eyes filled with pure horror. What have you done?!

“But you need to be the one to walk away, because I don’t think I can.”

His words surprised you. He didn’t think he could walk away from you right now? Holy shit. 

Your heart was pumping so hard under his watchful gaze, seeing his eyes look from yours to your parted lips. But he didn’t kiss you, you don’t think you would let him. It felt too intimate. You just didn’t want another boring summer in Danbury and you were determined to have a fling. 

Who knew it would be with Joel Miller. But you wanted him. 

Your brave hands took him by the chest of his shirt, your mouth moving to his jawline as you balanced the tightrope of kissing and nibbling on the skin before your hands moved south to find his belt buckle. 

His legs naturally parted for you, catching a brief smirk on his lips as you took control of the situation. 

“Dirty girl goin’ right for my fuckin’ cock.” He whispered against the shell of your ear, a desperate nod leaving you while your cheek involuntarily rubbed against the stubble of his beard. You didn’t know he talked like that.

You initiated more space for yourself, nudging the inside of his thighs with your own legs as you had his back up against his drafting table with you no longer on his side but standing in front of him. 

Your quick fingers desperately undid his belt, feeling the old leather under your fingers. You didn’t have the balls to look at him and frankly, you were afraid you would lose your nerve if you did. 

His hands were encouraging for your nervous system, firm palms planted into your hips and even going as far as to squeeze the flesh that sat under your jean shorts. His body warmed you up, his eyes admiring you as you plucked open the button on his jeans. 

You pushed your tongue against your cheek in concentration, all of a sudden desperate at the thought of having him in your mouth. You dragged down the zipper, the relaxed denim exposing the black briefs he wore underneath that hugged his tan hips. 

You slowly sunk to your knees before him, as if you were worshiping a God. Maybe you were, it was Joel Miller, after all.

“This what you were learnin’ off at school?” Joel belittled, your head doing a few quick nods as a flush stained your cheeks. God. Something about Joel calling you a slut had you in a tailspin. You couldn’t wait anymore. 

Your fingers delicately felt over the impressive growth that his briefs held down, biting down on your bottom lip as you let your pointer finger make the outline of his girth. 

He let out an audible grunt at the action, his jaw jutted out, and his eyes filled with lust. “Lemme see that pretty mouth.” He practically purred, your chest rising and falling in anticipation as you slowly opened your mouth for him. You felt the intrusion of his thumb, a guttural moan leaving your throat as your big eyes stayed on his. He pinched at the inside of your cheek for a moment, your eyes twinging closed and opening back up with twinkling tears on the brim of flowing. 

“Good girl, keep that mouth open for me.” He encouraged as he pushed two fingers past your lips, testing you. And you were more than willing to accept his little challenge. His fingers pushed on the back of your tongue, feeling your lips graze all the way to his knuckle as you worked on breathing through the feeling of his fingers shoved down your throat. 

You were determined for him not to get the best of you, to prove how you had some experience under your belt. Your tongue willingly swirled around his digits, humming softly as you suckled. Now it was his turn to look like he was ready to fold. You felt him swell in your hand, the hand still stroking over his erection in his briefs. 

He ripped back his fingers, leaving them with a pop to your lips. Holy shit. You took a few deep breaths and swallowed, blinking back the tears that his fingers provoked from going so far down. 

“Damn, baby, look so pretty down on your knees for me. Don’t make me wait ‘ny longer.” Joel’s breaths were heavy, his southern drawl exaggerated in his lust-filled state. 

A proud smirk laced on your lips, his eyes on you as he watched you pry down the material of his briefs, watching as he lightly lifted his hips off the stool and using the drafting table behind him as leverage to let his jeans and boxers rest comfortably around the top of his thighs. What you had been craving slapped eagerly into the palm of your uninjured hand, an unexpected little moan leaving you. 

You studied his cock with anticipation, the glowing pinkish-red tip glistening with pre-cum from all the anticipation. He was generous in size, he would be the biggest you had ever taken. He was just… grown. You let out a satisfied little mmm, smirking up at him as your fist wrapped delicately around the base as you pumped over just the bottom half of him. 

Your hand came up to push some hair behind your ear but Joel was quick to handle that for you, stroking the stray pieces back behind your ear and then planting his palm right on the top side of your head. He tried to guide you closer but you just continued to smirk at him, a desperate grunt leaving the back of his throat. 

“Don’t play with me, kitten.” The nickname had you fawning, much better than the other nickname he had given you in the past. Maybe this new one would replace the old, the girl he dismissed before now a woman whose attention he craved. 

You guided his tip to gently tap at your flattened tongue, using his base to guide him until you generously wrapped your mouth around his leaking head. He let out a satisfied hiss which made you smirk, knowing you were the one making him dance on the line between pain and pleasure. 

You let out an involuntary mewl as the fist he had made in the back of your hair forced you further down his rigid member, feeling wet tears threatening to spill over your waterline as his tip nudged against the back of your throat. He said not to play with him and you disobeyed. 

Your palms flattened to the front of his thighs as you pushed yourself off of him, gasping for air as you swallowed the mixture of your spit and his leakage that clogged your throat. 

“So fuckin’ pretty chokin’ on me like that, such a pretty face.” He sneered, referring to your teary eyes. But the compliment made you blush and the choking and sobbing was all of a sudden worth it for the praise. 

After that, you craved to take all of him just like he wanted. Your head worked in subtle bobs, taking inch by inch of him at a time. Sometimes his hand in your hair guided you, allowing you to take him with confidence as he let out disgusting groans and low moans. 

Your gluck, gluck, glucks filled the shed, hot pants leaving your mouth around him but not willing to let your head up. Trails of your saliva attached themselves from his balls to your lips, the sight being a trophy for your hard earned deep throating. He was already so close, you couldn’t bear not to taste the prize you had worked so hard for. 

All of a sudden, Joel stood up from his seat at the drafting table and you couldn’t help but show a look of disappointment. You thought he was done, going to leave you like a mess on the floor with bruises on your knees from the cold concrete and your slobbery mouth feeling his loss. 

Your wet eyelashes fluttered as he returned to fist the hair at the top of your head and angled your face upward, watching as his other hand yanked on his member. The sight made your jaw drop. 

“Where do you want me to finish?” His words were pained, stretched thin as he tried to hold out for an answer from you. But you wanted him to finish, you wanted to watch his face contort from the wake of his orgasm that you helped create. 

“Mmm,” you hummed out as you purposefully prolonged his finish, watching as his chest puffed and his skin grew rosy from the heat flooding his body. Your cockiness was punished by a tighter grip in your hair, yanking your head closer to his shaft to force a real answer out of you. Your scalp stung but only a smile was on your face. 

“You wanna cum on my face, Mr. Miller?” You asked in the most innocent tone you could muster, your mouth parting at the sight of him. He looked heavenly. The glow from his shed lights made him appear as if he had an angelic glow. But you knew he was hellish, nothing close to an angel. 

Joel let out a scoffy little grunt at your question, a wicked smile gracing his lips as his hooded eyes slowly fell completely closed as the shock of his orgasm coursed through his body. 

You eagerly watched and you hated how hungry you knew you looked right now. You licked your lips, eager for his taste, eager to make the Joel Miller cum. You were desperate. 

His cock began twitching in his hand, watching as he methodically yanked out his own orgasm. His eyes lazily glanced between his shaft and to your large eyes, slowly smirking at the sight of you holding out for him. 

“Let me see that tongue, darlin’.” His words were breathy, just on the edge of no return. You obeyed, dropping your jaw and flashing him your tongue as you fluttered your eyelashes. At the sight alone, he finished himself off with eager grunts and short moans, you swore one of them was your name. 

His hot cum landed on your face, your eyes closing in satisfaction with a cocky smile. Most landed on your tongue, a few piping hot white strands splattered like paint on your cheeks and nose. All the air in your lungs left you as he tapped his pulsing tip eagerly against your tongue, watching with his jaw slack as he let the rest pool onto your tongue and down your throat. 

You swallowed knowing he was watching, his hand in your hair relaxing. He tasted better than you expected, a new craving. 

Instead of fisting your strands, he started stroking them away from your messy face, praising you as he tucked himself back into his pants.

Both no longer in the hot fantasy you swore you imagined once, you tried to collect yourselves. You shakily stood up from the ground, your knees cold from the concrete. You wipe off any dust or dirt they may have collected, sneaking glances at Joel as he fastened his belt around his waist once more and popping the button of his jeans back into place. 

You glanced around for a tissue, your back to him as you cleaned up your face. Oh my god, you were wiping Joel Miller’s cum off your fucking face.  As the two of you pieced yourselves back together, he reached for his discarded flannel that he had given you still resting on the metal chair you previously abandoned before settling between his legs. 

“Said you were cold. Take it.” He said as he fisted some of the material and looked at you expectantly. You sighed before gently taking the material and wrapping yourself in its warmth. 

As he placed a bandaid on your palm to cover your futile wound, you admired the flannel in all of its unknown beauty. 

It was one of his older ones, you sort of felt bad because you could only assume it was one of his favorites. It adorned a few minor holes and rips, some of which were badly stitched back together in an attempt to salvage it for another few years. Despite its appearance, you melted into it because it smelled like him. It smelled smoky like his cigarettes or maybe that was just the residual smoke from the bonfire. As you walked outside, you could smell it clearer.

Sandalwood with a hint of cinnamon, you wondered what cologne he used. 

Your head was lost in thought as you began to wander back towards the bonfire, a sharp clearing of his throat bringing you back to your senses. You whipped around, seeing as he pointed to the stray wood you had dropped from earlier.

“Oh-” you said bashfully as you returned to the pile with him, both of you knelt down picking up stray pieces. Once you started piling the wood in your arms again, he let out a short chuckle from deep inside him as he held your wrist from stacking more. 

“That’s enough for now, just go.” You liked seeing his face lit up like that, knowing you were the cause of it being even better. 

“Okay, Mr. Miller.” You cooed quietly, his face hardening at the name of adoration you had given him. 

“Okay, Skids. I’ll be seein’ you.” He said with a tight nod of his head, his eyes directing you back to the fire. You set down the firewood by the rocks surrounding it as a barrier, clearing your throat as you returned to the tailgate. You could still taste his cum on your tongue. 

No one seemed to notice your trip taking unexpectedly longer than necessary. Your parents were both swaying their heads and laughing, empty bottles by the legs of their folding lawn chairs to explain their obvious lack of awareness. 

Sarah had joined up with other friends in your absence, but you didn’t mind. 

You finally had a moment to reflect on what had just taken place in Joel’s shed. You let your vacation house neighbor cum in your mouth. Your older, stoic, stubborn ass of a neighbor. 

As if on cue, Joel returned to the side of his truck with his body leaning against the tailgate. His jean-clad hip lightly grazed your thigh, glancing over to see him offering you a beer. 

“Since you’re all grown up now.” He said with a little spark behind his eyes. You nodded and took the opened beer with a growing smile. 

“Cheers.” He offered as he held out his bottle to clink with yours. 

“Cheers to another summer in Danbury.” You tell him. 

He cocked his eyebrow and glanced over to you one more time before he focused his eyes on the growing fire. 

“This one ain’t quite like the rest.” It almost sounded like a promise from him. You hoped it was. Because you were wearing his flannel and you were on his knees for him tonight, you wondered what experience of Joel could offer you this summer. 

---

read part 2 - dark paradise!

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[lancermylove]

Pickup Lines (HC)

Fandom: Obey Me

Pairing: DB, Royals, Simeon, Solomon, Thirteen with gn!Reader

Warning: Corny? Lol. Minors don't look under the cut.

Prompt: Which pickup lines would he use for you?

———————————————

Lucifer

"Do you have a name, or can I call you mine?"

“If you were words on a page, you’d be fine print."

"Are you a dictionary? Because you add meaning to my life."

Mammon

"Hey, are you a bank loan? Because you've got my interest, and I can't help but want to invest in you."

"If beauty were money, you'd be the richest person alive."

"If looks could buy, you'd bankrupt me in an instant."

Levi

"Are you a rare drop? Because ever since I met you, I feel like I've found the ultimate loot."

"Are you a cheat code? Because meeting you feels like I've unlocked a special power-up."

"If love were a game, you'd be my final boss."

Satan

"If you were a cat, you'd be a purr-fect 10."

"Do you believe in love at first chapter? Because ever since I met you, I can't stop thinking about the next page of our story."

"If you were a cat, you'd definitely have nine lives because one lifetime wouldn't be enough to spend with someone as special as you."

Asmo

"Are you made of diamonds? Because you shine brighter than any gem."

"Are you a mirror? Because when I look at you, I see the reflection of my dreams."

"If beauty were a crime, you'd be serving a life sentence."

Beelzebub

"If you were a fruit, you'd be a fineapple."

"If you were a cookie, you'd be a fortune cookie, because meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Are you a campfire? Because you're hot, and I want s'more."

Belphegor

"Are you a dream? Because every time I'm with you, I never want to wake up."

"Are you a cozy blanket? Because being with you feels like a warm hug."

"If sleep were a journey, you'd be the sweetest dream I've ever had."

Diavolo

"Are you a rose? Because just like its petals, your beauty is timeless and enchanting."

"If you were a kingdom, I'd gladly pledge my allegiance to you."

"Are you a royal decree? Because you've commanded my attention since the moment I laid eyes on you."

Simeon

"If you were a star in the sky, you'd be the most radiant one, outshining all the others."

"Do you have a map? Because I seem to have lost my way, and you're the only one guiding me towards the light."

"Are you a sunrise? Because every time I see you, you bring a new dawn to my day."

Barbatos

“I couldn't help noticing how captivating your smile is. It brightens up the entire room."

"Are you a puzzle? Because I'm intrigued by the challenge of figuring you out."

"If you were a vegetable, you'd be a cute-cumber."

Solomon

"Do you believe in magic? Because ever since you walked into my life, it feels like you've cast a spell on me."

"Are you eternity? Because with you, every moment feels like it lasts forever."

"Are you a scientist? Because you've just discovered the formula to my heart."

Thirteen

"Are you a lost soul? Because you've wandered into the realm of my heart."

"If you were a dessert, you'd be the cherry on top of my day."

"Are you a cupcake? Because you're cute, sweet, and I can't get enough of you."

N.SFW/heavily suggestive under cut!

Lucifer

"Are you a teapot? Because I'd love to steep with you and pour out all my secrets."

Mammon

"Are you a stock market? Because every time I think of you, my investments just keep rising."

Levi

"Are you a controller? Because I'd love to be in your hands."

Satan

"Are you a book? Because I can't seem to put you down, and I keep wanting to explore every page of you."

Asmo

"Are you a work of art? Because I can't help but admire every curve and contour of your beauty, and I'd love to explore you like a masterpiece."

Beelzebub

"Are you a marshmallow? Because I want to roast you over my fire."

Belphegor

"Are you a bed? Because I'd love to climb on top of you."

Diavolo

Dinner first, or can we go straight for dessert?

Simeon

Do you want to commit a sin for your next confessional?

Barbatos

"Are you a baker? Because you've got some buns that I'd love to knead."

Solomon

I’m not feeling myself today. Can I feel you instead?

Thirteen

"Are you a rainstorm? Because you make me wet.”

———————————————

➣  Please visit my website for the full masterlist!

[punkeropercyjackson]

do you have any favorite food headcanons for characters you like? if so id love to hear them, i absolutely adore looking at a character and going “yeah i think you like this food eat up lil blub”

Percy's comfort meal is blue double cheeseburgers with blue stuffed cookies and cotton candy bang.Her,Nico and Hazel used to go to Mcdonalds regularly until the boycott and now they diy the recipes at home and the packaging too and vandalize the buildings(for anybody new to my posts,i headcanon Percy as trans and afrolatina)

Miles and Gwen are super into funfetti and strawberry foods but Miles also likes fruity pebbles stuff better while Gwen likes cotton candy stuff better.As a Percy variant,Hobie is a blue food addict and Margo goes crazy for cookies and cream anything and Miles G digs flan and Peni gives me nutella kid vibes

Stephanie loves bubble waffles because she's jamaican-korean and grew up eating them most consistently than anything else in her diet so it's a comfort food,Cass is a boba and burgers kinda guy(lesbian),Jason's dominican but his favorite latino cuisine is actually mexican and Duke believes in cherry blossom flavoured things supremacy(when he was Robin in Rhato,Jason always ordered him some)

Momo taught Dabi how to make s'mores when he first started radicalizing her,intially just to get at Shouto but he caught dilf-coded older brother feelings for her so he ended up redeeming himself thanks to her,and Dabi convinced Momo to start dipping her burgers in her milkshakes at the same timeframe so now they do both a lot as bonding rituals.Shouto and her perfer cat cafe foods over all other kinds as they find out on their dates to them

Aang loves edible glitter and Katara loves gummy sharks and kit kats and chili dogs(Sonic The Hedgehog kinnie),i think that goes without saying?And modern au Aang and Zuko often go together to Jollibee and mau!Zuko is obsessed with Pushpops.All three of them eat dorayaki together too!!

[ronearoundblindly]

ooo how would ce characters react if you started decorating for autumn in august? 🤭

Ya know, right off the bat, I can't think of anyone who's downright against it, but some of them would help and some would just leave you to it. One--take a wild guess--would throw an incredible bitch-fit if he tripped over one gd thing in his way, but otherwise...

Um, there's some language but nothing adult-specific.

Most Into Autumn Decor--Curtis Everett

Okay, there's a reason I worded it that way, but I was a bit surprised, too. I would not be able to tell you if this somehow wasn't influenced by @sweater-daddiesdumbdork's "Life Is Short So Make It Sweet" series, but I truly believe Curtis would be equally into decorating for fall/autumn with you. He'd be the most active in finding decor, too, whether he's shopping with you there or just finding stuff randomly. He'd take the time to plan out and execute a whole thing in the house, and he would get the most joy out of sitting in the warm glow.

Honorable Mentions to James Mace, Johnny Storm, and Ransom Drysdale.

Mace will get into it but not as much as Curtis and for a shorter period of time. You best believe Johnny digs the campfire-and-s'mores vibes but is wary of shit hanging from the ceiling or dry stuff piled on the floor. Ransom is obviously into dressing for the season but also likes to find the most expensive version of all decor, so those beautiful, blown-glass pumpkins are a staple. Ran is perfectly fine if you want to repaint the damn walls every couple months to match the mood; he's fine with it, but he doesn't expend much effort.

Most Indifferent--Jimmy Dobyne

He doesn't hate the season by any means. He's fine with the colors. He likes when you're happy, so if the house needs to be packed with pumpkins and fairylights and shit, okay. Don't expect him to really participate in it, and don't bring rotting leaves into the house. Real pumpkins are for eating or outside.

The other reason he doesn't really care is that Jimmy spends most days outdoors for work and whatnot. He sorta just...sees autumn the whole time it's autumn, and that is enough for him.

*Most Into Halloween Decor--Jake Jensen

If you were wondering why I didn't mention Jake earlier it's because he is miles above Curtis's enthusiasm for one specific thing: spooky shit.

Jake isn't afraid to go all-out. He will make the entire house, the yard, the gd neighborhood if they let him, into a haunted experience. This is, unfortunately, to the point where you have slipped on fake blood before and bruised your tailbone. Jake is now limited to the week of Halloween itself for the more dangerous accoutrements like liquids and sharp blades. Knives and weapons stay in shadowboxes or cabinets otherwise.

No, he will not be taking questions about why they aren't the fake, safe kinds. Just let him have this.

**I don't have a name for the superlative that Lloyd Hansen wins but he is the most obsessed with curating *his look* seasonally.

Yes, I even mean more so than our sweater boi Ransom...

Lloyd is also the man who flips the fuck out if a room or the yard is littered with stuff to decorate. If it's a mess (even for a little while) he thinks it all looks trashy and can't stand that, so you gotta be kinda stealth or methodical about doing it.

Most Into DIY Decor--Ari Levinson

Project? Did someone say project???? Ari's there, tools ready, let's go.

Ari's the man who has a shed or garage full of stuff for all occasions. Sure, there are a lot of power tools and mechanic things, but he's also kept track of all the art supplies, cleaned up that hot-glue gun and twist-tied the cord nicely, and sorted everything into bins or some of the drawers in his shelves. Nails and screws for all sorts. Wall anchors if necessary. He keeps a stash of those papertowel rolls for kids projects. Tissue paper and bags for gift wrapping. He doesn't go so far as to color-code it or anything, but it's grouped together and neatly stowed away. He is always willing to participate in building something new, even if it's silly little paper things.

Most Into Autumn Activities--Steve Rogers

I don't think Steve has any issue with early sprucing for the season, but he is definitely planning where the apple-picking and pumpkin patches are and when to go. There may be fourteen different hay rides and corn mazes to get through, but don't worry, he's got a schedule! He's rewashed the thermoses for hot cocoa at the ready. He bought another stack of pie tins just in case. He printed off several new recipes to try this year, and the ones from last year have hand-written notes in the margins of what to adjust this time. So, yup, hang onto your butts because it's gonna get real busy in a few weeks...

Thank you for asking!

Damnit, these are so amazingly fun. Keep 'em coming!!

[Main Masterlist; Who Would...Asks; Ko-Fi]

[landofthefaerie]

new sjm acotar mate quiz answers

so guess who found the answer mapping code! here are all the answers and who they equate to, in its original coding. basically just take note of which letters are attached to which character! ps if you share anyway pls credit as @ azrielscourt on twitter lol thank u <3

const resultsMapping = {

    A: {

        name: 'Rhysand',

        quote: '“To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”'

    },

    B: {

        name: 'Feyre',

        quote: '“No one was my master— but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.”'

    },

    C: {

        name: 'Cassian',

        quote: '“Come on, Feyre. We don’t bite. Unless you ask us to.”'

    },

    D: {

        name: 'Azriel',

        quote: '“Be careful how you speak about my High Lady.”'

    },

    E: {

        name: 'Mor',

        quote: '“With enough courage, you can say to hell with a reputation. You do what you love, what you need.”'

    },

    F: {

        name: 'Amren',

        quote: '“The quickest way to a man’s heart is through the fourth and fifth ribs.”'

    },

    G: {

        name: 'Lucien',

        quote: '“If I offer you the moon on a string, will you give me a kiss, too?”'

    },

    H: {

        name: 'Nesta',

        quote: '“She felt it all—too keenly, too sharply. Hated and cared and loved and dreaded, more than other people, she sometimes thought.”'

    },

    I: {

        name: 'Elain',

        quote: '“And it was Elain—Elain—who sighed and murmured, “I hope they all burn in hell.”'

    },

    J: {

        name: 'Tamlin',

        quote: '“Don\'t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.”'

    },

question: "When do you usually wake up in the morning?",

    answers: [{

        text: "I never slept",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "10am, I like a lie in",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "5am sharp for my morning run!",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "I'd prefer not to say",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "That would depend on how late I was out dancing...",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "Sleep is for the weak",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "My alarm is set for 7am most days",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "Whenever, wherever, with whoever",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "I like to rise with the sun",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "As the birds begin to sing",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "Choose a snack:",

    answers: [{

        text: "A good, vintage red wine",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "Chocolate",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "Fresh fruit",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "Salted cashews",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "Macarons",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "The blood of my enemies",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "S'mores",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "A dry martini",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "A slice of cake",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "Carrot sticks",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "Choose a magical power:",

    answers: [{

        text: "Flying",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "Mind infiltration (like the Daemati)",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "Immense strength",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "Invisibility",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "Teleportation (a.k.a winnowing)",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "The ability to sense riches and power in others",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "Emotional manipulation",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "Time travel",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "Seer (the ability to predict the future)",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "The power to manipulate nature",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "How are you spending your weekend?",

    answers: [{

        text: "Community outreach",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "Visiting an art gallery",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "Hitting the gym for some weight lifting",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "Travelling for work",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "Attending multiple parties",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "Lounging in silk pajamas",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "A long walk in the forest",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "Hanging with my best friends",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "Gardening",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "Scheming against my enemies",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "What's your greatest weakness?",

    answers: [{

        text: "I find it hard to ask for help",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "Admitting my weaknesses",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "Pride",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "I'm haunted by my past",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "I don't take things seriously enough",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "I don’t have any weaknesses",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "I'm not very confident",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "I don't think before I speak",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "I don't like sharing my feelings",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "I'm very stubborn",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "I like to read...",

    answers: [{

        text: "To my children",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "Beneath the stars",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "Something spicy",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "Other people's diaries",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "Expensive menus",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "High-end auction catalogues",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "Surrounded by nature",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "Military history",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "Epic adventure tales",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "My tax returns",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "Your ideal party would involve...",

    answers: [{

        text: "Rooftop cocktails",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "Something cosy with the people I love",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "A raucous pub night",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "No party",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "Lots of dancing",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "Something exclusive, VIP only",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "Poetry readings",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "I'd rather read a book",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "A royal ball",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "My band playing!",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "What do your friends love most about you?",

    answers: [{

        text: "My resilience",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "My compassion",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "I'm their ride or die",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "My kindness",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "The fun we have together!",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "My wisdom",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "I'm a good listener",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "My courage",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "My loyalty",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "My excellent hair",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "What would you most love to receive as a gift?",

    answers: [{

        text: "Time alone with my partner",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "A beautiful painting",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "A new weapon to add to my collection",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "Jewellery",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "Something I've chosen myself",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "I prefer giving the gifts!",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "A day out filled with my favorite things",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "Gifts aren't important to me",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "Something homemade with sentimental value",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "Time to myself",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, {

    question: "Your friend betrays you to your enemy, what do you do?",

    answers: [{

        text: "Play the long game",

        type: "A"

    }, {

        text: "Talk it out",

        type: "B"

    }, {

        text: "Immediately attack",

        type: "C"

    }, {

        text: "I'd snoop and find out why",

        type: "D"

    }, {

        text: "Ghost them",

        type: "E"

    }, {

        text: "Burn the world down",

        type: "F"

    }, {

        text: "I'd try to forgive",

        type: "G"

    }, {

        text: "I would curse them",

        type: "H"

    }, {

        text: "Probably cry",

        type: "I"

    }, {

        text: "I'd lock them up",

        type: "J"

    }, ]

}, ];

[aureumhq]

“RED, WHITE, & RUMORS” — AUREUM’S 4TH OF JULY BASH START DATE: Friday, June 27 @ 12:00 PM EST TENATIVE END DATE: Saturday, July 5th, 2025 @ 8:00 AM EST (extending or shortening will be discussed with members) LOCATION: A Private Rooftop in Solare Heights DRESS CODE: Elevated Americana — think linen, designer denim, and stars that shine brighter than the fireworks TAG: aureumhq:event001 for all related content LIKE THIS POST to RSVP & confirm attendance

Fireworks? Cute. Scandal in sequins under fireworks? Better.

Aureum City’s first official event is lighting up the sky — and the group is invited to an exclusive Fourth of July rooftop soirée in Solare Heights, where old money meets new mess and champagne out-sparkles the sparklers.

Forget your backyard BBQs. This is luxury on the 30th floor — a private rooftop estate with skyline views, a glass infinity pool, curated cocktails, and just enough red, white, and blue to remind you what country you’re betraying someone in.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Live jazz-funk band with a DJ transition once the sun sets

Custom cocktail menu (try the Rumor Rocket, Declaration of Indulgence, or the Velvet Spark)

Rooftop firework show with velvet lounge seating and too many things unsaid

Pool access (yes, bring a swimsuit — or don’t)

S'mores station with optional champagne pairing

Ice cream cart for the softest souls… and the most dramatic walk-aways

And of course, plenty of little moments to cause… fireworks

PLOT PROMPTS FOR INSPIRATION:

Who's watching the fireworks with someone they shouldn't be?

Who shows up in red for the drama and leaves in someone else’s jacket?

What old flame reignites after the third drink?

Who’s here to celebrate, and who’s here to distract themselves from what they don’t want to think about?

POSTING INFO:

This is a dash-based event — use aureumhq:event001 on all related posts (gif chats, paras, outfits, texts, etc.)

There will be a thread open under the #events category of the Discord. Feel free to post starters, outfits, etc all there. Anything related to the event.

Feel free to begin outfit drops (antime) or pre-party prep threads earlier that day

Everyone is welcome — no RSVP required in-character, but please like this post so we know you're joining!

✨ It’s the land of the free, the home of the bold… and the city of secrets waiting to explode.

So wear your red, spill your white, and toast to whatever’s left standing when the smoke clears. Welcome to Aureum’s very first night to remember.

[omnipicureans]

[S'MORES] - A classic treat, easily made in the bonfires that crop up as the sun begins to set, and perfect for sharing.

The night was winding down, and Fu Hua sat before a fire, a stick before the pit. As heat slowly enraptured the gooey marshmallow, she would hum. She was at peace. That was, until a familiar figure would drift closer out of the shadows.

"Who's there?" She called out, her tone rather sweet. "I'm just making some s'mores and uh, I've got more than enough to share, if you'd like to join me!" Despite all that had come before, that nerve in meeting someone new still managed to find itself tickling the end of each sentence. A soft sigh at the hesitation, before her eyes widened. The realization of who was approaching hit harder than any foe she'd ever faced.

"Aponia..." she whispered, her stick lowering closer to the bonfire. The golden goodness would burn over, blackened and charred like the wood fueling the flame. The state of her snack isn't on her mind, however. Her old friend is.

(Realizing that Fu Hua would probably have a breakdown at seeing any of the flame-chasers but like don't worry about it yk)

𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄'𝐒 𝐀 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇! ╱ ghsolstice prompts.

SIMULATIONS HAD NOT THE NECESSITIES OF HUMAN LIMITS, & thus, the drawl of shuddering wind across dark skies had not summoned forth the thought of retreating back home to unceremoniously end the night. or maybe, instead, the simple thought of having somewhere to retreat was the catalyst of discipline's aimless wandering. sand crushed beneath platformed sandals, moonlight caught between clasped hands, aponia walked & walked & walked until the shore was behind her wake——— hooded eyes glazed over with the barest flicker of fatigue ; THE FOREVER EMOTION TRAPPED BETWEEN THE BINARIES OF HER RIBCAGE, an immortal ghost of her humanity.

at least, in this, the mortal delight of watching setting suns & waking moons would be enjoyed, without the ignorance of pretending how numbers made up the sky & codes reflected the light cast upon her. that, as wispy as the breeze, followed the memory of companionship, a———

shy blue eyes blinked away the exhaustion, napping up at the direction of a stranger's voice. how far had she walked, aimless yet inevitably into the radius of another, more fortunate soul? lips pursed into the beginnings of a frown, TOO QUAINT TO MIMIC THE TRUTH OF A SCOWL, one she, herself, seemed incapable of creating. the greeting though was welcoming enough, & truth to the offer, it had been years since she had the luxury of a smore. ( what exactly that was, she seemed forgetful, but the smell of charring sugar shed a possible light on the sweet's making. )

❛ ah, you are too kind. i apologize for interrupting your peace. ❜ wandering feet set themselves forward to a destination, that beneath the brushes of foliage & into the clearing lit only by a pit of carefully tamed fire. pursed lips became that of a smile, gentle & appreciative, before her gaze finally reached the lady perched beside the flames. ❛ if you will allow me, then i will join you. i. . . ❜

FAMILIARITY GRASPED HER THROAT, & STRANGLED FORTH ANY UTTERANCE OF FURTHER EXPLANATIONS. the feeling was so sudden, so impossibly swift, discipline nearly split apart the fragment she stood as, a shock so utterly disobedient, her expression fell with an uncomfortable ease.

in contrast to herself, fu hua sat casually before her, though evidently not absent of a similar surprise as the disbelief that refused to release her. AGAINST ALL ODDS, FU HUA EXISTED. it was simply a strange oddity that she existed in front of discipline, of all ghosts.

her name fell softly from fu hua's lips, though she had yet to tear herself from the disbelief ; CONFUSED EYES MET THOSE OF A VIBRANT COLOR, so unlike the gaze she remembered, yet belonging to the memory as no other would. quiet, aponia uttered, ❛ fu hua. ❜ & said nothing else, simply to digest the name in full. discipline turned taut, then, once all was consumed. she straightened what had relaxed, pressed together lips that fell open, & changed all besides the tenderness of her gaze.

❛ . . . you are different. ❜ came, first, the obvious. second, followed the trail of her feet, guiding her forward until she stood closer, further into the light. in little time, such sternness softened. ❛ i am surprised, but cannot be anymore. you are a force of the untouchable, fu hua. ❜

( HAVE YOU MISSED ME AS I HAVE MISSED YOU? WHAT HAS BECOME OF YOU NOW, & DOES IT BEAR RESEMBLANCE TO THE REBIRTH OF MYSELF? WHAT HAS CHANGED BETWEEN US, OR HAS ANYTHING AT ALL?

[ . . . ] discipline remained silent of all inquiries, scripted only to the very moment it existed within. )

careful gaze flitted to the empty log beside her. an offer, a boundary, ❛ may i sit with you, still? ❜

[marcholasmoth]

OSRR: 3847

today i took my new adderall.

i went with mom to the quilt shop a few towns over. we picked up a new fabric for her ongoing project.

we also went to lunch at one of our usual favorites that we hadn't been to in a long time, and i got this giant burger with pulled pork that i had two pickle spears with and some delicious fries. when i got up to wash my hands, though, mom ordered the dessert for me that i've wanted every time we've gone there: indoor s'mores. it was a small cast iron skillet with a layer of chocolate covered in a lot of marshmallows, that was baked and then drizzled in chocolate syrup, and served with a basket of graham crackers. i ate about a third of it, and it was DELICIOUS. i can't wait to eat the rest of it.

after lunch, mom and i went home and i don't remember really what we did, but i was leaving soonish to go work with nancy.

so when the time came to leave, i headed out and made it there around 3:45. i went to go walk up the front steps, but they were uncovered and icy and i decided against going that way, instead ringing the doorbell to the garage and going up that way.

i worked with nancy on a paper she's got about immigration, and i was able to sit and focus for the two hours i was there.

that was nice.

after working with her i went to class where i was able to pay attention mostly, but i was very confused. i learned how to convert base ten into binary. then we made it into a code, but it was very complicated and i was very lost. the only good part was that i did it on my computer so i didn't have to move the code through my email to a different place.

i am not the only person behind in the class, though, so that's kind of nice.

i stopped for a reuben and soup on my way back to joel's, and we're in bed and i'm simultaneously still awake and wanting to sleep really badly. i need to take my adderall earlier tomorrow.

but the good news is that it worked.

i'm relieved.

and during the day i did get to talk to leo a bit. i love getting to talk to him. he just makes me happy.

[silentchamp]

A MOTH TO A FLAME—that is what it is. the paradox pokémon knows better than to approach, but its attempts to resist its INSTINCT are futile. the conflict confuses its code, but what is it to deny itself of the great TREASURE that is a BURNING FIRE? a flawed creation of man—that is what it is.

beneath the setting sun, it draws ever closer to the BLAZING CAMPFIRE. its silver body shines in the light; its wings spread apart and position themselves parallel to the fire, and it basks in it. the IRON MOTH lets out a series of electronic hums, its pixelated display flashes, and it closes its eyes as it basks in the BLAZE.

it pays no attention to the pokémon trainer close by.

The leaves woosh with the breeze of the forest, branches dancing against the wind. His firepit would too, flames briefly leaning to the right, to the left, and then back to the center again. He'd been amidst crafting his own s'more, crisp marshmallow crammed between two whole gram crackers, a smear of pecha berry jam sandwiched between the treat.

Red licks his pinky, looking off into the woods--the rest of his team had ran off into the woods, both to play and to retrieve extra kindling for the flame that evening. His charizard lays quietly on her back, tiny dinosaur arms hunched in the air as her tail softly twitches, fire type snoring.

It's comfortable; homey, even.

It's why Red's expression contorts into something serious, something stern, especially upon recognizing the silhouette mirrored in the light of his brilliantly crafted fire.

Janus--?!

...No.

Tight shoulders loosen as Red registers the Iron Moth, a familiar creature with a foreign personality, or lack thereof. He gulps, scanning the paradox pokemon up and down.

This was Viridian Forest. What was it doing here?

Instead of asking questions, he would glance over at his charizard, who had been continuously snoozing. Thank goodness that the moth lacked footsteps, or this could've gone horribly wrong.

Instead, with an intrigued expression, Red would hold out his free hand, taking a bite of his s'more curiously. Would it let him pet it?

[doublel680]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Baby And Toddler Boys S'mores Graphic Tee - Carrot Stick.

[poshfind]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Melissa & Doug Wooden S'Mores Picnic Box Play Food Set For Boys and Girls 2+ NWT.

[vapehk1]

West Coast Vape: A Breezy Guide to Chilling Out with the Best

Ah, the West Coast: where the sunsets are golden and the vape clouds are gigantic. If you've ever wondered why vaping here feels like you've hit the jackpot of chill, you're not alone. West Coast vape isn't just a practice; it's a pilgrimage to the holy land of relaxation and taste. In this guide, we’ll take you on a humorous journey through the misty world of West Coast vaping, where the only thing more impressive than the views is the variety of flavors that can send your taste buds surfing. What Makes West Coast Vape Unique? Ever wonder what gives West Coast vaping its cool factor? Maybe it's the ocean breeze, or perhaps it's the laid-back attitude that infuses every puff. Here, vaping is not just about blowing clouds; it’s about crafting an atmosphere. It’s where technology meets tranquility. Think Silicon Valley, but with less coding and more cloud chasing. And let's not forget the innovations—the West Coast is home to some of the most groundbreaking vape technologies and e-juice formulations. From organic ingredients to wild flavor fusions, it's the forefront of the vaping revolution. Vape culture here is infused with the same entrepreneurial spirit that tech moguls bring to Silicon Valley. Only here, the goal isn't to launch the next billion-dollar app, but to create the perfect blend of flavor and vapor that can make you feel like you're riding a wave off the coast of Malibu—even if you're just lounging on your sofa. The Best West Coast Vape Flavors to Try If you're ready to dive into the flavors that make the West Coast vape scene a tastemaker's paradise, buckle up. We're not just talking about your standard 'fruits and mint' varieties; we’re talking about a culinary explosion that captures the essence of the coast. Imagine vaping a flavor called "Beach Bonfire Bliss" that somehow perfectly encapsulates the taste of s'mores and the salty ocean air, or "Surf's Up Citrus Surge," which packs a punch as refreshing as a morning wave slap. Each puff is like a postcard from places along the Pacific—from the citrus groves of Southern California to the berry fields of Oregon. It's like a foodie tour where you don't just eat the local specialties; you inhale them. So, what’s your first stop going to be? A zesty lime concoction reminiscent of a margarita at a San Diego beach bar, or a rich, earthy blend that takes you through the Redwoods? Vaping Etiquette on the West Coast On the West Coast, vaping isn't just a hobby; it's part of the local etiquette. It's about knowing when to puff and when to pass, and definitely about respecting the space and air of everyone around you. Picture this: You’re at a Los Angeles beach, the sun is setting, and you're ready to showcase your latest cloud-chasing skills. But wait! Remember, it's all about the chill factor here. The rule of thumb is simple: if your cloud could block out the view of a beachgoer's sunset, you might want to dial it back a bit. Then there’s the matter of sharing. On the West Coast, sharing your vape is like offering someone a ride on your longboard. It's a friendly gesture—just make sure your vape buddy is cool with the flavor. No one wants to expect a gentle vanilla puff and get hit with a surprise "Extreme Mint Explosion." It’s all about keeping the vibes as smooth as the ocean breeze. So, keep it cool, keep it classy, and make sure your vape clouds are not more invasive than the seagulls at Fisherman’s Wharf. Where to Find the Best Vape Shops on the West Coast Now, for the grand tour of the best vape shops where the clerks are chill, and the selections are vast enough to blow your mind—or at least your vape budget. Starting in Seattle, there's the infamous "Cloud City Vapes," where the décor is inspired by rainy days and coffee. Here, you can find everything from artisanal e-juices to the latest in mod tech. The staff is as knowledgeable about vaping as they are about avoiding the city’s perpetual drizzle. Cruise down the coast to Portland, and you can't miss "Vapor Trails." This shop is renowned not only for its unique blends but also for its commitment to sustainable vaping—yes, that’s a thing. Organic, locally-sourced ingredients in their juices, and recycled materials in their packaging make you feel good about going back for seconds... or thirds. Don't forget to stop by San Francisco's "Golden Gate Vapes." Nestled in the heart of the city, this shop offers flavors that capture the essence of the Bay Area. Ever tried a fog-inspired vape juice? Here’s your chance. It’s like inhaling the spirit of the city itself—eclectic, misty, and a little bit mysterious. And finally, when in Los Angeles, "The Vape Studio" is a must-visit. It's as glamorous as the city it's based in, with a sleek design and a celebrity clientele. Their signature flavor? "Hollywood Hills Sunset"—a mix of peach, lavender, and a hint of smog-free relaxation. Conclusion Embark on a lighthearted journey through the vibrant world of West Coast vaping with our guide that promises not just laughs but a deep dive into the culture that makes this region a haven for vapers. Discover what sets West Coast vape apart, with its innovative flavors and laid-back vaping etiquette that mirror its cool, entrepreneurial spirit. Savor a tour of the best local flavors, from beach-inspired "Beach Bonfire Bliss" to the zesty "Surf's Up Citrus Surge," capturing the essence of the coast in every puff. Navigate the social nuances of vaping etiquette unique to the West Coast—remember, it's all about respect and enjoying the vibe without overshadowing someone else's sunset. Finally, explore our curated list of the top vape shops from Seattle's "Cloud City Vapes" to Los Angeles' chic "The Vape Studio," each offering a local twist on this global craze. Whether you're a seasoned vaper or new to the scene, this guide ensures your West Coast vaping experience is as spectacular as the views. FAQs 1. What is West Coast vape culture like? West Coast vape culture is as laid-back as a hammock between two palm trees. It's a blend of innovation, relaxation, and social interaction, seasoned generously with local flavors and techy twists. Think of it as the Silicon Valley of vaping—where the tech meets the beach, and everyone's too chill to hurry. 2. Can I vape publicly on the West Coast? Absolutely, but think of it like sunscreen: apply liberally but respectfully. Most places along the West Coast are vape-friendly, but always check local signs and norms. Beaches, parks, and outdoor concerts are usually fair game, but blowing a cloud in someone's face at a beach bonfire might earn you some salty looks. 3. What are some must-try vape flavors from the West Coast? If your vape pen is begging for a new adventure, treat it to flavors like "Malibu Mint Mojito," "Pacific Peach Surf," and "Redwood Reserve." Each puff is like sending your taste buds on a zip line through the most scenic spots on the coast. 4. Are there any particular vaping etiquette tips I should know about? When in Rome, do as the Romans do; when on the West Coast, do as the laid-back vapers do. Always share with a smile but ask before joining a vape circle. Remember, the size of your cloud should never eclipse the sun for others. Keep it friendly and airy, just like the West Coast breeze. 5. Where can I find the best vape shops on the West Coast? From Seattle's rain-inspired "Cloud City Vapes" to the glamorous "The Vape Studio" in Los Angeles, the West Coast is dotted with standout shops. Whether you're in the mood for a sustainable puff in Portland or a celebrity-spotting session in LA, there's a vape shop to satisfy every craving and curiosity. Read the full article

[amarantine-amirite]

Less is S’more

I got up way too early. Before dawn, the world is still and quiet, and the air is cool and crisp. The sky is a deep shade of blue or purple, and the stars and moon are visible.

I don't feel like I have a head start on the day, nor do I feel calm because I am awake while the rest of the world is still asleep. Something kept me up all night.

I stood in the dimly lit corner of the room. Claudia watched me pace around from her perch on the edge of the purple couch. "You're up early, Michelle," she remarked.

I turned to her and said the thing that kept me up: "Do you ever feel like the universe is punishing you for wanting something too much?"

Claudia looked at me with a puzzled look on her face, looking puzzled. "No, why would you even have that problem?"

Everyone thinks I have trouble getting what I want, but there's a lot of lying that goes on here. People just don't want to accept that lying has consequences.

Other kids don't understand it. They just think I'm somebody with a low tolerance for not getting what I want. That isn't true, being lied to pisses everybody off, it's just that I make noise. Most kids just accept the lies and go on with their day. I don't. I make a fuss.

"I'm saying that because every time I go to do something, I feel like I'm fighting for the chance to be lied to."

I hoped Claudia would understand what I said. I don't think she did. "No. I think maybe your standards are too high"

There it is, your standards are too high, the universal code word for I'm going to make you seem unreasonable to cover our lie. If refusing to tolerate lying makes me unreasonable, then fuck off.

"Can you point to a concrete example? This sounds like hypotheticals"

Only one thing came to mind: in 8th grade, our school planned to have a 4th of July picnic instead of graduation because "if our formals were anything to go by, you kids have no taste in clothes". The weather had been dry enough that a stray cigarette would have blown up the forest, so fireworks were out of the question. It also doesn't help that fireworks have a toxic chemical footprint.

The class proposed some cool alternatives to fireworks. Someone suggested we light up the night with sky lanterns. The teacher pointed out it solves neither the pollution nor forest fire problems. Another kid suggested we shoot confetti into the sky with a confetti cannon, the guy that suggested the lanterns mentioned creates littler that wildlife may choke on, as do light-up balloons with LEDs. The kid who sat behind me suggested light-up drones, but that idea got shot down because the drones posed a threat to birds.

Now, I thought we could blow glow-in-the-dark bubbles, but I didn't get to pitch this one because someone butted in with phone displays. Everyone said no to that because it's "too much work", whatever that means. Ink jars waste water. A laser light show triggered a bad memory of the teacher's prom.

They wound up canceling the picnic. We didn't get anything to commemorate finishing 8th grade. The result? Nobody from my middle school remembers whether or not they finished middle school. And worse? Our homeroom was the only one that'd received any information that implied our graduation ceremony was a no-go.

"OK, Michelle," Claudia sighed, "what do you want?"

"S'mores," I nodded, "And I know that's ridiculous because it's Christmas Eve and s'mores are a summer food."

"S'mores don't have to be a summer thing," Claudia declared, casually leaning against the edge of the sofa, "If you're brave enough, you can make them by the campfire in winter. You don't even need a campfire to make them. You can toast marshmallows over the fireplace. I know because a friend of mine and I did that once. Best way to spend Christmas Eve."

A fleeting disappointment crossed my face. "We can't," I hesitated.

Claudia's curiosity sparked. "Why not?"

It's a long story. This year, the state of Oregon had a fire ban in place during the summer. The fire ban prohibited fireworks, campfires, and barbecues, even the propane-powered kind. As extreme as it sounded, it made sense because it didn't rain for the entire spring and we got barely any snow last winter. With weather like that, it becomes dry enough that you can't even fart in the forest.

After October 11th, the ban was extended over the Christmas season to include ovens, both gas and electric, and fireplaces of any kind.

While I attempted to condense the story of Oregon's first year rond fire ban into a single sentence, a sudden realization lit up my eyes, and I grinned. "Wait a sec, I spoke too soon. You can make s'mores in the microwave."

Claudia's skepticism wavered, replaced by genuine intrigue. "You can?"

I nodded again, my grin turning mischievous. "Yes! And while you don't get the caramelized flavor from the marshmallows being charred over a flame, making s'mores in the microwave makes the marshmallows extra sticky."

We tried making s'mores in the microwave. I want to say it worked, but I don't think it did.

The marshmallows puffed out a little bit deflated. It dripped under the rotating plate and it got stuck. The chocolate melted in the middle because it got stuck in an antinode for the microwave. The graham crackers caught on fire. That caused the microwave to blow up.

Smoke and a strong smell of burnt plastic and metal filled the room. I rushed to the window and reached over to open it, hoping to dissipate the smoke before it tripped the smoke detector.

"OK, Claudia," I said as I sauntered out of the kitchen, "the microwave just exploded."

Claudia jumped about three feet. "How!?" she screamed

"I think the plate got stuck and something overheated too much in one spot," I said as I walked out into the hall to get the fire extinguisher, "I'll get the fire extinguisher and stop it from causing further damage, you call the fire department."

I left the door open as I left. Claudia pointed to the label above the fire extinguisher. "Michelle, that isn't a fire extinguisher, that's a hand grenade!" she shouted.

"I'm pretty sure that's a fire extinguisher," I chuckled. That sign never fails to make me laugh. A fire extinguisher looks nothing like a hand grenade.

I grabbed the fire extinguisher. I aimed it at the bottom of the microwave. I pulled the pin, squeezed the handle, and shot myself in the face.

I read the instructions again. I squeezed the handle, and again it backfired. I put the fire extinguisher down, gestured to Claudia to leave, and we both left. Claudia pulled the fire alarm on our way out.

The fire department showed up. They sprayed the building with a hose, got the fire out, and recovered the melted, warped remains of the microwave.

Well, you can't say we didn't try.

@promptlyprompting