#the last one is where I really gave up I refused to do that pose

[lindonwald]

thank u @rukkilill for making this template! I can never get enough of this guy,,,

[kiiwiigii]

Pretending

Alec x Fem!Reader

You are sent on your first mission. With Alec. Alone.

Warnings:

Sorta NSFW I guess. If you squint. Really hard.

I still suck at summaries.

Word Count: 1,188

A/N: Alec, as always, is aged up.

My throat ached as I took in the blaring music and erratic-colored lights in the distance. It was my first scouting mission, and I was barely out of the newborn stage. I would try to take a deep breath if it would help me calm down, but I feared it would only make the ache in my throat flare up. 

"You're doing well, Y/N." 

I looked at Alec next to me. This was also our first mission together. Alone. While Alec and I had finally reached the stage where we weren't at each other's throats constantly, we weren't exactly what I would call friends either. We tolerated each other at best. Truth be told, I wasn't even supposed to be on this mission, but Demetri's services were needed elsewhere at the last minute. So, I was given the honor instead, and Aro seemed oddly giddy about it. 

"Thank you." I said quietly. 

Alec tensed ever so slightly in response, and had I still been human, I never would have picked up on it. But I wasn't human anymore. I was a vampire, with nothing but the sweet silk of blood being the only thing keeping me alive now. I couldn't help but grin. Apparently, my civility still took him by surprise and secretly I loved it. Throwing him off his game, even by just a little bit, gave me life. 

"There." Alec's voice broke me from my train of thought. 

Ah, yes. There she was, the vampire in which rumor had it she could easily hypnotize any creature on the planet, vampires included. Which would be rather interesting to see, since it was a power I had myself. The plan was to simply keep an eye on her and see her movements. If the rumors were true, we would extend an invitation to join the guard. I won't lie and say that I didn't feel threatened, because I most certainly did. But even I saw the use of having more than one hypnotist in the guard.  

However, if she were to refuse, she would pose a serious threat to us. There's no telling where she would end up or whose hands she could fall into. Or worse, starting a rival coven… which is what had been reported. 

I zeroed in on her as she entered the club, two burly looking vampires trailing behind her. 

"She already has a guard. Quite full of herself already, no?" 

Alec hummed from beside me. "Or perhaps she has hypnotized them." 

I nodded my head in agreement. There were so many variables up in the air, and I was itching to find out just how different her powers were from my own. I could hypnotize someone, but it lasted, at most for an hour, unless I was maintaining eye contact. And usually it was only used to get answers when Aro wasn't at hand, which was very rare, but it would be very useful during missions such as these. I wonder if I'd be able to put her under my spell, and vice versa. 

The feeling made me uneasy. I didn't like the thought of being completely helpless like that. I was the hypnotist, not the victim.  

"Let's go." 

I followed Alec from the rooftop, dropping down into the alleyway on the backside of the club. With a simple flick of his fingers the lock to the back door broke and we entered into an empty hallway. Alec paused, straightening his shirt before holding a hand out to me. 

"Come, mio cara." 

If I could still blush, I'm sure I would have.

And if the smirk on his lips was anything to go by, he was well aware.

I grabbed his hand, and he led me through the maze of back corridors, pausing to listen every minute or so. I stayed silent, letting him take the lead, and decided to take those few precious minutes to admire him. 

Given that the mission was essentially an undercover one, we had both forgone our black guard uniforms and instead dressed in modern garb.  

For me a simple black lace dress with matching heels, a little on the racy side and *cough* inappropriate *cough*, but I couldn't convince Heidi otherwise. But Alec was a sight in dark black skinny jeans and rather tight blue button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top button undone. 

It left little to the imagination considering that I could see the taught muscles of his back and arms moving every now and again. 

'Don't do this to yourself, Y/N. You've only just become friendly, now is not the time.' 

Then again, the boy had gone around calling me darling for a while now. I couldn't be certain if he was just trying to get under my skin or if there was something else behind it. 

I suddenly wished I had been paying attention because before I knew it Alec had me pressed against the wall, hiking one of my legs over his hips, keeping one hand on my thigh and the other coming up to my neck. My hands immediately clutched onto his shirt in shock. 

"What are doing?"  

If my heart was still beating, I was sure I would be having a heart attack. 

"Relax." He whispered before pressing his lips to mine. 

I sucked in a sudden breath, confused as hell. When he pulled away, he made the slightest movement of his head to the left, his eyes following the movement. He then bent his head to my neck and began placing kisses along my neck, his thumb rubbing slow circles on my thigh.

It was our target and her two buddies standing outside of a room, talking with what looked to be an employee. Oh. Well, that explained a lot.  

And I totally wasn't feeling disappointed. Or distracted. Not at all. 

I let out a breathy moan for the sake of our act, and pretended to flutter my eyes shut, leaving them barely open enough to watch them. 

Aside from a general once over, the guards barely gave us a glance and the trio entered the room, the poor employee being dragged along. He probably wouldn't come out of there alive. 

The burning in my throat flared up at the thought and I clutched at Alec's shirt even more, causing the second button to pop off completely.

He raised his head, eyebrow arched ever so slightly. 

"Sorry. The smell of blood is making me thirsty." 

His eyes roved over my face for a minute before nodding. That was the only gesture I received saying that he understood before he leaned back in and brushed his lips softly over mine and nibbling on my bottom lip.

I tensed. "Alec, they're gone. Th-there's no need to pretend anymore." 

He didn't say anything, and simply gave me one last lingering kiss before setting me back down on the floor and turning away. He leaned against the far side of the wall, listening intently to the conversation on the other side. 

I tried to do the same.  

Then after a few minutes: 

"Who said I was pretending?" 

{Masterlist} // {Request Guidelines}

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[mejigay]

MEJIBRAY MiA is chewing on his ribcage bone

Keeping up with MEJIBRAY: The Series

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

Hello to my favorite bitches, long time no see! Ready for a classic mejigay gossip sesh?

If you were anything like me, you started a Tumblr blog about visual kei very young (I've posted about vk on this blog since I was 16) and now you're an adult. MEJIBRAY broke up around 6 years ago now I think right? I am now 24, have a masters degree and planning on moving to Japan in spring. Crazy how time flies right.

Let's refresh our minds a little bit okay? Now I'm assuming you remember everything from those 6-ish years ago. The MEJIBRAY label/contract issue with Tsuzuku and Koichi, Tsuzuku's borderline disorder, the refusal to do encores during the last tour, the charcoal face paint and the result of it all which was 8p-sb. If you want a recap on that specific semi-disbandment drama there's plenty of posts that I made about it while it was happening so feel free to check it out! (keep in mind I was like 18 and very dramatic writing those posts lol) There's also this great summary from a redditor in the comment section here

The same redditor even filled me in on stuff I felt out of the loop about in their reply to the OP. I know 8p-sb is gone and Koichi does Trembling Bambi solo stuff while Genki (Tsuzuku) is a vocal coach, is in the band 30 seconds certain victory, and revives VanessA occasionally. But this has also happened:

Yeah what the fuck Koichi? Now, I do remember starting that yakuza theory here on Tumblr back in the MEJIBRAY semi-disbanding days. I read it on tanuki and told y'all about it and got soooo much shit for it at the time lol. Looks like Koichi kind of confirmed the theory! (take that rude anons in my asks back then lmao). However, Koichi staying in the same industry he claims is rotten and run by the yakuza is definitely weird. Why talk all high and mighty while benefitting from it one may ask. Either way, for those wondering what Koichi is up to, there's your answer and an explanation to why he got backlash. About the VanessA stuff, one can conclude that our favorite duo, Genki and Koichi, doesn't seem to be that involved with each other anymore.

I would also like to take time to talk about Genki's well being, as some of you might know he has a youtube channel in Japanese. From my so-so Japanese skills I can still keep up with a lot of what he's saying. Good news, he's doing better now than the MEJIBRAY days from the looks of it. In this video he talked about how the photo from the MEJIBRAY days was him being unwell and the picture to the right is him feeling much better!

(TW for this paragraph: self harm) In another video he talked about various topics/gave advice such as about self harm/cutting and how it annoys him when people say he shouldn't hurt the body his parents gave to him. He thinks that's an incorrect way to tell someone to stop cutting and seems in general to be very open to talk about this topic while smiling and not getting angered. So he seemed very stable, mature and content to me.

What about Meto/Yutaro? Well, he seems to be a happy chef! As for MiA... I've seen him hang out with hosts like Roland and in general seems to live that bougie life. Roland is a top host who aims for the prince vibe just like MiA, and is open about his plastic surgeries just like MiA. Now let's get into a really recent topic about Mia!

Just like me, you might still follow our MEJIBRAY boys on various social medias. And just like me, you might have seen MiA's picture where he chews a bone. "Huh, weird" you might have thought as you scrolled past it. Well here I am, resurrecting this blog once again, just to tell you that the bone is MiA's fucking ribcage bone. I ain't posting that picture, find it yourself cause it's gross.

As MiA poses in the same costumes from his MEJIBRAY days and posts them on Instagram, you'd think his life and social media posts were a bit mundane. Then, a fucking picture of him chewing a thick ass bone pops up. The bone in question was taken out during a ribcage surgery, that MiA claims was done in order for him to create a custom guitar with his BONE INFUSED into it. Yeah I know. What???

In general you could either see it as him being a massive attention hungry person, or as unhinged and putting his life in danger. Bone surgeries are very harmful and anyone with two working eyes can see his shaved jawline bone already. So adding a removed ribcage bone to that... It's dangerous.

That's it for the gossip sesh! I'm thinking of making this "Keeping up with MEJIBRAY: The series" a thing whenever I think there needs to be a big gossip update like this.

To anyone still here in the MEJIBRAY Tumblr tags and to anyone following this blog, thanks for reading all of this and I hope we can laugh at this absurdity together! <3

xoxo mejigay

(feel free to read that sign off in the gossip girl voice lmao)

[tenpintsof-sundrop]

WIP Wednesday - April 17th, 2024.

Preview of Heaven's Gate (Daryl Dixon x GN!Reader)

A/N: Despite the awful messages I have been getting lately, berating me for 'not finishing things' - I want to start doing WIP Wednesday regularly. Sometimes the things I post will not be completed and posted on my other blog. That is normal. Sometimes ideas are abandoned in favour of other ideas. Sometimes things go unfinished for any number of reasons. I have a really good feeling about this fic - it's an idea that I have had in my head since I saw Season 5 of TWD for the first time, and I have been wanting to write this fic for years. Fics like this are usually bound to be finished by me purely out of dedication to an idea I have had for years.

If you want to see the full fic when it comes out, you can follow my writing blog @sundrop-writes where it will be posted.

Warnings: I don't think there's really any warnings for this small section? The term they/them is used, but I didn't want it to be used specifically for the reader, I wanted it to be ambiguous that it could be talking about the larger group or the reader (so that people with she/her or he/him pronouns can also apply themselves to this dialogue). There are typical TWD warnings - mentions of death, spoilers for the show up through Season 4 if you're watching it for the first time. Use of Y/N because I am an old school girl, and idk - I think that's it for this section?

...

When the prison was attacked, Daryl got out with Beth. 

He almost couldn’t stand her bright eyes, big eyes staring at him, waiting for answers - her chirpy little voice, prodding at him, demanding that they ‘follow the trail’ and go look for everyone else. Telling him that he was a tracker, that he could find them. As if it was his damn responsibility just because he had the skills to get it done. 

It was all too reminiscent of you, telling him that he could find Sophia. That it wasn’t an ‘if’ - it was a ‘when’. 

Perhaps that was what got him off his ass and doing what he did best - reading the dirt. 

“What’re you doin’?” He asked, staring at the girl curiously as she went to one of the bushes and rushed to pick berries from branches. Had she not gotten enough to eat that morning? 

“They’ll be hungry when we find them.” Beth told him confidently. 

Of course. That undefeatable streak of optimism. 

Daryl knew that blueberries weren’t your favorite - but he should have something to give you. He would be too busy tracking the footprints to properly hunt for squirrels or rabbits and clean them for you. So, he found himself pulling a large bandana from his back pocket and offering it to Beth - something to hold the berries in to keep them safe as an offering for you. 

“Here.” He grunted at her. 

Beth smiled at him. 

It was one of the last smiles she gave him for a long time. 

When they came across those bodies splayed out beside the tracks - any sense of hope was crushed inside of him. The picture you had gifted him was heavy inside his breast pocket, and he hated that tears threatened his eyes - even if he knew that none of those bodies belonged to you. There was no trace of you there. 

The days started to blur into each other, and Daryl couldn’t get you off his mind. 

One hazy evening, as they both stared into the fire with dead looks on their faces, he took the drawing out of his pocket and unfolded it. 

For good luck. 

He didn’t believe in luck - because it didn’t exist. The world was fucked. Nobody was lucky. You and your good luck were dead. 

He tossed the drawing into the fire, and it was only a moment, when the corner of it had barely caught, when Beth snatched it out. She stomped on it with her boot, successfully saving it. 

“Don’t do that.” She hissed at him. 

Daryl snatched it from her, and crumbled it up, tossing it aside. He let out a grunt, but refused to look at her. 

“That was from Y/N, wasn’t it?” She posed. 

He could feel her imposing stare as she waited for an answer. 

He didn’t give her one. 

“You can’t burn them just because you think they’re dead.” Beth sighed. “You can’t burn up memories. We’re gonna find them. Y/N, and Maggie, and Michonne, and - and everyone.” 

Daryl scoffed. “Yeah. Cause that’s gon’ happen.” 

Beth rolled her eyes, but didn’t speak any further on the subject. 

After she had fallen asleep - when the fire was dull, Daryl picked up the crumbled ball and smoothed it out again. The charred corner hadn’t even touched your bird. He felt like a fool doing it, just as much of a fool as he accused you of being, but he folded it neatly - well, as neatly as he could - and then put it back into his breast pocket again. 

But that was the thing - Daryl wished that he could. He wished he could burn up those memories. 

That you would stop haunting him. Then he wouldn’t have to feel like this anymore.

[channieandhisgoonsquad]

I refuse to be horny by myself, so

I can't stop imagining that Han Jisung is the type of being a complete beast on bed when he's on his dom mode, but a total sweatheart the morning after, shy but also proud of what he did. He'll leave you unable to walk or even move properly, and when you wake up, he's playing some games on his phone and showing you "babe look, I scored my record!" all smiley and cute, and you're just fucking confused.

But now seriously, imagine waking up to this gorgeous man by your side after a night of rough fucking. He's nakes, sheets covering him only to his waist, and you find him typing some stuff on his laptop. When he notices you're awake, he smiles softly at your sleepy state and moves a hand to caress your head, pulling you closer to his lap. He'll turn his head ocassionaly to kiss you, and if you play your cards right, he'll drop the laptop to spend the moment cuddling you maybe eating you out as a good morning snack

✨No one can convince me otherwise.✨

I believe full that Han has his nights where he just ends up fucking the shit out of you repeatedly.

Maybe he had a rough night at the JYPE building? He couldn’t figure out how to end that chorus or he just couldn’t seem to get the choreography down the way DanceRacha wanted him to do it. So, his frustration has been building since it happened.

Hannie🐿️: “Babe, I’m coming home, but I’m not in a great mood, so I won’t be great company.”

You: “Pishposh! You’re always my favorite company!”

Hannie🐿️: “I don’t know what that word is, but know that you’re my favorite person 🥹”

You start ordering a cheesecake from his favorite place and begin preparing a delicious meal and his favorite movie.

He comes home and starts venting to you about what’s ailing him. He’s so frustrated while consuming his cheesecake and professing his love to you for the billionth time, that you actually came up with the idea.

“Ji, I think you need to fuck the frustration out of you. If four of your favorite things didn’t help, we need to take it to that next level.”

The man began blushing, remembering the last time he unleashed his full dominant side on you. But alas, he gulped down the last of the cake and pulled your wrist into the bedroom without a word.

You yanked out the black box of toys for him and gave him free reign on your body; you regret nothing.

You don’t regret letting him squeeze your neck from the sides while he fucked your throat with his massive cock.

You don’t regret allowing him to work your asshole open more, using a size bigger than last time and almost allowing him access, but not quite.

You don’t regret promoting the idea of typing you up and the temperature play idea. Being left squirming while he released some hot wax on one nipple while the other he held an ice cube too.

You don’t regret the riding crop you purchased being used on most of your torso and ass cheeks.

You especially don’t regret letting him pound into you for hours while he posed you in every crazy way his creative mind conjured up.

Everything was amazing and he was always using the traffic light system the entire time. No need for you to pull out the red light (stop) at any moment. He was perfect and he kept reminding you that in his eyes, you were his queen. His filthy, slutty, whore of a queen.

And yeah… he forgot the morning after how rough he went on you.

He was back to being his bubbly and amusing little squirrelly self. But as you huffed from the bruises on your whole body, he realized how much his efforts had really affected you.

That smile and adoration never left your face for a second though. “Y/n, I don’t know how you put up with me. But thank you for always being there for me. I love you and owe everything to you.”

Spooky pookies: @sweetracha @moonlightndaydreams @lyramundana @2chopsticks2eyes

[ingek73]

Dan Wootton’s Celebrity Targets Revealed

In the eighth part of its three-year special investigation into the private and professional conduct of GB News star Dan Wootton, Byline Times uncovers how the powerful journalist used the pretext of ‘underwear modelling’ to target young reality TV personalities. Here, for the first time, these people in the public eye speak out

Tom Latchem and Dan Evans

9 August 2023

Dan Wootton met young male reality TV stars through his work as a prominent showbusiness journalist and then privately propositioned them to do photo shoots at his home for “underwear brands” in an “abhorrent abuse of power”, Byline Times can reveal.

Among those Wootton targeted over an eight-year period between 2011 and 2019 – during which he was working for The Sun, ITV and the Daily Mail – were The Only Way is Essex star Kirk Norcoss, Big Brother contestant JJ Bird, and an X Factor singer who was just out of his teens.

Each had first encountered Wootton – today a star presenter on GB News – as a result of their involvement in the television industry, on which it was his highly-paid job to report and through which he enjoyed a powerful media influence.

Wootton was on his first day as editor-at-large at the Daily Mail in December 2011 when he approached Big Brother series 11 contestant JJ Bird, then 25, and who is today a boxing trainer having also been a pro-fighter.

Mr Bird, who refused Wootton’s offers, is among the first group of people in the public eye to discuss their interactions with Wootton.

He told Byline Times: “Dan told me he was an amateur photographer and was ‘working with underwear brands’. He invited me to a test shoot at his flat with a fee attached. At that time, I was trying to fund my boxing career and develop my career in entertainment. Dan was a big name in the world of showbiz journalism who had the power to do that – plus anything where I was going to receive payment would obviously have been very useful.

“Looking back now, it was a complete abuse of his power and position and he should not have been offering to do that kind of thing.”

Mr Bird said Wootton contacted him first on Facebook, claiming “[there is] one person who I’m working for at the moment who’s really keen to get you for work”.

In later messages, Wootton changed it to “two people I’m working with”, adding: “It’s just a test shoot so low key. So not for publication. Will still pay obviously.

“Just you in various sportswear/swimwear/underwear which I’ll run by [the man I’m working for] before he decides how to do a full shoot which could be for publication. Just to be certain… could you text or email me a quick shot of you shirtless now. But I’m pretty sure we’ll wanna go ahead now because [we] don’t necessarily need you mega ripped anyway.”

Wootton followed up saying the shoot would be at “mine in E1”, adding that “they also want to know if you will do a couple of… nude shots too because they do a lot of that” and that they “don’t necessarily need your face in”.

Mr Bird declined and told Byline Times: “I wasn’t having any of that.”

During their interactions, Wootton gave Mr Bird his personal email address – the same email address he uses to this day.

Last week, this newspaper revealed that a password connected to that address had been publicly exposed in a 2018 data breach and was identical to passwords, revealed in the same breach, connected to the emails of ‘Martin Branning’ and ‘Maria Joseph’ – two pseudonyms used to harass men to supply sexual imagery. At least one victim claimed to have been coercively controlled by ‘Branning’ for 10 years as a result.

‘Test Shoot’ Tactics

Wootton was The Sun’s associate editor in 2016 when he approached the X Factor singer – who has asked not to be named – to pose for a “photo shoot” at his home, which Wootton claimed he had done with a number of other well-known celebrities.

The celebrity singer said: “I was there to do a promotional thing with the paper. Dan Wootton was a big deal. Everyone knew he was the most powerful journalist in showbiz.

“I obviously said no and didn’t ask which celebrities he was referring to [having also claimed to have photographed at his home] as I wasn’t vaguely interested in getting involved. I felt weird, because every prior engagement had been on a professional basis for the newspaper.

“I remember thinking ‘why would that benefit me and what would I get from that?’”

Another celebrity, whom Byline Times is not identifying, did accept Wootton’s offer.

He said: “Dan invited me to do a ‘test shoot’ for some underwear brand for £1,000. I went along thinking it was a semi-pro shoot and might help my career because Dan was, at the time, on ITV’s Lorraine show and working for the biggest papers. The ‘studio’ was just his front room. It felt really awkward, especially as he was so well-known.

“There was nobody else there, just us. There was no backdrop or anything like that. Despite Dan telling me it was a shoot for these ‘brands’ he just gave me normal boxer shorts to wear, and I changed into them in his bedroom.

“I thought it was all strange but rolled with it. He was so influential I didn’t want to offend him somehow. Then the stuff he was asking me to wear became more and more revealing and alarm bells started to ring. He brought out latex stuff, which I refused to wear. He also asked me to pose nude but I refused to do that too.

“The whole situation was weird and was not what I was expecting. Dan refused to pay me the full fee we’d agreed because I wouldn’t go nude. It creeped me out.”

‘It Was the Thrill and Fantasy and Power Dynamic’

In a third case, Dan Wootton approached The Only Way is Essex star Kirk Norcross on his own personal number via WhatsApp, this time on 7 September 2019, and then again on 10 September 2019 at 2am following the TV Choice Awards, which Wootton attended on behalf of The Sun.

“It would be weird for anyone to be messaging me at that time of the morning, but for Dan to be doing it to discuss modelling shoots was extra weird,” said Mr Norcross, who appeared in TOWIE between 2010 and 2013 as well as Celebrity Big Brother in 2012, and Ex on the Beach in 2015.

Again, Wootton’s approach – using his customary greeting of “hey man” – was to make a ‘“modelling” proposition, which Mr Norcross declined.

The masseuse, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Most kind people would feel sympathy for my [financial] situation – Dan used it as a tactic to try and get me to do something extremely inappropriate. I felt shocked, uneasy.”

Adding that he felt “deliberately targeted” by Wootton because of his looks, the masseuse added that during the client rapport-building process, Wootton spoke about his own job.

Following the publication of the first part of this newspaper’s special investigation, Wootton reached out to Mr Norcross last month to ask him to contribute to a crowdfund – which has stalled at £38,000 on the way to the £150,000 total – to apparently finance legal action against Byline Times after it unmasked Wootton as ‘Martin Branning’ and ‘Maria Joseph’.

“Can you imagine the audacity of asking someone you have targeted in this way to help fund your legal fees?” Mr Norcross said. “It was so desperate. I would encourage anyone who has had an inappropriate interaction with Dan Wootton to come forward and share their story so we can get to know the true scale of these activities.”

Byline Times has uncovered other non-celebrity incidents in which Wootton relied upon the financial power afforded by his profession to enable “extremely inappropriate” behaviour.

In an example from 25 April 2018 Wootton booked a home visit via a reputable agency for a sports massage from a 21-year-old male trainee osteopath. During the visit, the masseuse – a straight man whose photo was advertised on the agency’s website – revealed to Wootton that he was struggling financially to pay his rent in London.

Four minutes after leaving Wootton’s E1 address, the masseuse received a text message from Wootton, but not from Wootton’s own mobile phone number. Instead, the messages appeared to come from a number with a landline code for Royston, Hertfordshire.

The opening message read: “Hey man. Thank you so much for that. Know you just said then re double rent etc. Didn’t want to ask you while still here in case [you were] not interested. But could I potentially get you for some type of extra now? Have a 1000 budget so v v good money. Let me know before you go too far. Thanks.”

When the masseuse said no, stressing that his visit was “strictly professional”, Wootton persisted by offering “modelling work outside of massage”, this time for £2,000 on the basis it would be “totally totally confidential and between us only” with the offer of immediate payment in return for posing for a nude photo shoot.

The masseuse went on: “Around his house he had some signed things and I asked him and he confirmed he was a showbiz journalist, and I looked him up afterwards.”

He added: “Nothing about the appointment itself was at all sinister, so I didn’t expect what came next. I feel my position at the time was taken advantage of. I think for Dan it was the thrill and fantasy and power dynamic. Like ‘I have the money, you’re at my house, and I’m going to test your resolve and to try to take advantage of you’.

“That role was my first experience of working privately and it was the first time anything like this had happened. I’ve always prided myself on being professional and I thought ‘is this what it will always be like?’ I felt vulnerable and exploited.”

‘We Have Serious Safeguarding Concerns’

Byline Times’ latest revelations about Wootton’s private and professional conduct raise questions about safeguarding for The Sun, the Daily Mail and ITV, according to Professor of Media Law at the University of Leeds, Paul Wragg.

“This story raises profound and deeply troubling public interest concerns,” he said. “Underlying it is an abhorrent abuse of power. There is a well-established legal principle that those who hold power – whether in government or in private organisations – must be subject to public scrutiny when their conduct falls so far below the standard expected.

“Here, we have serious safeguarding concerns that demand an explanation from ITV, the Daily Mail and The Sun, as to how one of its employees was able to use the status and charisma of his role to seduce others to bend to his will, to satisfy his own predilections, without consequence.”

Representatives for Dan Wootton did not comment, but this week told the Guardian newspaper that “Wootton did not at any time contact current or former colleagues at The Sun with offers of money in return for sexually explicit images” and “did not engage in inappropriate behaviour in the workplace”.

He has never denied being, or being connected to, Martin Branning or Maria Joseph. But denies all allegations of criminality.

Byline Times asked The Sun, ITV and the Mail whether any safeguarding concerns were raised about Wootton during the course of his employment with them and what, if any, action was taken.

A spokesperson for ITV said: “At ITV, we work very hard to create an inclusive and collaborative culture. We take our responsibility of duty of care for talent and employees very seriously, and have a system of processes, including Speaking Up and a formal grievance process, for any complaints to be raised. Additionally, we would always encourage individuals to come forward and share their experiences via our reporting line SafeCall.

“The duty of care to our staff, freelancers and participants is of utmost importance. We have significantly strengthened the care given to all those who take part in our shows over the past five years. We now believe they are at an industry leading standard for the selection, protection and support of participants.”

A spokesman for dmg media, publisher of the Mail, said: “We are not aware of any safeguarding issues raised in relation to Dan’s period working as a freelance columnist for us.”

This newspaper has information regarding other individuals in the public eye and their interactions with Dan Wootton, which it will be publishing in due course, as part of the second phase of this #MediaToo investigation.

Tom Latchem and Dan Evans are former colleagues of Dan Wootton’s from the News of the World. None of the sources in this investigation have been paid for their testimony

[itjazzbicch]

The Fashion Show

Pairing:  Matt Jackson x Fem Reader 

Summary: The reader loves her friends Matt, Nick, and Brandon, but cannot stand how they always want to go shoe shopping. Refusing to tolerate it, she heads off on her own to shop, but Matt volunteers to tag along, showing her that he has a sense of fashion, and certain feelings for her…

Warnings: SMUT! (18+ ONLY!) (Public Sex, unprotected sex, mirror)

Requested by: No One (But I hope you all enjoy it!) 

Word Count: 1.3k 

Tag List: @demonqueen29 @peachy-satan00 @new-zealand-chic  @crowleysqueenofhell @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin @thatpanpall@damnnhausen @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @linziland13 @xxx-jazz-xxx @writtingrose @cuzimacomedian @april-jeanette-wagner @starwithaheart 

I DO NOT OWN THIS GIF:   

"You three have gone to literally every shoe store there is in here! Can I go do my shopping now?!"

Matt, Nick, and Brandon have a serious issue when it comes to sneakers. Feels like hours and hours passed in this huge mall with him taking their time to go to damn near any store that sold sneakers.

"But wait there's another one there!" Brandon called out, jumping at Matt's snap:

"Shut up, Brandon!"

"Whatever, I'll just go alone," My head shook, beginning to walk away, till Matt took my hand, telling Nick and Brandon:

"She's right. Go on ahead and look at shoes, I'm gonna go with her."

Matt always knew how to put a smile on my face, squeezing my hand and skipping along, "So, where are we going?"

Heading up the escalator. I pointed to a fancy-dress store, giggling:

"And if I can suffer through all your shoe shopping, you can handle some dresses."

"Okay fine," Matt pretended to be disgusted, but while going through the store, he was actually picking out things I liked!

There were some sun dresses I liked, got a few that gave me sexy feels, and since I had to suffer, I made Matt carry around all of my things, then dragged him to the dressing room. It was nice to have one big room, a divider for dressing, and a nice chair in the corner.

"Okay, organize those and hang them up for me," I commanded, hanging up my purse and going behind the divider.

"Yes, your highness," Matt listened, hanging up the dresses next to the divider, sitting back down, but looking as I asked:

"You going to help me choose?"

"You want my opinion?" He double-checked, sitting back with a smile. "Sure! I'm the only one with good taste after all."

"Actually," I corrected, laughing and taking the first dress, "That would be me."

Even though we were joking, as we started going through the dresses, Matt showed that he knew me so well, narrowing it down to three dresses, one I still had to try on, the last one being the one Matt picked out himself.

Looking in the mirror while putting it on, it said a lot. There was a deep V-Neck that showed off my breasts a little, hugged every curve, and had ruffles toward the bottom a bit and it was very cute, but it made my brain wander.

"Last one, Matty," I smiled, strutting out and posing, smiling more when he looked up and down, still in his seat and observing every little detail, "So, what are we thinking?"

"Just," Matt tilted his head, motioning his finger, "Do a little spin for me?"

Nodding, I got on my tiptoes, spinning for him and giggling, "I really like this one, Matt. You really do have good taste."

"Oh, I do," He smirked, motioning for me, "Make sure you can really move in it before you buy it." 

"Hmm," I hummed, sitting on his lap and crossing my legs, "Not like I'll be wrestling in it or anything. So, it's good."

"Hey, you never know. Wrestling is a one-of-a-kind sport," He tried making small talk, but was looking down at my ass sitting right on top of his cock, biting his lip at my hips swirling a little:

"You're right, but I could kick someone's ass in this if I really had to."

"Your hips sure can move in it," He whispered, not paying attention and getting lost in thought.

"Oh, you like that?" I giggled, laughing more when he looked up with a bit of surprise, but this wasn't our first-time flirting, so he played it off, being honest and taking a step further:

"Sure do."

A slight slap on my ass really made me feel a certain way, the heat in my legs growing like fire when his hands slithered up to my hips, rocking me back against his hard-on, looking up my dress and into my eyes with a devilish smile.

"I see why you picked out this dress now," I turned around in his lap slowly, palming him with one hand, the other curling a piece of his hair, "You wanted to see your crush in a sexy dress hm?"

"Wasn't passing up the opportunity," He admitted, taking me by the chin and kissing me softly, the dirty passion in them showing how long it's been buried inside of him.

"Keep turning me on and we're gonna have to go to the car or something," I whispered between kisses, tongue dancing with his, till he bit my lower lip:

"We don't have to go anywhere. Just take your panties off."

"Matt," I looked laughing, "We're in the store and I'm still in this dress."

"You're gonna buy it," He shrugged, "And if you get too loud, I'll just cover your mouth or something."

He had me rolling, needing to get the laughter out, but we both had devilish sides, mine kicking back when I shrugged too, grabbing him to kiss:

"Fuck it. Let's do it."

Standing up while still kissing, I kicked my panties off, Matt ripping open his button-up and undoing his pants, then plopped back down, fixing the dress so it was above my hips, turning my back to him, and sitting me over his lap and on his cock softly.

"I liked the feeling of you sitting on my dick," He snickered, watching in the mirror across from us how I had to take my time sitting on his cock, already fighting moans.

Once I was settled, I closed my eyes with a smile and hummed to make up for missing out on moans, looking back when he tapped my ass, smiling:

"Wanna move those hips again?"

"Like this?" I played, swirling them nice and slow while I fixed my legs:

"Oh yeah, that's even better," He watched them circle and ride, holding onto my hip, finding my gaze when he noticed a shift in my body.

"How about this?" I smirked, picking myself up and leaning forward a little, then falling back down onto every inch, bouncing my ass off his hips and going faster every time I picked myself up.

"You are-" He went to say something, but bit his lip; I think he was fighting some noise of his own, because he had this determination in his eyes, taking a handful of my hair and yanking me back onto his cock faster than I could move, earning a moan from me.

I probably looked stupid from all the faces I was making, about biting my lip off so I wouldn't scream like I wanted and then get arrested in the store. Taking his knees in each hand, I squeezed hard and dug my nails in, his tip smacking my sweet spot so hard that it made me jump a little.

In the mirror, he was so proud, able to let his lip go and mess with me:

"Struggling?"

"Fuck you, Matt," I whispered, looking to see my breasts out of the dress which made him go harder, "You know I'm about to cum."

"I can tell," He huffed, sitting up a little and pulling me back so he could whisper in my ear, "Cum all over my dick, come on."

Did he mention covering my mouth earlier? I did it for him and he took the hint, covering with both hands and even threw his hips up too, getting me closer and muffling my moans and cries, the tightness and friction already too much, and when his tip smack my sweet spot one more time?

I was a mess, slicking my thighs and his too, about falling and pushing his hands away so I could breathe properly, whining softly at how hollow I felt when he pulled out of me, falling back into the seat with a huff.

"Shit, I might need new clothes," Matt chuckled softly, and so, I took the chance to joke:

"You do with the way you show up to Dynamite sometimes."

"It's like that?" He laughed, trying to grow serious though when he pulled me back onto him, growling, "Remember that when you want some more of this." 

[adultswim2021]

Xavier: Renegade Angel #13: “Free Range Manibalism” | March 13, 2009 - 12:15AM | S02E05

I’m sorry, but this one is simply too crazy. Xavier finds a restaurant that very snobbishly turns their noses up at his offer of meat. The meat in question is splattered stuff from roads. He is accused of being a bathroom user, and truly, he is. So, they throw him out and he encounters two bums, whom he convinces to pose as pigs so he can offer them to the restaurant. The restaurant’s whole deal is that they pamper their livestock until they pass away from natural causes. Then, and only then, are they turned into a nice meal.

From there it goes off into a direction that I’m not even that sure I can adequately summarize. So, I won’t. Like, no, really, the episode was great, and I laughed at it a bunch, but I genuinely felt like I missed a key word or something that would have explained, sorta, what was going on. 

The honest truth is, sometimes I just don’t want to write about Xavier. That’s because the show is just one incredible joke after the next, and I tend not to enjoy write-ups where all I do is list jokes I like. Here’s some I wrote down, to shut you up: Xavier’s belabored pun of “Heil-er Meatler”. The part where he distracts the sporting goods store (to steal footballs from, so he can sew up new pigskin for the hobos) by getting them to chant “sports” over and over. “Spreading like a mother’s legs on free peanut butter day”. There’s like, way more insane wordplay in this episode than most others, I think. 

This is a wild one, and I probably should have watched it twice before covering it here. Oh well! Merry Christmas, everyone!

MAIL BAG

I definitely took a couple days off so I could use the above screenshot on Christmas Day, and no other reason. Time to shine a spotlight on the man of the hour, Mr. Ho-Ho-Ho himself, Santa Claus:

I don’t think you’re nuts! By the time Delocated season 1 started airing, 30 Rock already had appearances from faces familiar to Late Night w Conan fans, like Brian Stack, Brian McCann, Andy Richter, ofc Jack McBrayer, Conan. i wondered too if they hoped to get those Conan fans who gave 30 Rock a chance bc of those cameos. Good theory!

Hey, thanks for that. 30 Rock was definitely a movement, and it's something we could all get behind.

hey man i dunno who told you that SH*T about robot chciken being canceled but creator-whos-not-seth-green just said in a interview two weeks back that its still going so get your hopes down

The funniest case scenario is that Seth Green is too mad about his monkies that he refuses to do the show, and they try to continue without him. He was probably running around the writers room doing nut taps and throwing Nickelodeon Gak on people so they couldn't write funny sketches ever. Maybe this made-up thing that I'm making up right now is just what the show needs.

Tommy Wiseau is an absolute nut job. Mike Lazzo was playing with matches letting that guy in the adult swim ecosystem. Wish he got burned, boyo.

True that!!! Tommy Wiseau is not "WISE" at all... he is a menace

If Santa could put on piece of Adult Swim swag in your holiday stocking this year what would you want it to be?

A new Space Ghost Volume 5 DVD. The second disc on my copy stopped working. I can't even sell it on eBay anymore! WAAAH! Also, the actual plastic case it came in got extremely brittle and it caved in when I tried to open it last time. It's just all the way fucked. I have a digital backup of it, at least. But, I prefer tactile sensations, and the crackle of the vinyl record.

Santa has just left my house. He left 10 presents and ate all four cookies we left him. I was telling my dog who sleeps in my room how great a deal that was. 10 presents for four cookies? My dog didn't seem to care but enjoyed all the attention he was getting. Welp, back to bed.

I'm glad Santa came. I have a question about dog ownership for you: do you have a dog door and do you ever go through it for fun? I feel like if I had a dog and a dog door I would be going in and out of that thing constantly.

If you got bit by the Santa Claus bug, what would you do? Merry Christmas from LA

Hey, thanks, cool to hear about the move. If I was bit by the Santa bug, I would be in heaven, and I hope that answers all of the Christmas Day questions for AdultSwim.Com (my blog).

[weilongfu]

For your lovely prompt weekend.

Pat buys a toy for the bedroom (a vibrating dildo) and intends to use it on his boyfriend. But, somehow things did not go according to plan, and now Pran is the one using it on Pat.

Sex with Pat, Pran had supposed, was never going to get boring by any measure. Not with the constant competitive streak the both of them had and the constant need to out do each other. There was, of course, the less competitive sex for quieter moments. The kind where they both caressed and touched and tasted in reverence and confirmation rather than to find and exploit erogenous zones to see who could get who to orgasm first.

(The current winner was Pran by 0.02 seconds over the course of twenty minutes of anal sex and the constant pummeling of Pat's prostate despite Pat clenching and attempting to milk Pran's dick with his ass.)

But in the interest of spicing things up, after much discussion, Pat bought their first actual sex toy, a vibrating dildo. Pat proudly held the silicone toy aloft and turned on the vibrating bullet within, causing the entire thing to shake with such ferocity that Pran immediately refused.

"That thing sounds like it's vibrating hard enough to break cement," Pran said while crossing his arms. "No way am I letting you use that on me."

"Concrete's tensile strength is rated somewhere between 300 to 700 PSI. I really doubt a sex toy with a vibrating bullet that's only two inches long can provide that much force," Pat said with a frown on his face. "Here, feel it on your neck first then."

"I don't even like your penis touching my neck and you think I'll tolerate a fake one?!"

"You weren't complaining the other day when we-"

Pran slapped a hand over Pat's mouth which had suspiciously turned into a very familiar smirk under his palm. "Look, it's different depending on context." Pat's eyes shined with his smile and he shrugged his shoulders. "Regardless, I'm not letting you use that on me until we know it's not going to hurt someone."

Pat pulled Pran's hand away. "So?'

"So," Pran took the offending flesh colored object from Pat's hands and rested a hand on Pat's shoulders, "Take your pants off." Pat immediately reached for his belt buckle and Pran rolled his eyes. "You could make it slightly less obvious that this was what you wanted all along."

"I wouldn't say that it's what I wanted all along," Pat replied as he kicked off his jeans, his dick already half hard, and threw his shirt somewhere that Pran knew he was going to be mad about later. "But I am completely on board with being your test subject." Pat struck a pose once he was fully nude. "How do you want me?"

Pran rolled his eyes and tugged Pat towards the bedroom. "No more stains on the couch, you promised me."

"Look, the last one was yours because you refused to wear a condom during couch sex even though you were bottoming."

The bickering continued into the bedroom and even through the slow and steady stretching of Pat's hole with Pran's fingers and plenty of lube. Pran knew Pat was ready when the bickering slowly turned into huffs and simmering eye contact instead of verbal jabs. After removing his own clothes, Pran pressed his body against Pat's front for a heady kiss, letting Pat roam his hands as he pleased before pulling away and smearing lube on their new toy.

Pat spread his legs once again, his dick hard against his abs, and nodded. Pran slowly pressed the dildo in and Pat moaned, low and sweet, but slightly different to when it was Pran's dick instead. Pran almost raised an eyebrow on reflex to finding some new odd fact he'd never realized about Pat, but Pat beat him to the punch by pulling him down for a kiss.

"It's not bad," Pat whispered as Pran slowly began to move the dildo. "But it doesn't beat the real thing." Pat reached down and gave Pran's dick a quick tug.

"Brat," Pran said, but he immediately kissed Pat again anyway before planting kisses down Pat's neck. "Ready for me to turn it on?"

"Yeah, yeah do it." Pat reached for his own dick and began to slowly stroke it. "There should be three settings and it'll change each time you press the butto-oooon." Pat jolted as the vibration started on the first setting.

"Is it okay?" Pran brushed back Pat's hair as he continued thrusting the dildo in with his other hand.

"It's different. I didn't expect it," Pat replied after adjusting. "But it doesn't feel all that strong. I'm not really... Oh..." Pat pulled his hand away from his dick to see it wet with precum. "That's actually hitting the spot."

"Next speed?"

Pat tipped his head up at Pran. "Do it." After a click, the buzzing noise intensified and Pat moaned properly. "Yeahhhhh... That's... that's a lot better..." Pat turned his head into his pillow. "Mmm.... that's really good..."

"Third setting?" Pran asked after kissing Pat again.

"Mm.... I... I think yeah... Yeah, let's do it." Pat stopped stroking his dick to reach for Pran's with his sticky hand. "I just-" Another click. "Nnnnn....AH!"

The buzzing reached its peak and Pran realized that Pat had turned the vibration to the max during their earlier discussion in order to get that volume. After thirty seconds of the intense vibration, Pat groaned and pulled Pran down for a deep kiss as he came untouched all over his own chest with one particular splatter on Pran's. His dick continued leaking as Pat wiggled his way into position to lick his own semen off of Pran's chest.

"What are you doing?" Pran said as he pushed Pat back slightly.

"Cleaning up after myself like you always tell me to do," Pat replied with a cheeky grin. "And now..." Pat set his eyes on Pran's still firm erection. "I need to take some responsibility..." Pat reached down and slowly pulled out the dildo before tossing it to the side, the loud rumble of it against the floor caused Pran to open his mouth, but the reprimand was swiftly swallowed by Pat's mouth over his before he sank down on Pran's dick.

Even after all the time with the dildo, Pran found Pat squeezing him to within an inch of his life with both his inner walls and his thighs. Pran put his hands on Pat's hips and squeezed back. "I hate whoever taught you about kegles."

Pat undulated his hips, causing Pran to shudder, before replying, "You love it." Pat continued to undulate and bounce to his own rhythm and could not be forced to change it by Pran's adamant grip. Soon enough, Pran began to smack Pat's hip.

"Get off me or I'm going to-"

"It's fine, I'll clean myself out," Pat said as he tilted his head to kiss Pran.

"You brat, you won't and you'll leave a- a- hngh..." Pran finally thrust his hips up into Pat and found his release. "Damn it."

"If you're so worried that I won't clean properly," Pat said as he got off of Pran's lap and walked over to the dildo to finally shut it off, "Then come shower with me and make sure I get it all out." Pat then casually walked to the bathroom, Pran's cum already beginning to trail down the back of his thigh and Pran sighed.

"You better have bought the appropriate toy cleaner!" Pran yelled as he got up to follow him.

[riuterlabs]

File 1.5: CodeName C0UNT0NH3R

NAME: Jennifer Straw / Robert “Oz” S. Ozymandias

SPECIES: Transmuted

SUBSPECIES: Type 3

MATERIAL: Strawberry and Grape jelly

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

~Date~

17:47 of the Eight of Zannes of the 170 of the 6th Aeon

~&Date~

~Comm~

Greetings, Dr. Germanium.

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my absence, I have been really busy looking for someone you can count on. And, well, it seems like I found her, so you will not have to worry about those, habits of yours.

~&Comm~

~Desc~

The last month of Tolmaral I had a rather unusual encounter. A mysterious hooded figure snook into the laboratories and gave me two strange viales which they commanded me to try and test, telling me they where the key to not only taking malleable biology to the next evolutionary step, but also to unify the three species malleabilizing the human race as a whole.

For that matter, I took advantage of the fact that I was already searching for a lawyer for Dr. Germanium to look for a good lab assistant.

After two long months of intense searching, I decided to ask Dr. Gums for some help, and he, joyfully, told me he knew about the perfect person for the situation.

She brought me to a house in the western zone of the city of Libertas, neighbor to our dear Saint’s Bed. She knocked.

And the one at the other side of the door, our subject, our protector…

Was none other than Robert S. Ozymandias, better known as Oz, exactly, the infamous law-twisting, evidence-fabricating lawyer who would do anything for a non-guilty verdict.

After almost running away, completely disappointed for such a waste of time, I sensed some known smell, the penetrating fragrance of strawberries and grapes, something I had not experienced in a very long time, which ignited my suspects that I already knew her.

And, of course, Oz turned out to be nothing more than a facade, a character, a mask to cover a Transmuted called Jennifer Straw. Ahh, good old Straw.

Now, the caring reader will ask, “Why are you wasting my time, Dr. Thomson? Go straight to the point!” To which I will answer saying that in order to continue I would need to go back some years, to my University years.

Almost ten years ago, when a young and extremely malleophobe Jack was making his place in the University of Libertas’ Department of Biology, I met three people, my three best friends and my three main partners at that time:

Héctor Toledano, a prestigious Organic Chemistry student and amateur “cook” whose family is rumored to descend from immigrants from a galaxy far away from here.

Karl Hammond, future Mechanic Engineer and Demolitions Expert.

And, finally, Jennifer Straw, who was defending her clients even before finishing her degree.

Some good day, Héctor told us about his money problems, and his plans to solve them. His wonderful idea was to start synthesizing testosterone, a pretty much needed supplement in this estrogen-rich atmosphere of ours, and sell it. We, of course, instantly refused the idea, well, all of us except Straw, who cited several articles and laws according to which, this whole operation was completely “legal”.

This way, in spite of my refusal, I cooperated and, with my knowledge in Organic Chemistry, we ended up as the main dealers of the zone.

We had such a level of success that people dedicated us a ballad and a nickname which i would like to forget, The Free Eggs.

Ahh, Good times.

The conversation between Dr. Gums, Mrs. Straw and I will be uploaded soon in a separated file.

~&Desc~

~ImgInfo~

In this image we can see Straw herself, with a pose that expresses her energetic and eccentric personality, her University Title, with the Law School’s motto, “May Death bring Justice, May Justice bring Peace”, signed by the Great Sovereign himself.

We can also see a medallion with the icon of the Skull and Spears, emblem of the Patron Core of Death, Justice and Peace.

To her left we can appreciate a screen with an old commercial, starring Marlene Greatwoman, or some lookalike, crying and lamenting because she just lost her job as a main role of a movie after the director found some suspicious cider on her dressing room, regretting not counting on Oz and saying that annoying catchphrase of her, you know which one, “Count on Oz!”.

Floating inside her body we can see some objects like syringes, a lawyer’s badge, two cubes of caramel of my production, some strange rocket-like objects and several strange, sandy and glowing crystals that seemed to be looking at me…

~&ImgInfo~

I will report any new discoveries.

Dr. Camelia Thomson, Malleable Genetics and Histology.

RiuterLabs

File 1.5: CodeName C0UNT0NH3R

NAME: Jennifer Straw / Robert “Oz” S. Ozymandias

SPECIES: Transmuted

SUBSPECIES: Type 3

MATERIAL: Strawberry and Grape jelly

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

~Date~

17:47 of the Eight of Zannes of the 170 of the 6th Aeon

~&Date~

~Comm~

Greetings, Dr. Germanium.

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my absence, I have been really busy looking for someone you can count on. And, well, it seems like I found her, so you will not have to worry about those, habits of yours.

~&Comm~

~Desc~

The last month of Tolmaral I had a rather unusual encounter. A mysterious hooded figure snook into the laboratories and gave me two strange viales which they commanded me to try and test, telling me they where the key to not only taking malleable biology to the next evolutionary step, but also to unify the three species malleabilizing the human race as a whole.

For that matter, I took advantage of the fact that I was already searching for a lawyer for Dr. Germanium to look for a good lab assistant.

After two long months of intense searching, I decided to ask Dr. Gums for some help, and he, joyfully, told me he knew about the perfect person for the situation.

She brought me to a house in the western zone of the city of Libertas, neighbor to our dear Saint’s Bed. She knocked.

And the one at the other side of the door, our subject, our protector…

Was none other than Robert S. Ozymandias, better known as Oz, exactly, the infamous law-twisting, evidence-fabricating lawyer who would do anything for a non-guilty verdict.

After almost running away, completely disappointed for such a waste of time, I sensed some known smell, the penetrating fragrance of strawberries and grapes, something I had not experienced in a very long time, which ignited my suspects that I already knew her.

And, of course, Oz turned out to be nothing more than a facade, a character, a mask to cover a Transmuted called Jennifer Straw. Ahh, good old Straw.

Now, the caring reader will ask, “Why are you wasting my time, Dr. Thomson? Go straight to the point!” To which I will answer saying that in order to continue I would need to go back some years, to my University years.

Almost ten years ago, when a young and extremely malleophobe Jack was making his place in the University of Libertas’ Department of Biology, I met three people, my three best friends and my three main partners at that time:

Héctor Toledano, a prestigious Organic Chemistry student and amateur “cook” whose family is rumored to descend from immigrants from a galaxy far away from here.

Karl Hammond, future Mechanic Engineer and Demolitions Expert.

And, finally, Jennifer Straw, who was defending her clients even before finishing her degree.

Some good day, Héctor told us about his money problems, and his plans to solve them. His wonderful idea was to start synthesizing testosterone, a pretty much needed supplement in this estrogen-rich atmosphere of ours, and sell it. We, of course, instantly refused the idea, well, all of us except Straw, who cited several articles and laws according to which, this whole operation was completely “legal”.

This way, in spite of my refusal, I cooperated and, with my knowledge in Organic Chemistry, we ended up as the main dealers of the zone.

We had such a level of success that people dedicated us a ballad and a nickname which i would like to forget, The Free Eggs.

Ahh, Good times.

The conversation between Dr. Gums, Mrs. Straw and I will be uploaded soon in a separated file.

~&Desc~

~ImgInfo~

In this image we can see Straw herself, with a pose that expresses her energetic and eccentric personality, her University Title, with the Law School’s motto, “May Death bring Justice, May Justice bring Peace”, signed by the Great Sovereign himself.

We can also see a medallion with the icon of the Skull and Spears, emblem of the Patron Core of Death, Justice and Peace.

To her left we can appreciate a screen with an old commercial, starring Marlene Greatwoman, or some lookalike, crying and lamenting because she just lost her job as a main role of a movie after the director found some suspicious cider on her dressing room, regretting not counting on Oz and saying that annoying catchphrase of her, you know which one, “Count on Oz!”.

Floating inside her body we can see some objects like syringes, a lawyer’s badge, two cubes of caramel of my production, some strange rocket-like objects and several strange, sandy and glowing crystals that seemed to be looking at me…

~&ImgInfo~

I will report any new discoveries.

Dr. Camelia Thomson, Malleable Genetics and Histology.

RiuterLabs

[shadow-and-sunshine]

Feeling Good, Pt 1

Hello hello hello! I'm starting to transfer my threads over here, so I decided to start with one of my most popular! A little story based on Feeling Good, Michael Buble

Izuku delicately stepped out of the car, careful not to catch the slight train of his gown. The black heels barely showed as he walked up the stairs to the beginning of the carpet. One deep breath later, he was smiling and walking, stopping at the designated points to pose and let the reporters get their photos. The gown was beautiful. Off the shoulder and deep blue with a lace overlay in a floral pattern. Certain spots were accented with flowers that seemed to bloom right out of the fabric. Izuku felt beautiful and judging from the reactions of the press, they thought so too.

“Hero Deku!”

He sighed as he reached the interview area. He wasn’t looking forward to this part after the news that broke last week.

“Good evening, Hero Deku,” the young woman smiled easily in front of her cameraman. “You look lovely this evening. Who are you wearing?”

Izuku twirled. “Thank you! I’m privileged to be wearing a Bakugou tonight! One of Uncle Masaru’s designs,” he said, smiling brightly.

“Wonderful,” the reporter’s eyes glinted. “Now, this is the first time you’ve attended the IidaTen Agency’s charity gala, is that correct?”

“That is correct,” Izuku felt his smile freeze. “I haven’t been fortunate enough in past years to make it, so I’m especially honored to be here tonight.”

“And your well-documented absences and sudden attendance have nothing to do with your recently announced divorce from your alpha, Hero Grand, Shindo Yo?”

Izuku’s smile dropped and he turned towards one of the event staff. “I’m finished here.”

*flashback*

“Yo!” Izuku’s voice was sharp. He slammed the tabloid onto their kitchen counter. “What. The FUCK. Is WRONG with you?!”

The dark haired alpha lolled his head back to look upside down over the back of the couch. “Hmmm?” The clear disinterest in his voice only enraged the omega further.

Izuku dropped the magazine into his soon-to-be-ex-husband’s lap. “Unfortunately,” he hissed. “It was too late to separate our RSVPs to the Gala so would you stop trying to fuck interns where the press can see you?”

Shindo only put the magazine on the coffee table. “Well, if the interns want to get some personal time with Hero Grand, who am I to refuse them?”

Izuku growled, fangs dropping threateningly. “That’s what got us into this mess in the first place, you leech.”

Shindo rolled his eyes. “What got us into this mess was you not putting out.”

Izuku shrieked as he grabbed the magazine off the table, headline blaring at him ALPHA HERO GRAND SEEN LEAVING LOVE HOTEL WITH UNKNOWN OMEGA.

“I will spell it out for you, since you can’t be assed to actually listen! Would you keep our interns' LEGS off of you and your DICK out of our interns! You are still fucking married!”

“Who am I to tell the pretty things no?” Shindo shrugged as he looked back at his phone.

“STILL MARRIED TO ME, YOU BASTARD!”

“Not for too much longer, thank god,” Shindo muttered.

Izuku stormed to the master bedroom he’d kicked his cheating alpha out of weeks ago. The divorce papers couldn’t be finalized fast enough.

*end flashback*

BREAKING: OMEGA HERO DEKU SEEN LEAVING CHARITY GALA ON THE ARM OF ALPHA HERO INGENIUM. INGENIUM’S MATE URAVITY NOWHERE TO BE SEEN

Izuku and Ochako were crying at the tabloid between them. Once the pair’s laughter faded into giggles, Ochako reached across the table to rub Izuku’s arm.

“How are you doing, Izu? We haven’t seen you really since you dropped that text into the class group chat!”

Izuku swirled the ice in his drink before taking a sip. “I’m alright. Just glad that he didn’t try and weasel his way out of signing the papers.”

Ochako gave a knowing smile. “You had Baku serve him at his agency, didn’t you?”

Izuku only smiled back and took another sip.

[koshkamartell]

Chapter 16 - When I Lost You And Your Brown Eyes

masterlist

I wasn't sure just how long it had been before I stopped crying long enough to pick up my phone and attempt to work out what had happened. My vision was blurry with tears as I searched my call log, my messages, my photos, anything for some kind of explanation of the previous night.

How did Oscar get my number? Why was his name and number saved in my phone? Had I been drunk last night and somehow typed it all into my contact list?

I scrolled through my photos trying to piece together any clues from the events of last night. A series of selfies of the girls and I, pictures of our cocktails, and posed portraits showcasing our outfits showed nothing suspicious or incriminating. My head was throbbing from a combination of dehydration, lack of sleep and the lingering effects of too much alcohol. I held my head in my hands and tried to slow the racing of my mind in order to think logically.

I didn't bother calling Toni, Ness or Anna yet, assuming they would be too incapacitated by their hangovers to be of any help. I frowned at Oscar's name in my call log. What the fuck.

I laid on the couch and watched my phone in my hand, willing it grant me a reason or logical explanation for the offending phone call, for Oscar calling me in the first place, and for Joel's extreme reaction to everything.

Why the fuck was he so angry? I thought. I didn't even do anything with Oscar. I didn't cheat on him. I genuinely have no idea how the fuck he was saved in my contacts or why he was calling. It could've been a prank by Anna or Toni, or Oscar could've done it himself somehow.

How the hell do I know? And why hadn't Joel believed me? Why was he so pissed off anyway?

I felt anger simmering in my chest, my lungs, my heart. I was angry at Joel for not listening to me, angry at him for not trusting me or giving me the benefit of the doubt. I was angry at him for not explaining just why he was so opposed to Oscar even speaking to me. If it was so bad for me to be around Oscar, why the fuck didn't he just tell me the reason so I knew? Why did he feel so entitled to control everything without even explaining anything to me?

I resolved to not call or message Joel. I refused to chase him or beg him to believe me. I refused to not be respected enough to be heard.

I had to suppress the urge to throw my phone against the wall and let it smash. I turned off my phone and tried to go back to sleep. I was grateful to feel the light pressure of Tuddy's body settle on-top of my ribcage as she joined me for a nap.

I didn't turn my phone back on until Monday morning. I managed to wake up early, independent of the alarm on my phone, my body having become accustomed to waking up at the same time everyday. Notification chimes dinged endlessly as they were delivered to my phone. Alerts informing me Toni and Anna and Ness had tagged me in pictures on Facebook and Instagram. Group and private message alerts. A missed call from Flynn, one from Anna. Nothing from Joel. I removed the necklace he gave me and hid it in the back of my underwear drawer, out of sight and out of my mind.

~~~~~~

I turned off my phone when I got off the bus and entered the library determined to forget about the events of the weekend and the pain of Joel walking out. My heart was broken. I didn't want to talk to anyone or see anyone. I desperately wanted to suppress the searing ache of my heart but it was impossible. I managed to avoid my phone until Tuesday afternoon; when I switched it on again I had messages from several friends asking where I was and if I was okay. There was still nothing from Joel.

I messaged my friends explaining that I had been really sick and hadn't been able to respond to them until now. It was a half truth - since the confrontation with Joel I had felt sick to my stomach and couldn't even ear. One minute after messaging Flynn he ended up calling.

"Ally, what the fuck," he began. "Where have you been?"

"Sick," I lied. "I'm sorry. The weekend was fucked up and I was sick." The reality of my argument with Joel was too raw for me to talk about. "I'm at work today but feeling run down."

"Oh," he responded, his tone instantly becoming more gentle and concerned. "Are you okay, babe? Would you like me to come over tonight?"

"I'm okay, just really exhausted. I've got so much to do with work, I will probably just crash when I get home. But I'll call you tomorrow, 'kay?"

"Okay," Flynn said hesitantly. My best friend could detect the deflation in my voice but decided to wait before questioning me further. "Love you."

"Love you too, Flynny. Come over Thursday night?"

"Sure. I'll be there after work."

When the call ended I gave until temptation and found myself looking at the few pictures I had saved of Joel on my phone. A fresh pang of sadness and yearning pierced through my chest.

"Fuck," I whispered to myself and closed the tabs. I kept my phone switched on but shoved it into a compartment in my hand bag in the hope that it would bury the feelings that swelled inside my heart and threatened to spill over.

The rest of the week was agonising but I successfully survived the first few days of heartbreak without breaking my resolve. Everything in my day to day life was a painful reminder of Joel and his absence. Seeing the window he fixed in my front door everytime I left the house and returned, the small soft toy on the kitchen floor that he had bought for Tuddy, the coffee mug he had claimed ownership over sitting in my cupboard everytime I opened it to make a cup of tea. I stripped my bed and washed and changed the linen in an effort to rid my space of his lingering scent.

~~~~~~

On the bus ride home from work on Thursday I messaged my friends in our group chat.

Anna: Ally hun you've been so quiet, are you alright?

Ness: yeah girl we miss you :-( what's been going on???

Alessandra: hey guys, I'm sorry for being MIA this week. I got sick after partying last weekend and then work was crazy busy. It's been a shit few days.

Toni: do you want us to come over?

Alessandra: I'm okay...but I was wondering if you guys wanna go out this weekend?

Ness: sure, I'm just about recovered from my near death experience with alcohol poisoning 🙃

Anna: I'm not in Preston this weekend but I can come down next weekend?

Toni: yes yes yes!!!

That night Flynn came over with a bottle of wine. As we sat on the couch next to each other I confessed that Joel and I had broken up. Flynn opened his mouth to say something but I held up my hand quickly to signal him not to.

"I don't want to talk about it, Flynny. I just wanted you to know. I'm not ready to get into all the shitty details." My voice was steady but I knew saying anything more would tempt the lump in my throat to develop into self pitying sobs. Flynn's nodded in understanding, eyes full of sadness and disappointment for me. I couldn't meet his gaze.

"Okay, well, how about I tell you how Simon freaked out about the mouse in our apartment and refused to go into the kitchen all week?" Flynn said brightly. "I bought a cat toy shaped like a mouse and planted it in the bed."

I let out a small giggle over the rim of my wine glass. "Oh Flynn, you're wicked."

Encouraged by my laugh, he grinned widely and continued his story. "When he pulled the blanket off he screamed so loud that the neighbours banged on the door to ask if my girlfriend was okay."

I laughed with genuine amusement and shook my head. "You've always been so sneaky," I smiled against my glass. "Always full of pranks. Think Simon can handle you?"

"No. But he's determined to get me to commit," he responded with a slight shrug. "I'm just not ready."

"Yeah, I understand," I mused quietly. We were silent for a short while, each sipping our wine in contemplation. I looked at the pensive expression on Flynn's face, the way his beautiful green eyes glazed while he daydreamed, the softness of his pout, and felt a deep tug of affection for him.

"Please stay," I croaked, tears threatening to well in my eyes. He instantly snapped out of his daydreaming and scanned my face to recognise the tense vulnerability written on my features.

"Ofcourse, Al." Flynn leaned in and kissed my forehead. "I'll stay over tonight, 'kay?"

I nodded with relief. Tonight I couldn't bear to be alone. I needed company to get me through the agonising episodes of rumination that now haunted me late at night. That night Flynn cuddled me in my bed and let me cry in his arms, tenderly patting my head and occasionally whispering words of comfort to me.

When my sobs had died down and I was quiet, close to attaining the sleep that had been alluding me this week, Flynn muttered angrily under his breath, "Joel, you asshole."

I met Toni for after work drinks and dinner on Friday in the city. She gave me a long warm hug when we greeted one another, the soulful fondness in her eyes and the way her lips pursed were telltale indications that she was concerned about me. I managed a small smile when we sat down at the restaurant's alfresco dining area near the sidewalk.

~~~~~~

"Ally," Toni began softly.

"Tone," I replied swiftly. "We broke up."

A flash of shock and sorrow passed through her eyes and she immediately reached over the table to grab onto my hand. We held each hands tightly and I was grateful for her solace.

"Joel sounds like an old, jealous asshole," she leaned back on her chair. "With major trust issues." I stayed silent and listened to her. "I understand how it would look - Oscar being in our pics and then him randomly calling you - I don't deny that. But he didn't even stay at hear you out, that's rude."

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Toni enquired gently.

I felt ready. I recounted the whole story to her, explaining everything about the art gallery, the mystery conflict between Joel and Oscar, the unexplained phone number the day after her birthday, everything. Toni listened intently, nodding at particular parts of the story to indicate her understanding, and allowed me to finish my story before she spoke.

I sighed. It was a good feeling to receive validation from my friend about my emotions and the injustice of the situation, however retelling the details of everything with Pedro made me feel sad.

"I was so wasted, I'm sorry I can't remember anything specific about that night," Toni said. "But I know you didn't do anything with Oscar and I know you wouldn't have given him your number." Toni sighed.

"Well, it doesn't really matter now. There's no point in trying to explain to Joel. He doesn't give a shit." I mumbled.

Toni took a sip of her cocktail. "Do you want me to ask Adam--"

"No!" I protested quickly. "No, please. No. Don't even mention it to him, Tone."

"I won't, I promise." She tilted her head at me in thought. "By the way, did Oscar give you anything that night?"

I scrunched my nose in confusion. "What do you mean?"

As Toni babbled animatedly about the seedy details of the hotel room and the things she did with a fellow OnlyFans creator that week, my mind couldn't focus. Taking the myriad of emotions I felt from the break up and repressing them into a tiny box inside my heart had been relatively easy, or atleast I thought it had been. But talking about Joel saying his name and hearing it being spoken by someone else, truly solidified the reality of our break up and caused the jagged fracture in my heart to crack even more. I missed Joel desperately but I was still adamant not to initiate contact with him. I had been hurt before - almost irreparably - and survived. I could do it again. Maybe this time with the help of alcohol and partying.

"At Sugar he offered me ecstasy and ketamine. For free." She shrugged. "I didn't take them. I just thought it was a bit weird."

Before I could say anything more Toni dismissed the topic.

"Anyways babe, fuck Joel and his insecure bullshit, when we go out tomorrow night we can find some hot guys. Oh my god, I forgot to tell you about when we went back to the hotel room and called room service..."

~~~~~~

Midnight on Saturday night. The bar Ness and Toni and I ventured to was an older, rougher watering hole that we never been to before. It was packed with people (mostly older than us) and music that generated a frenetic, almost sordid atmosphere. The kind of place that could be described as 'A pick up joint for lowlives and whores', Ness said in imitation of her father.

"Looks like it's the perfect place for us, then." Toni said and we all laughed.

We enjoyed the change of scenery and claimed a spot in a booth close to the bar. We already noticed a few curious stares being thrown our way by different men. I avoided looking at any of them until I had a drink; every man reminded me of Joel, whether they looked like him or not, it was impossible not to compare their similarities and differences.

Toni went to the bar to order our drinks and when she returned we clicked our glasses and began the night. We were determined to make it a good one.

By 3am we were stumbling out of the bar, giggling inanely, our arms linked with each other's for stability and safety. It had been a good night. All three of us were persued by a few different guys, flirted with, and had several rounds of drinks bought for. The alcohol and dancing and banter between us had lifted my mood considerably and I was able to actually have fun.

~~~~~~

"Hey!" Someone called after us.

We turned to face the voice and saw it was a guy that had brought us a round earlier. He had also asked me to dance with him but I declined. He was in his early 30s. My eyes wandered over him, assessing his face and body in the streetlight in a way I wasn't able to in the dark bar. He was of average height, dark haired and dark eyes, an attractive face that wasn't overly masculine but more boyish. He was undoubtedly cute. Toni and Ness tried to stifle their drunken laughter in each other's shoulders as he approached us.

I returned his smile and looked at the ground shyly. He was good looking and was quite gentlemanly in the bar. I was flattered but unsure about his proposition. He read my uncertainty and handed me a scrap of paper, an understanding grin forming on his mouth.

"Hey, Alessandra, right?" He smiled.

I nodded.

"It's me again. Jason. I was wondering if I could get your number, maybe we can meet up for a coffee some time?"

"Look, I get it, I know I'm older than you and I'm a stranger. So why don't you take my number? Maybe call me if you feel like that coffee?" The casualness of his voice and the sweet confidence radiating from him made me feel warm.

"Okay," I replied and accepted the paper. When we walked away from him Toni and Ness squealed excitedly.

"He was so cute," Ness slurred. "Cute dimples and cute ass too."

"Call him and do coffee. Or sex, or whatever the fuck!" Toni laughed. Her phone began to ring and we stopped walking so she could dig it out from her handbag. Ness peaked over her to see who was calling.

"Adman," Ness garbled, "Addin."

"Adam," Toni rolled her eyes.

"Red Shirt," I corrected. Toni nodded and answered the call and put him on speakerphone.

"Hey," she slurred into the phone. "Adam baby, what you doing?"

"Toni," Adam's calm voice sounded like he was trying hard to restrain his temper. "What the hell are you doing at the Tunnel bar?"

"Uhm, we aren't there anymore, we just left." She giggled.

"Tone, babe, it's a piece of shit place. It's rough and it isn't safe for you girls to be there. Please go home now." His voice was firm but gentle, pleading. It tugged at my heart strings.

"And where are you?" Toni retorted boldly. "Isn't it past your bed time?"

"Adam, get your ass back in here," a voice in the background called.

"At my place. I'm with the fellas and saw your damn Instagram post, so quit being irresponsible and go home before you get into trouble," Adam growled.

The way he ordered Toni reminded me of Joel despite the massive difference in their in cadence; Adam was much softer in his approach, whereas Joel was more domineering. I felt a pang of jealousy for Adam's expression of concern for Toni knot in my belly. I tucked the piece of paper with the phone number in my handbag.

"Okay, I gotta go. Get your asses home." Adam said quietly.

"Yeah yeah, whatever," Toni grumbled and hung up the call. I had to wonder if Joel was with him, if he knew of the post, or even gave a shit about what I was doing anymore.

Probably not. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind and walked a few steps before Ness pushed past us and wretched into the gutter.

"Okay, time to go home," Toni conceded.

~~~~~~

Joel's POV

Joel had spent the past week seething, barely containing the rage boiling inside him, morphing him into a more snappy, aggressive asshole than he usually was. He drank more in an effort to numb the underlying hurt. And oh, how he hurt so fucking much.

He hated that he felt incomplete not having said good morning or good night to her. It pained him to see the remnants of her presence in his house; a pair of lace underwear in his drawer, stray bobby pins that seemed to show up in random places, a cute bookmark with a fat cartoon cat on it that was left on his nightstand. There was no sunshine in his days now, no elated moments when his phone buzzed with her name lighting up the screen, no savoured moments where he relished how her perfume clung to his clothes. There was just an all consuming grey that made him realise Alessandra was gone - his happiness was gone.

But fuck, the memory of seeing that Hernandez asshole's name on her phone was seared into Joel's mind. He didn't quite know how he managed to restrain the mix of rage and jealousy that coursed through his veins at that moment. But there was another crucial element as to why he didn't fight it, why he didn't fight for her; the entrenched self belief that he was nothing, he was only undeserving, only unlovable. A grumpy man old enough to be her father, a perverted old man who was more than twice her age. A man that loved so deeply but also desperately craved control. What the fuck could he offer her when she was so beautiful and intelligent, with so much life ahead of her?

Ofcourse she went behind his back. Ofcourse she found someone else, who just happened to be someone he despised. Hernandez was a scumbag, that's for sure, but he was an incredibly wealthy and handsome scum bag. Did Alessandra really want that kind of man?

Joel's imagination ran wild with fantasies and scenarios that only rubbed salt into his wounds and left him feeling even more infuriated. Did she fuck him? Did he make her cum the way he did? Did she let him mark her? These thoughts taunted him frequently, especially during the sleepless nights when all was so quiet. Sacred moments replayed in his mind; the echo of her soft moans, the vision of her pretty face overwhelmed with pleasure, the carnal pride he felt when he saw the hickeys over her body that declared his ownership.

Joel knew he could find someone else if he really wanted to. There were plenty of women around Westor who tried to flirt with him and pursue him for dates. He could easily go to a local bar or to the clubs in Preston and find a one night stand to fuck his frustrations away. But that was the last thing he wanted.

Joel had resigned himself to a life of bachelorhood after his divorce, vowing never to allow himself to feel for someone ever again. But then Alessandra appeared in his life like some kind of angel and his resolve came crashing down. He had never felt so attracted to someone ever before in his life. To Joel, Alessandra was physically stunning. When he first laid eyes on her at the party that night a sharp tug of lust seized in his belly, a primal hunger he hadn't experienced for a long time. He observed her every move like a hunter tracking his prey, analysing the quirks of her interactions with her friends, the shy smile she gave as she spoke to them, the changes in her body language.

But there was also something else that stirred inside him that he couldn't quite understand - an overwhelming desire to protect her and keep her safe. Joel struggled to justify why he felt this responsibility belong to him, why this stranger aroused such a need in him. But when Alessandra accepted him into her life and expressed her own desire and appreciation for him, Joel couldn't have felt happier.

Simply, Joel had loved her.

When he discovered that Hernandez had been there with her and her friends that night, his stomach lurched and the back of his neck prickled with the heat of jealous rage. He had to walk out of her apartment before she saw the tears in his eyes.

Joel resolved not to contact her again. If she wanted him Hernandez so badly, she could go with him instead. He worked his ass off diligently throughout the day, as if punishing himself physically, until the stillness of the night arrived and he drank and drank to drown the echoes of her moans and the memory of her sweet lips pressed in a kiss against his.

Adam noticed the change and after giving Joel a few days to get over whatever bad mood he was in, Adam broached the subject. He sat with Joel at their regular bar in Westor on Friday night.

~~~~~~

"What happened?" Adam asked. "Something happened with Ally?"

"Man, what the hell is going on with you? The past few days you've been acting like a little bitch," Adam commented. "Ya missed poker night, haven't been talking to anyone, been moody as hell."

Joel didn't react. He stared ahead and took a shot of his whiskey.

"Broke it off with her," Joel mumbled gruffly without looking at Adam. He took another shot of his drink and scratched the stubble on the side of his cheek. Adam took a sip of his beer.

Joel grunted, his jaw clenching at the mention of her name. Adam comprehended the meaning behind his best friend's body language immediately and nodded.

"Ah," he said softly. "Well, what happened with her?"

"Why? Thought everything was going really well for you guys." Adam tried to sound casual.

He knew Joel never talked about matters of the heart and understood how difficult it would be to get any details without overwhelming Joel and causing him to retreat.

Adam chuckled lightly. Toni and Adam were still on and off themselves; she unwilling to commit monogamously to him and he unable to accept just how much freedom and independence she wanted.

"It was. She's too young for me." Joel muttered.

He wasn't going to tell Adam the truth. It was deeply shameful for him that another man moved in on his girlfriend, but he also wanted to protect Alessandra from any possibility of being negatively judged. Despite being betrayed he would rather bear the weight of hiding the truth than have someone else potentially believe the one he loved (loves) is a slut.

Joel didn't elaborate further and Adam knew his luck in extracting any more information would be running out spectacularly fast. Nothing more was said.

~~~~~~

On Saturday night Joel relented and went to Adam's house to get drunk with their friends. They sat around a table drinking from cans and playing darts while listening to country music. It was late and they were all tipsy when he heard Adam cursing loudly about Toni. Joel's ears perked up at the mention of Toni going out, knowing her and Alessandra always went out together. Outwardly he didn't show any signs of interest but internally he was desperate for any scrap of information about what Alessandra might be doing. He hated himself for caring but he couldn't help it.

"Fuckin' hell," Adam groaned to no one in particular. "This Instagram shit will be the death'a me, man. Worst thing ever invented."

One of their friends hummed in agreement, as if he even knew what Instagram was.

"You guys remember that fuckin' sleazy joint, that Tunnel place?" Adam asked. "Her and her friends are there tonight. Still looks like a shithole too."

"'Member that night those bikers beat up the bar tender?" Guffawed one of the men. "Or when Bill took that lil hillbilly whore home."

Joel wanted to punch him in the face.

"Bad choice, girls," Adam sighed loudly. "I better call her."

Joel stiffened at the thought of Alessandra at a place like Tunnel. He'd been to the notorious bar quite a few times over the years and was well aware of why it had such a scandalous reputation. Adam was right to be outraged.

Fuck, what is she doing? Never thought she would do something so reckless. Fucking Tunnel, of all places!

Joel realised he was gripping his can so hard in his fist that the tin had crushed into itself.

Have a good mind to go there myself and fuckin' drag her ass outta there. Take her home and teach her a lesson for bein' so stupid.

And then it hit him. He remembered Alessandra wasn't his anymore. He wasn't her protector. He wasn't the one who should be looking after her. Where the fuck was Hernandez, then?

When Adam returned back to the table after speaking to Toni, he plonked down and sighed wearily. Joel gave him a look that Adam could read instantly - are they okay?

Adam nodded towards him. "They left and are gettin' an Uber home."

Relief flooded Joel's heart but he couldn't shake the guilt and pain of not being the one to drive her home.

[thelastspeecher]

I made a post earlier today saying I was still thinking about the Firefighter AU but all out of writing juice. Turns out that was a LIE because after making that post I went and wrote some more. Here ya go.

———————————————————————————————————–

              Fiddleford’s whistling carried to where Ford was sitting at the kitchen table.  Ford dropped his pen and stretched, taking the opportunity to get out of the pose he’d sat in for the last few hours.

              “F?” he called.

              “That’s me,” Fiddleford replied.  “Where are ya?”

              “The kitchen.”

              “Great!”  Footsteps sounded.  After a few moments, Fiddleford appeared in the kitchen entryway, still wearing his suit.  “When I left, you were sittin’ there.  Have ya moved from that spot once in all the time I was gone?” Fiddleford asked.

              “To be fair, you were only gone for a few hours.”

              “Only a few hours, he says,” Fiddleford muttered under his breath.

              “Why are you back so soon?  Even for a noon wedding you seem to have left rather early.”

              “Oh, the reception don’t start fer a bit.  I wanted to duck away and check in on ya.”

              “Shouldn’t you be helping to keep things running smoothly, as the brother of the bride?”

              “One of the brothers of the bride.  Don’t forget, Angie’s got four of us.  And a sister.”  Fiddleford grinned cheekily.  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were tryin’ to get rid of me.”

              “No, of course not.  I just don’t want you to shirk your duties in favor of watching over me.  I’d hate for the fire chief to be upset with me, given how frequently she has to send her workers here.”

              “Angie actually encouraged me to check on ya.  She wanted to make sure ya weren’t goin’ to be settin’ any fires on her big day.”  Fiddleford leaned against the wall idly.  “Speakin’ of the frequent fires, I almost gave her a lil punch card as a weddin’ gift.  Fer every ten fires they have to handle here, she gets a free sandwich or somethin’.”  Ford snorted.  “But nah, I went with somethin’ nice from their registry.  I put both our names on it.”

              “Both?  Why?”

              “I know yer on the rocks with yer twin, and it’s mighty bad if ya weren’t invited to his weddin’, but I figured a gift might improve yer standin’ with him.”

              “Wait a moment.”

              “Hmm?”

              “Who is Angie marrying?” Ford asked slowly.  Fiddleford facepalmed.  “It isn’t Stan, is it?”

              “How- how did ya not know that?” Fiddleford demanded.  “How-”  He kneaded his forehead.  “Stanford Filbrick Pines!”

              “I wasn’t invited!”

              “No, but I’ve had the invitation up on the fridge fer months.”

              “Ah, well, that’s the problem.  Once something is put on the fridge, it sort of melds together with everything else to me.  I don’t really notice individual items.”

              “Lord above.”

              “But- Stan’s marrying Angie?”

              “Married, now.  The ceremony just ended.  I’ve got some time ‘fore the reception starts.”  Fiddleford crossed his arms.  “Ya really had no idea they were engaged?”

              “I was unaware they were even dating!”

              “Stanford!”

              “Any time Stan comes to our house to put out a fire, he refuses to speak with me.  When Angie visits, which is rare, she primarily talks to you and avoids conversing with me about more than the weather or current events.  How am I supposed to know they were engaged to be wed?”

              “Because the invitation I got was on the fridge!”

              “I already told you why that is an ineffective route of communication for me.”

              “Gah!”  Fiddleford tugged on his hair.  “Ya test me every day, Stanford Pines.”

              “I do find it odd that Angie and Stan are a couple,” Ford mused, “given that Angie is Stan’s superior.  Isn’t that frowned upon?  It may even be an offense one would be fired over.”

              “The rules in Gravity Falls are dif’rent.  Angie makes sure to keep everything above board and HR keeps an eye on things just in case.  It’s fine.  They’ve been datin’ fer a coupla years now and haven’t had any problems.”

              “Really?  That long?”  Ford frowned thoughtfully.  “It really is rather odd I was so unaware.”

              “That’s what I’ve been sayin’!”  Fiddleford shook his head.  “Well, at least ya know now.”

              “Yes.”

              “Hopefully you ‘n Stan can bury the hatchet in time to meet yer future nieces and nephews.”  Ford’s head whipped up to stare at Fiddleford.  “They ain’t expectin’ now.  But they’ve made it very clear that they’re eager to start a fam’ly.”

              “That doesn’t surprise me.  Stan’s wanted to be a father since we were children,” Ford said quietly.  Fiddleford looked down at his wristwatch.

              “I better get goin’.  Try to eat somethin’ of substance and drink somethin’ other than coffee while I’m gone?”

              “Perhaps,” Ford said evasively.  Fiddleford rolled his eyes.  “Have fun partying with our siblings.”

              “I will.”  Fiddleford left the kitchen.  Ford turned back to his equations, but couldn’t focus.  He looked over at the fridge.  Sure enough, the invitation was hung up with a magnet in the shape of a water molecule.  Ford stared at the picture of Stan and Angie smiling from the fridge door.

              I have excuses for not knowing.  So why does it still feel wrong?

[little-miss-understood]

Dame Violette, Chapter One - Origins

Sitting at the back came naturally to us; I didn't like being bothered with anything, Juleka didn't like being noticed, and Sabrina could observe. She was the only one who kept tabs with the rest of the class, which suited us just fine: everyone knew that if they wanted access, Sabrina was who to talk with first. This did however come with a label, as we found out last year when everyone started to call us the “Goth Musketeers”.

Those words pleased Juleka to no end, but I wasn't sure if the label was the right fit for me. It seemed as though I leaned more towards punk, as did Luka. But sitting at my desk in black tights, jean shorts, a dark red t-shirt and a leather jacket, which Juleka gave me when she outgrew it, I figured that the label could apply to us all in one way or another. Sabrina was sitting next to me in black leggings, a blue and purple plaid skirt, and a white button down blouse covered by a black sweater; sitting prominently on her shirt was a black bow with streaks of purple, pink, and orange in it that I made for her last birthday. Juleka sat across from us in the next row in her usual black dress, but had decided to go with fishnet stockings for the first day back, not to mention her makeup gave off impressive “leave me alone” vibes.

Yeah, I guess we are the goth kids.

“So, I wonder who else we'll get this year.”

I turned my attention to Sabrina, who was staring down at the empty desks. We were the first to arrive as always, something which I was particularly prideful about as I hated getting into class late. All of that attention just because I couldn't set an alarm? Sabrina and Juleka were always up early and walking to school together ensured no one was left behind.

“There's going to be new faces. Didn't you say something about the mayor's daughter, and a model?”

“The mayor's daughter is named Chloe, and he's doing it as some kind of “Common Touch” thing. There was a rumour that she'd refuse come to a “normal” school if her friend the model wasn't involved, but-”

“Who's the model?” spoke up Juleka, as she peered over in our direction. Looking through her bag, Sabrina took out a faded fashion magazine and pointed the front page.

“Adrien Agreste.”

I looked at the cover, as did Juleka. He was dressed in pure white and seemed to be in some kind of angelic pose. It wasn't to my tastes but he seemed harmless enough. “This is supposed to be some guy to rave over? He looks like he'd cry if he stepped on a bug.” A giggle came out at Juleka's response, but it did seem he was a “safe” choice for someone's celebrity crush. Juleka knew more about that world than I did, she was starting to model for alt brands in her spare time. Judging by the look of disgust on her face, she probably wouldn't be gracing magazine covers with this Adrien any time soon.

At this point we saw two familiar faces enter the room, Max and Nino. Both were in our class last year. Nino waved to us before Max took a spot in one of the front desks, while Nino sat behind. From what I remember, they weren't necessarily friends but lived close to one another. Max, I knew, was for sure afraid of all three of us due to the class photograph incident last year where he had put his hand up in front of Juleka's face, of which we then made a show of jokingly putting a hex on him afterwards. Nino was alright though, and his DJ mixes were starting to really take form.

“There's two people we know.” noted Sabrina.

“Neither of which is brave enough to sit up here.” I didn't think anyone would join our row, but instead sit in front of us. “At least we don't have to switch. Could you imagine doing that every year? All that would do is make people uncomfortable.” Sabrina cast an understanding glance our way. We were always ensuring each one of us felt safe in anything we did, including in the classroom. Seating choices was a part of that.

“Well, this row is of course exclusive. Not everyone gets in.” Smirking at Juleka's comment, I decided to be productive while waiting for the school day to start. She had asked me a little while ago if I had any possible designs for a band her and Luka were trying to start up, and every so often something sparked in my mind for it. The idea was rough, but based around masks and “hidden” identities. Opening up my sketch book, I then heard Sabrina speak out happily.

“Oh! Rose is here! She must be getting better!”

Peering up from my sketch book, I smiled seeing Rose as well. Her hair was shorter but that must have been a side effect of whatever treatment she was on. Rose was in our first year at Collège Françoise Dupont and came close to being friends with Sabrina and I, but was out of class often and didn't come to school at all last year; we later found out that she was fighting a rare form of cancer and her parents were being protective. But her being here, now, I suppose meant she had beaten it down, not to mention she must have kept up in school work during all that time. She waved up to us and then came up the stairs to sit at the desk in front of Juleka, who seemed very curious about her.

More students came. A girl with pink hair, who sat in front of Sabrina. Another girl with rainbow dreadlocks, who took another front row seat. A large, towering boy with crossbones on his shirt took up a spot further down.

Kim then came in, with Nathaniel not far behind. Both boys we knew, in fact Kim I had known since childhood as he was in my first school before my parents moved the bakery. Since then he's just grown, and grown, and grown, but not exactly in maturity. Nathaniel I knew would sit in front of us, probably next to this pink haired girl. He was an artist but mostly kept to himself, though last year he had wanted to try and collaborate with me a few times. We could never agree on a common subject, which was a shame.

Miss Bustier herself then walked in, with three students in tow behind. I already knew one of them as Adrien, and one had to be Chloe, but upon making brief eye contact with the third, a vision came to me.

-

Sharing macarons with her on the first day. Her pushing to try and force me to get with a crush. Her just being pushy in general. Her donning a necklace with a pendent in the shape of a Fox. Her not being able to keep a secret leading to a discovery leading to- - “Nettie, you okay? You spaced out for a full minute.”

Sabrina had her arm extended out to my shoulder in concern, and Juleka was also looking over with worry. “Just a small...shock. It's nothing to worry about.” That did seem to calm them down but I knew they hadn't really seen me go like that in public too much. Maybe it would be better to try and avoid eye contact with these three new kids for a while.

“Did I miss anything?”

“Yes, just Miss Bustier introducing the new students. Alya Cesaire, Adrien, and...Chloe Bourgeois.” Sabrina couldn't hide the disgust in her voice saying that last name, and I looked at her with a curious expression. “Chloe, it turns out, is the girl from Friendship Day a few years ago. The one who bullied me around all day.”

My eyebrows raised in surprise. “Oh right, you never did find out her name.”

“She said unremarkable people didn't have to know her name. Luckily I don't think she remembers me but the moment she opened her mouth, I knew it was her.”

I stared down at the front of the class. Adrien and Chloe were sitting together, while Alya was beside the girl who had the rainbow hair. If anything, there was a strong possibility we'd never have to interact with any of them, aside from a group project maybe here and there. It was the same the last few years, everyone in smaller groups rather than big ones.

“At least you don't have to sit next to her. Even if she did remember you, who would ever mess with us three?”

Sabrina brightened up hearing that from Juleka, as did I. Indeed, with the three of us together, nothing could mess up this final year. Miss Bustier then closed the door to the class and turned her attention towards us. I suppose this meant we were now full.

“Alright students! Let's get started.”

-

It was, all in all, a very uneventful day. There was a brief incident where Kim tried to rile up another student about their crush on a classmate from when they were in a previous year together, but it was handled pretty deftly and with Kim having to apologize to who I found out later was Ivan and Mylene. It was hard to keep track of the names but luckily Sabrina was a sink for remembering such things. Leaving for the day also had some new challenges as it seemed so many in the school came out to ask for the autograph or just to see this Adrien kid and the spectacle that caused at the front of the building was more than enough for me to pull Sabrina and Juleka out the back door of the school and on to a side street where we'd get past it all. Maybe that's why he had been homeschooled for so long, because his parents knew that this sort of thing would happen.

But none of that was my concern. It was easier to not be involved with the lifestyles of the rich and famous. At some point things can calm down when other students hopefully see he's just as human as the rest of them

Homework was usually done between all three of us, that way we could compare notes and if one of us got stuck, usually an answer could be found putting our heads together. It also helped to get over different obstacles, like my weakness with History, or Sabrina's with Chemistry, and Juleka's with Math. We each did our own work and helped to get one another through a block if it came up. I think our system is what allowed us to keep such high grades these past few years. Part of this also involved trading off where we studied; one week in my room, next at Sabrina's, the next at Juleka's.

Which is how we ended up in my room, with me on my bed with Sabrina and Juleka laying against it.

“So, I couldn't help but notice that you were rather interested in Rose earlier, Jules.”

Juleka didn't respond right away but the light pinkness crossing her face told more than enough. It was no secret to any of us that our friend had a preference for girls; considering that Sabrina was bi and my own demi-ace status we had more than our fair share of the rainbow in our little group.

“She's not afraid of us. And her voice is hardcore, maybe she'd like to try for our band when we're ready.”

“A lot of the sketches I did earlier today look promising!” While there was no set deadline for them to get started, I knew Juleka and Luka wanted to get going with the band project sooner rather than later. Pulling them out of my book, I gave them over to Juleka who hummed with approval. “These are all awesome, Nettie.”

Sabrina peered over and nodded towards me in agreement, before quizzically pointing to a design in the lower left corner. “What's with the butterfly thing?”

“Oh! That's a sketch of this, I found it this morning on the way to school, that's what I picked up out of the puddle.” It had been on my mind on and off all day, the Butterfly broach, but I didn't want to take it out of my pocket for fear of losing it again. Pulling it out in front of Sabrina and Juleka, both of them stared down in wonder.

“Looks expensive.”

“And ancient. I'll bet the Captain might know more if we showed it to her.”

Getting up off my bed, I made my way over to a mirror hanging off the back of my bedroom door. Looking down at the broach, I delicately fastened it to the front of my shirt, giving a slight laugh at the contrast of what seemed to be such a valuable piece of jewellery against a red t-shirt that had a few holes in it.

But then, the world shook. It was just a momentary thing, but the floor seemed to shake and everything in my room shifted a little bit. A purple wave of energy leapt forward out of the brooch, and materialized in front of us as a strange mixture of a butterfly and a bird. It wasn't an animal I had ever seen before, and judging from the looks on Sabrina and Juleka neither had they.

It took a moment for the creature to open up its eyes, grimacing as it did so until seeing my face, at which point it broke out into a joyous smile. Floating over towards my face, it bowed and extended out a hand.

“Salutations! You must have found the broach, and therefore are my new holder! How exiting, my name is Nooroo, and may I please ask your name so that we may get better acquainted?”

I stared at the creature...or Nooroo? I stared at Nooroo in the eyes. No vision or shock was coming. My own eyes darted back and forth behind him to Sabrina and Juleka. With a silent and worried nod, Sabrina was basically confirming that what I was seeing in front of me was for sure not some kind of illusion. Juleka, however, had a more mischievous expression.

"Awesome. A floating giant bug mouse butterfly, it's rad."

I wasn't sure what to think. Except that I wanted to know more. Instead of my full hand, I held out a few of my fingers towards Nooroo, who put both of his hands around them to shake back.

“Hello...Nooroo. My name is Marinette.”

[fallingfavourites]

- SUMMER NIGHTS -

"Summer heat, boy and girl meet.."

part 1/5 - full series

Pairing: Steve Harrington x fem!reader

word count: 2,3k

Warnings: my first language isn't English so probably some mistakes, I feel like I used y/n alot writing this, badly writing asshole boys, some oc side characters their just their for plot nothing more, some kisses not very detailed though, everyone is out of character probably even y/n sometimes, I wrote the start last month and finished the rest today so probably some inconsistency, let me know if I missed anything!!

A/n: this was supposed to go out last month my bad- I really need to start getting more constant with my writing, I'm planning out chapter 2 rn though so hopefully that will come out sooner than this! let me know what you guys think of this!! please I love reactions&lt;3

!everything in italics is a flashback fyi!

"Steve, babe, you're staring." She whispered, not taking her eyes off of him. 

A breeze of salty California air blew through their hair. The warm sun shined down on them. Sand and water flew off their bare feet as he ran after her across the seashore. Their laughter was full of happiness. When Steve got close enough, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Y/n couldn't help but let out a squeal.

He spun her around so he could look into her eyes. The same eyes he has been lost in the whole summer. The same eyes he hoped to be lost in forever. And just like clockwork, the second Steve's hazel eyes met Y/n's e/c eyes, he was lost. Lost in a deep sea of e/c.

He was drowning in it. And if this was what drowning felt like, he never wanted to take a breath of fresh air ever again. Y/n wrapped her arms around him to play with the short hairs on his neck and beamed at him. 

"I'm gazing." He replied in the same hushed tone. 

"It's creepy."

"It's romantic," Steve said, leaning forward. Tilting his head slightly as his lips meet Y/n's. His hand moves from her waist to the back of her neck. Just as Steve is about to deepen the kiss, Y/n places her hands on his bare chest and pushes him back. She couldn't help the grin on her face as she saw his confused look. Y/n took his hand from her neck and held it in her own. She gave Steve one last mischievous look before she started to run into the cold, salty water. 

Y/n had taken her mother's polaroid camera with her and refused to stop taking pictures. Most of them were of Steve clearly trying his best to impress her. In all of them, he was flexing his muscles with a smoldering look on his face.

His hair obviously looked flawless in each picture. At least to her it did, he would disagree. While sitting on the warm sand, they started building a sand castle. The biggest one they could make. After a few hours of throwing bits of sand at the other and working on the castle, it was finally finished. Y/n shot up from where she was sitting. 

"There's so much sand in my hair!" He complained with a groan. Hearing the muffled laughter that he's normally so fond of, made his head snap to the h/c girl. 

"Let me take a picture!" She exclaimed with a bright smile. Steve couldn't help the smile that grew on his sandy face. Seeing her so excited smile like a kid in a candy store made him feel warm inside. It was a gift she had. She could light up a room with just a simple smile.

Steve also got up from his place and started posing in front of the sand castle. Y/n laughed softly at the different poses he did for her. While doing these poses, Steve miss stepped and fell backward. Directly on top of the newly built sand castle. Y/n let out a shocked gasp. A smile slowly crept on her face. 

"Don't you dare take a picture!" He says, pointing at her as he tries to fight the smile that's making its way on his face. Y/n quickly snapped a picture of him with the camera. 

"Too late." She spoke softly, faking an innocent smile at him. 

"Oohh your ass is grass L/n!" He says playfully, getting up he doesn't even bother wiping off the sand first. Steve runs straight to Y/n. She yelps out his name as he grabs her. He kisses her, making her drop the polaroid camera on the soft sand. His lips felt so comforting, they were soft and felt like home. His kisses made her forget everything. Like the fact that they only had a week left of summer vacation. Neither of them wanted to think about it. They knew summer love couldn't be forever but part of them held out hope. That maybe someway, somehow they could say with each other.

"I'm going back to Indiana tonight." Steve sighed, he had been trying to avoid this conversation, they both had. "I know" Y/n mumbles sadness washing over her as the waves washed over the sand. 

The last day of summer was something both teenagers were dreading. Not because of high school starting again but because they wouldn't be able to see each other again. It all had happened so fast. Most days were spent at the beach, and they had gone to the arcade a few times where he had taken her bowling. They had gone on long walks with Steve never letting go of her hand, no matter how hot it was that day.

Y/n was staring at the sunset in front of her. The sun wasn't as warm anymore, and the wind was even colder than before. She couldn't help but reminisce about the past weeks. Steve kissing her jawline are what made her snap out of the memories. He had his arms wrapped around her from behind. Her back was leaning against his chest. The warmth of his body kept her warm on the last night of the summer. 

"We'll still be..." He paused for a second not knowing the right word, "friends right?" He asked, feeling weird about using the word friends but he wouldn't know what else to call what they had. Did he love her or was it just a summer fling? The question had been plaguing his mind the past few days. Only deep down he did know the right words. He knew he loved her. Y/n turned her head around to look at him. She hadn't expected him to use that word. Y/n had known she loved Steve the second she laid her eyes on him. 

"Yeah... yeah, of course." She said mindlessly, trying to ignore the tears that formed in her eyes. Y/n couldn't tell if she was about to cry because of Steve calling them friends or because she knew that she would never see him after tonight. Steve said her name as he placed his hand on her cheek, making her turn around slightly. 

"Y/n/n I- I love y-" Steve gets cut off before he can finish his love confession.

"Yes, Steve?" She whispered not sure if she could trust her own voice. He closed and opened his mouth a few times, not being able to find the right words. His lips crashed on hers. Y/n was taken aback, to say the least. For a second she was frozen, lost in the lust of the kiss. Steve pulled back from the kiss, leaning his forehead against Y/n's. 

"Steve don't say that," Y/n said, the sadness clear in her voice.

"What?" Steve scooted back on the rock. Was he wrong for thinking she felt the same? Was he in over his head? His eyebrows scrunched together as he tried to figure it out.

"Say it to me the next time we see each other." She says, leaning forward to kiss him. Steve places his palm on the side of her face to stop her.

"What if we never see each other?" He questions.

"We will, I know it." Y/n says, trying to convince Steve. And even though she would never admit it, she was trying to convince herself as well. She and Steve had a connection, she just hoped it would be strong enough to find each other again.

Steve smiles at her and it makes her smile immediately. With the same hand he had stopped her earlier, he pulls her towards him. Their lips meet and this kiss isn't anything like the ones they've shared before. It's despaired, the fear in both of their heads that this most likely will be their last kiss. 

Steve had tried his best to forget about Y/n. But she just wouldn't leave his head. He didn't know how he would make it through this year if she was the only thing on his mind. Arriving at Hawkins high school after six weeks felt good. In some ways, he had missed it. Two things he certainly didn't miss were Carol and Tommy H on his ass every single day. He saw Tommy sitting with a few guys from the basketball team.

Summer was over, high school had just begun again and Y/n hadn't stopped thinking about the last kiss. After she got home that night she felt so stupid. Why didn't she just let Steve say it? Why did she have to ruin it for herself? She knew she would never see him again, why couldn't she just have enjoyed that moment. Shaking her head she places some shirts into her bag.

Just after Steve left her parents had told her she was going to live with her aunt for a while because they had to leave the state for work. And of course, her aunt had to live in the middle of nowhere. Some place called Hawkins. A part of her was excited since it was in Indiana, and the hopes of Steve living in that town were small. As she picks up another shirt she notices her favorite of the pictures she took at the beach. Steve was laying down in the sand. The sun hit him perfectly and made him look like a greek god. He hadn't noticed her taking the picture, that's what made it her favorite.

Hearing her mom calling out for her from downstairs, saying that her aunt has arrived. She quickly places the picture in her bag and finishes packing. Rushing down the stairs she says goodbye to her parents and gets into the car with her aunt.

"The King has arrived," Tommy exclaimed as he saw Steve approaching them. "How was your summer man?" He asks hoping to get some dirty details.

"Oh, you know, nothing special." Steve tries to shrug it off.

"Come on Harrington! Something is different about you," Mark says as the rest of the team hums in agreement, "Just tell us." Steve shakes his head at the guys with a smile. He runs his hand through his hair as he tries to think of something. Not planning on telling them about Y/n.

"Oh shit, you meet a girl didn't you?" Kevin says, a proud smile on his face. Steve knew there was no denying it now.

"Yeah, yeah I did." Steve tries to play it cool as some of the guys give him a pat on the back, while the others whistle. 

"So how was she?" Paul asks raising his eyebrows a few times in a suggesting way.

"You mean who was she?" Gary questions innocently. 

"No no, I think he meant what he said Gar." Mark Laughs as he places an arm around Gary and sends him a wink. Steve shakes his head at them. He had already been expecting them to act this way. 

Y/n walked over to the entrance of her new school. Hawkins high didn't look too horrible. She minded her own business as she made her way over to the big doors.

"God she was the nicest-" Steve cuts himself off, not wanting to look whipped in front of his mates, "in bed. I mean wow! California girls are certainly something else. The guys around him laugh as one after the other keeps asking more questions. Deep down Steve felt bad for talking about Y/n in this way, he knew it was wrong even though he was making it all up. 

"Hey! you there!" She heard someone say from behind her. Turning around she realise some girl and her friends were waving her over, "Yeah you new girl!" The brunette girl said. Y/n walks up to the group of girls. 

"You are so pretty! oh my god!" The girl says before introducing herself, "I'm Carol, and they are Tina, Debbie, and Bonnie." She says as she points to herself and the girls next to her.

"I'm Y/n, I just moved from California." Y/n says smiling at the girls in front of her.

"Omg Y/n is such a pretty name." Debbie gasps as she plays with her curly blonde hair. 

"How was your summer Y/n?" Bonnie asks, clearly hoping for an interesting story.

"Well, I met this really, really cute guy," Y/n begins, a bright smile on her face, "We practically spent the whole summer on the beach, he took me bowling, we went on strolls and drank lemonade. It all just was perfect." She sighs as she thinks back to those summer nights. 

"Girl, you have to tell us everything!" Tina exclaims. And so she does. Y/n tells the new girls she just met about how well he treated her and how he could do no harm.

"Nancy you have to hear this!" Carol calls over the brunette girl with blue eyes as Y/n tells her story. Nancy hesitates a second but finally makes her way over to the group. "Y/n this is Nancy, Nancy this is Y/n, she's telling us about this beyond amazing guy she met this summer." Nancy and Y/n share a small wave with each other before she continues her story. The school bell rings just as Y/n reaches the end of her story. 

"He sounds so dreamy!" Debbie says, "Nothing like the guys we have over here." Carol, Tina, and Bonnie sigh in agreement

"What was his name?" Nancy asks as she ignores the other girls. 

"Steve," Y/n smiles softly while saying his name, "Steve Harrington." The girls around her let out a shocked gasp. "What? What is it?" Y/n asks, confused by their reaction. Just as Nancy is about to open her mouth she gets shoved by Carol, a sign for her to not say anything. 

"It's nothing, they probably were just scared by a bee," Carol says with a charming smile on her face, "How about you start hanging out with us Y/n?" She asks as she hangs her arm around Y/n's shoulder.

"Sure, sure sounds good." Y/n quickly says, she would certainly need the friends with being at a new school and all. Plus who would say no when someone asks to be your friend. As the girls walked over to their classes the subject of the conversation quickly changed to how hot Danny Zuko was in the movie Grease.

[doctortonytchopper]

Listen. I do COMPLETELY understand the frustration people have with Pell's non-death. But it makes me sooo crazy when people say Igaram's fakeout death was basically the exact same bullshit bad writing. Especially when in almost the same breath, they say that Robin joining the crew was a total shock of a 180 from how everyone expected Vivi to join, and how there was like almost no foreshadowing to Robin joining.

Not even getting into the fact that there was almost NO dramatic build up in comparison to Pell's sacrifice, and how his death, prior to the reveal, was basically just a show of how cold and dismissive Baroque Works/Robin was to give him such a meaningless death.

Much more importantly than that, Igaram was spared to show us that Robin was not actually a bad person. Actually, here's something really important: when Robin showed up on the Merry to give them an eternal pose to Alabasta, Luffy refused it, broke the eternal pose, and then very specifically said he didn't want it **because he hated her because she killed that nice man (Igaram)**

Like do you get where I'm going with this. Do you think that maybe it could be relevant to the plot that Luffy said that he specifically hated her and did not trust her because of one specific act that she did. Only to find out she did not do that specific act, but had to pretend to do it, maybe because she wasn't free to do what she wanted to do. Like do you think that might have had anything to do with why, when she asked to join the Strawhats, Luffy trusted her and didn't hate her. After he found out that she did not actually do the thing he hated her for doing.

Like look at it this way: what do you think would have happened if she hadn't faked killing Igaram and then shown up at the ship offering the eternal pose?

And on the other hand: what do you think would have happened if Luffy's only real interaction with her prior to the interaction in the collapsing underground area in Alubarna was that she really HAD killed Igaram? Now that he's friends with Vivi and cares about Igaram as a loved one of a loved one, more than just "that guy was kind of nice".

I literally don't know! Maybe he wouldn't have let her join if she actually had killed that guy! Maybe he would have trusted her completely when she gave them the pose to bypass Little Garden! But the fact that both of those questions do NOT have concrete answers, to me, mean that IT ACTUALLY WAS PLOT RELEVANT THAT SHE DID NOT ACTUALLY KILL IGARAM. If it wasn't plot relevant, the other questions would have obvious answers. But the faked death CHANGED things, enough that the story might have been really really different otherwise!

So one last question: do you think Luffy would have let Zoro join if he had killed Koby? How about if Franky had killed Iceburg? Luffy knew those two for just about as long as he knew Igaram.

So would he have let Robin join, even if he knew she betrayed/was betrayed by Crocodile, if she had killed Igaram?

...so do you still think it was bad writing to keep Igaram alive?