#the phonecall weeks ago

[silvercrystalwhump]

The Safehouse Knows Now

Vince, Nat, Jake, & Kauri belong to @ashintheairlikesnow

Vince blinks awake to the sound of his phone vibrating. He wiggles up from under Dmitri’s arms and reaches up and takes the phone. His eyes struggle to adjust, focusing around glowing letters. The light from the partially open window dances over the screen and sends light glaring into his eyes. He turns the screen away and fails to read the name.

He presses the answer button and mumbles his voice barely more than a croak, “Hi, Shield speaking.”

“Vince–” Nat’s voice echoes through the phone– “You just woke up didn’t you?”

“Um, yes?” Vince mutters as he sits upright. Dmitri’s arm wraps tighter around his waist and Vince feels Dmitri press his nose into his hip. “How’s your morning?”

“It’s been quiet. Are you coming today?” Nat asks.

Vince blinks, “I said I would be there Thursday.”

“Today is Thursday Vince.”

Vince pauses and looks over at the glowing blue clock on Dmitri’s nightstand. His eyes fade in and out around the glowing numbers. Eventually, the small 10:43 glows back at him. His brain shifts around his skull like molasses as his thoughts scramble to get into a line.

I was supposed to be there thirty minutes ago.

“Oh shit! Sorry Nat I’ll be there in,” Vince exclaims as he scrambles out of Dmitri’s bed and thinks, shoving brain cells together, “Thirty… forty-five minutes.”

“Vince you can’t make–”

His thumb presses onto the hang up button before Vince realizes Nat started speaking. Falling gracelessly onto the floor, Vince curses under his breath as he scrambles for his drawer of clothes sitting in Dmitri’s dresser. 

Dmitri looks up from the bed and mumbles through the blankets, “Where you going?” 

“I completely forgot I was meeting Nat today,” Vince stumbles over to the door as he throws a jacket on, “I'll be back later!”

“Okay, have a good meeting,” Dmitri sheepishly mumbles as he rolls over in bed.

After just shy of thirty minutes of objectively messy driving, Vince knocks on Nat’s door. She opens the door and blinks, honestly shocked. “How did you manage to make a three hour drive into less than thirty minutes?” 

Nat steps inside and lets Vince walk in behind her. “I drove less than eloquently to get here.”

 She steps back into her kitchen and says, “That is not possible at all even if you speed the entire time.”

“And also I wasn’t at my house,” Vince answers as he shrugs off his coat, “I was at Dmitri’s.”

“Who’s Dmitri?” Nat says as she wraps her hands around a streaming mug on her countertop. The smell of tea ruminates through the room.

“Oh, um, he’s the man I’m seeing right now,” Vince says as he leans against the counter, “He’s my boyfriend. He lives on the other side of this city.”

“Congratulations,” Nat perks up, giving Vince a warm smile, “How long have you two been together?”

“A few months now,” Vince smiles as he looks at his feet. “He’s wonderful. I’ve been staying with him when I’m in between projects.”

Jake steps out from the back and blinks, “How the hell did you get here in thirty minutes?”

“I wasn’t at my house,” Vince repeats. “I was just up late.”

Jake looks back over his shoulder into the deeper parts of the house. Vince watches his expression shift slightly.

“I’m not interrupting anything am I?” Vince steps back towards the door, “I know I’m late and–”

Nat raises his hand, “Both of you were impromptu and this is brief. I can ask you about Dmitri later.”

“Okay so–” Vince starts.

“Wait a damn minute.”

Vince looks over his shoulder and Kauri stands in the doorway to the deeper parts of the house. He leans against the older, simple door frame and blinks, “Is he the Dmitri that’s so tall it’s stupid?” He raises his hand and locks his arm, holding his hand parallel to his head.

Vince nods, “Um, yes. I come up to his collarbone.”

“And he dyes his hair alot?” 

Vince nods.

Kauri pauses and chuckles, a more of a snort than a laugh, “So you’re the reason he’s been out less.”

“I don’t stop him from going places,” Vince mutters.

“I mean,” Kauri rolls his eyes, “I knew he was patient but I didn’t know he was a damned saint.” With that retort, Kauri spins on a heel and walks back deeper into the house.

[muirneach]

my mom keeps telling me i should call a place i applied to a job at online to ask if i can have an interview or something and im like you are such a boomer. who does that. but fine i will. but do you guys think itll work like at all. i know it cant hurt cause if they dont hire me they were probably already not going to hire me but aughh. mostly i think it wont work because at my old job i was the one answering all phone calls so i know if someone called me and asked that i would just be like ‘yeah idk man uh we’ll email you if we need you im a minimum wage part time employee what the hell do i know about that’. so..

[miladythewinter]

omg i forgot to tell you guys that today i arrived an hour and a half late to work this morning 🥴 i slept through my alarms and only woke up with my supervisor calling me to find out what had happened. so embarrassing. first time in my life that this has happened and i hope it doesn't repeat itself tonight. already added one more alarm.

[a-sleepy-ginger]

21/6/24

❊✺❂✺❊

Had alot of fun drawing

Yuru camp

[pathsofoak]

"all our employees are busy at the moment"

"you are first in line"

just tell me you guys understaffed your callcenter in the busiest period of the year

[cap-winter-barnes]

Back For Good (Tyler Owens x Reader)

During this time of the year, the Texas weather becomes unbearably sweltering, almost out of nowhere. The sun and warmth you usually love to soak in soon becomes abhorrent as you crave a reprieve from the soaring temperatures.

The sky outside is a beautiful orange as you stare absentmindedly from the front porch, feet tapping uncontrollably on the wooden steps underneath you as you perch on the topmost deck. The view from where you sit is one you'll never tire of as you take in the masses of trees surrounding your property, your own private paradise.

Moving to Texas was the best decision you could have made all those months ago, especially under the circumstances of your family life. You first occupied the decades old ranch in the winter, when the humidity wasn't so dense. You immediately felt at home the moment you saw the view. Winter in Texas is your favourite season to witness, so much so you bestowed its name upon the small bundle nestled in your arms, barely a month old.

You're little Winter.

Such a small, delicate thing, with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes. As soon as you saw that positive pregnancy test gripped between your shaking fingers, you vowed to protect and love her with your life - nothing could change that. A dusting of blonde hair adorns her head, accompanied by already hazel-green eyes, making her the spitting image of her father. Your husband.

A husband you pray makes a safe return home to you. To both of you. Despite what he does for a living, you can't fault his love for what he does. The last you saw of him was a few weeks prior to Winter's birth as he swore he'd be home to see her into the world in the safety of his arms. Yet the weather of the south had kept you apart, your baby girl arriving a whole month early, her Daddy missing the first breath of his first child. Yet he had kept contact with you as he fought through literal tornadoes to get home to you.

Glancing at your phone beside you, you are disappointed to have not received anymore texts or phonecalls, yet as you readjust your darling daughter in your arms, you hear the rev of an engine far off down the driveway.

Tears immediately start to pool in your eyes as you see the familiar red truck in the distance, dust following in its wake. Yet as you take in the damage to Tyler's beloved truck your heart ratchets up in your chest, a sick feeling taking over you. With a scrape of gravel, the truck comes to a sudden halt, only metres from where you sit. With unsteady legs, you stand as the door opens and outsteps your husband.

With a pause in your breath and heart, you take in the appearance of the man you've needed by your side these last few weeks. Adorned in his typical white shirt, jeans and boots, you feel the tears begin to fall down your cheeks.

There is the briefest pause as Tyler take you in before he instinctively moves towards you. Enveloping you in his arms, holding you tightly against his body without crushing your daughter, your free hand balled tightly into a fist around the back of his shirt. Heavy sobs escape your mouth as you revel in the feel of him against your skin, the sensation of his hands against your bare arms. A forceful, yet loving kiss is placed on the crown of your head as Tyler takes in the scent of your hair, missing the smell of your shampoo whilst he's been gone.

As if only just realising, Tyler pulls away, a gasp leaving his lips as he takes in the bundle of joy held gently in your arms. "Oh, she's even more beautiful in person." With both hands, Tyler carefully takes hold of your face, thumbs brushing away the falling tears before bringing you in for a chaste kiss, pouring all the love into the one moment. "You did so good, baby. I'm so fucking proud of you." With another kiss to your forehead, he then directs his attention back to your beautiful daughter, his forehead now resting against your own.

"I'm not going anywhere my darling girl. Daddy's home and he's going to give you all the love in the world. Me and your momma love you so much already." Both of you are now shedding tears as neither of you can take your eyes from the child you created together, finally able to be a family of three for the first time.

[jen-with-a-pen]

Two's Company

pairings: Older!Coworker!Logan x Younger!Coworker!Reader

warnings: obligatory MDNI, written on my phone, everyone's an adult and 21+, no smut, open ended, use your imagination, secret relationship/crush vibes, alcohol (wine), sexual tension, again use your imagination

credit: images from Pinterest | divider by @firefly-graphics

a/n: wrote this while thinking about my own work DILF crush instead of finishing the three other WIPs I have. Thank the writer's block. Don't know word count. I need put down. Enjoy💕

Just thinking about him makes your heart race. The butterflies start kicking up a storm in your stomach with their beating wings, twisting and tying you in knots that feel impossible to pick apart.

The mere mention– the mere thought– of his name is enough to send you spiraling, chest thrumming with palpitations. He's not even in the goddamn room with you and you're already sweating. Hands clammy, knees weak, face filling with a red-hot heat that you can't fan away.

You bite back a grin thinking of the way his lips spread into a smile when you make him laugh, the crooked tilt of a knowing smirk when you impress him with something he didn't think you had up your sleeve.

It's been years, but that one song you had on repeat as a teen plays like a broken record in the back of your mind; the lyrics, reminiscent of how the gray in his hair shines like silver, the blue in the pills he probably takes, the gray clouds of smoke from his cigars.

You didn't understand then, but it's crystal fucking clear now.

And when you think you're over it– over him– you're at home, alone on the couch, nursing on a glass of wine while watching the trashiest of all TV shows a streaming service can offer, when an image of his face pops into your head. Unprompted. Unasked for. Like some crude joke.

But you... you don't mind. Not entirely, if you're honest.

You saw the way he looked at you on Tuesday as you walked out of the meeting, his eyes burning into your swaying hips underneath that tight pencil skirt. Or how, on Thursday, when you took your lunch break, he took the time to stop and compliment you on the sweets you brought in the entire time it took for you to reheat Wednesday night's leftovers. Even followed you back to your office asking what makes you– under the more appropriate guise of your baking– so, so sweet?

A stolen glance, a brush of fingers, subtle praise and the million-watt smile of his makes way to the forefront of your mind. The faded tanline of a wedding band on his ring finger sits on the sidelines, a sore but needed reminder, nonetheless. Teeth to your lip, eyes scrunching shut while your eardrums echo with the phantom sound of his voice. The honeyed timbre. His inflections and musings. What was it he said to you a couple of weeks ago after the project meeting? In that sinfully low octave meant for you and you alone?

"If you're ever lonely, I'm just a phonecall away, sweetheart."

The guilt and shame can take a backseat. You'll deal with them some other time.

You set down the wine glass– not even half-empty– and pick up the phone.

thanks for the patience while I get around to finish my other WIPs 💕 reblogs and comments are always welcome

[sydsaint]

Happy to say I have an addiction to this man. <3

Summary: GM Reader gets a concerning phonecall about her boyfriend being arrested after assaulting AJ Styles at his home.

It’s well past midnight on the road up through rual Geargia. You’ve been on the road for about four hours now, grinding your teeth and mumbling to yourself in frustration. Roughly five hours ago you were in the middle of a meeting With your fellow GM, Adam Pearce, and a few others regarding Wrestlemania coming up when you received the most peculiar call.

Shaun Ricker aka LA Knight, both one of your employee’s and your longterm boyfriend, has been arrested for assault and trespassing up in Georgia.

“That motherfucker is in so much trouble.” You mumble to yourself as you pull into the precinct that you got the call from.

You head inside like a woman on a mission and make your way to the officer at the front desk. “Hello, ma’am. What can I do for you?” The officer asks you when you come up to her.

“Hi, yeah. I’m here to bail out my idiotic boyfriend.” You explain. “Shaun Ricker? I got a call a few hours ago that he was being held here?”

The officer nods and types a few things out at her computer for a moment. You sit and wait for a minute before the officer finds the information that she needs. “Ah! Here we go! We got your man on trespassing and assault, ma’am.” She explains. “Right this way, I’ll take you to him.” She gets up from her desk and gestures for you to follow her.

You nod and follow the officer through the precinct and back to the holding cells. You spot Knight leaned back in his cell, head against the wall with his eyes closed.

“Mr. Ricker!” The officer goes up to the cell and fishes her keys out of her pocket. “Your girlfriend is here to bail you out.” She announces.

With a hand on your hip you watch Knight open his eyes and turn toward the cell door. “YN, darlin’!” He grins at you and rises to his feet. “I knew you’d come get me eventually.” He winks at you, arms out in front of him still locked in the officers cuffs.

“Stop talking.” You snap at your boyfriend as he steps out of his cell.

The officer shuts the cell door and fishes her other set of keys out of her pocket. She uncuffs the braclets off of Knight and puts them away. “You’re free to go, sir.” She steps out of the way.

“Thank you, officer.” You nod at the officer before grabbing Knight by the arm and dragging him out of the building.

You drag Knight out to your car in silence. You both climb inside the car and sit for a moment before you start it up again.

“Are you mad at me?” Knight speaks up after a lengthy silence.

“Oh, mad doesn’t even begin to describe it.” You grit your teeth.

Knight nods, knowing that he’s fucked up and you’re pissed at him. “Okay. Let me have it.” His lips crease into a line as he waits for you to start berating him.

“What the fuck is the matter with you, Shaun!” You raise your voice, trying to focus on driving. “It’s less than a week before Mania! And you go and do something stupid like this?!” You fume. “I was in the middle of a damn meeting! Do you have any idea how bad it looks when I have to step out of one of the most important meetings of the year to take a call and find out one of my employee’s has bee arrested for assaulting one of my other ones!?”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” Knight rubs the back of his neck. “Thank you for driving up here to come and get me.” He adds.

Your angry expression softens a bit of Knight’s apology. “Come on. I wasn’t going to let you rot away in there. It’d make me look bad. Both as your girlfriend and your boss.” You sigh.

“Why don’t you let me drive?” Knight offers in a soft tone, regonizing the bags under your eyes.

“Don’t try and butter me up!” You scoff. “I’m still angry at you.” You insist.

Knight bows his head and sets a hand on your arm. “Darlin’, I’m not trying to do anything.” He insists. “You drove all the way up here after you’ve been at work all day. You’re tired. Just let me drive, please.” He asks you again.

A sigh escapes your lips and you find a place to pull over to switch spots with Knight. He take over driving and you take some time to answer emails from your co-workers about everything going on.

“Great! That’s just great.” You grumble to yourself when you receive an email that you were dreading.

“What’s the matter?” Knight glances at you briefly.

You huff and shake your head before typing out a few words. “They want me to suspend you.” You glance over at your boyfriend.

“Well, I do sort of deserve it.” Knight shrugs. “I’ll take any punishment you dish out to me. And I won’t complain.” He assures you.

You shake your head, still typing your reply out on your phone. “After all the trouble your ass has caused me?” You roll your eyes. “Hell no! Your ass is going to work Mania night 2 against AJ and you are going to finish whatever this beef is.” You insist.

“Whatever you say, darlin’.” Knight nods. “Does your two boytoys know about my little run-in with the law?” He asks you, just trying to make conversation and lighten the mood at this point.

“Pfft. Who do you think paid your bail?” You laugh. “Cause it certainly wasn’t going to be me. Not in full anyway.” You joke.

Knight laughs with you and your anger about the whole situation begins to fade away. A few hours later the two of you finally make it back to your apartment so you can get some rest. Knight takes a shower and you finish up a few more emails before you can’t fight your exhaustion anymore.

Knight returns from his shower and joins you in bed. “Did I mention that I was sorry for making you drive so far to get me? And for getting you into trouble with your bosses?” He scoots over to you.

“You did, yes.” You nod and set your phone down on the nightstand. “It was kind of half-assed though.” You add.

“Well then let me make it up to you.” Knight replies and leans down to place a kiss on your neck. “I’m sure that I can find a way to make the trip worth your while.” He grins against your skin.

[raspberryslxt]

Pls write about y/n x Damon… with lots of fluff and smut and maybe even ft. daddy kink

————————————————————————

Damon Salvatore headcanon

info: damon x reader(female)

warnings: mentions of alcohol usage, mentions of blood, eventual smut

————————————————————————

You were cousin to Elena Gilbert, Jenna was your mum.

You met Damon when you decided to quit collage and started working online. You did it because you wanted to help your mum with Elena and Jeremy. Death of her sister was hard on her, and you wanted to be there to support her.

At first you didn’t like him, he appared as a giant asshole and a man whore.

Just so you know, he didn’t liked you either at the beggining, he tought you are just another stupid human he can use for his own pleases.

Another reason why he didn’t like you was because Stefan liked you, and how he loves to make his brother life so misarable.

You remember when you saw him with Caroline for the first time, you didn’t know if u were more confused or jealous.

It’s not like you liked him or smth, but why Caroline and not you?

Oh boy, if u only knew what he did to her.

The dinner night at the Gilbert’s house was the first time u started warming up to him. He told you about Katherine( not full story obviously) and how they both lost her. You felt pity, but also u knew how he felt.

It’s not like you became besties after that, but you indeed started talking, and things were going pretty well. But everything must come to an end.

You remember this night to well, the night when u found out.

This was Stefan’s bday u went to grill to wish him happy bday and spent some time with him and your cousin. You met Lexi who seemed nice, she looked like she knew a lot.

Than the next thing u remember is Damon killing her.

You were so lost in what happend.

Stefan tried compelling you to forget, but for some reason his compulsion didn’t work, so he and Elena tried explaining it all to you

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing so u decided to leave town for few days.

You remember being in a nightclub in Atlanta when you got a phonecall from unknown caller.

Turns out the caller wasn’t unknown, and it was Damon calling you. He was clearly tipsy or out of his mind, but he told you he wanted you, that you make him go crazy and that he didn’t feel that way since Katherine.

You were so confused.

Just few weeks ago you saw him kill someone, and now you were considering coming back for him.

You were telling yourself that it was obviously your family that you came back for, but deep down you knew the truth.

Especially, when first thing you saw was him kissing your cousin, or so you tought your cousin.

He was so desspered to explain to you that the mistake but you weren’t having it.

„It’s not like we ever liked each other Damon, right?” Because you two never were even friends right? And who believes in love from first sight.

You felt way worse tho when you found out it was indeed Katherine, you knew that he woudl try to win her back. And that it’s too late now.

Till the day Katherine lives you will always be second choice.

What made u change your mind was the night that Katherine payed you a little visit. You were suppossed to be scared of her, but you were a brave one, and she liked it a lot.

She told you about how Damon just rejected her, and that she had to know the person who was behind it, so here you were.

For some people this might seem weird, but u liked her. She looked like a strong woman and were a feminist. You listened to her story about why she left them, and in some twisted way you understood her.

But this wasn't the point behind your talk, the point was that Damon did really liked you, and you had to do something about it.

You drove to Salvatore house and hoped that you will be meet with similiar face that you were looking for.

And you did.

Damon being Damon ofc couldn't just admit to all of that, so he said that he don't remember what he said and even if he did it wouldn't matter. But you knew better and it was no time for being a coward so you went for it.

You kissed him.

He responded automaticlly, by kissing you back, and you both knew what you wanted. He speeded you up to his bedroom.

You weren't very sure of it, u met him just few months ago and now this was happening. You didn't even knew him well, most of the time u spent togather was because Elena and Stefan was with you.

But it was no time for thinking, you two spend the night togather, and you sure as hell did not regret it.

Neither of you knew what was coming soon, but it didn't matter, because for now it was like there was only you two in whole universe. And you weren't complaining

[229zmi]

AU REVOIR

PAIRING: Kuroo Tetsurō/Reader

CONTENT: embarrassing moments, you and kuroo are #strangers, kuroo is late to a job interview, phonecall with kenma

WORD COUNT: 1.9k

“Hey, uh. Can I help you?”

Oh, god. Kuroo Tetsurō has never been more embarrassed.

Not even when he was suffering from a particularly bad case of borborygmus in a completely silent lecture hall, or when he accidentally liked someone’s post from 176 weeks ago. Nor was he this embarrassed the time his umbrella turned inside out and cartwheeled out of his hand into a ditch in front of several cars stopped at a traffic light. And who knows how many embarrassing moments he’s had throughout all his years of volleyball— but this moment right here. It still takes the cake.

Pause, rewind, play: this morning, ten minutes ago. The sky was blue, the birds were chirping, and Kuroo Tetsurō? Ten minutes ago, he was suddenly woken up by a loud sound, although it wasn’t the sound of an alarm, no, for there was no alarm to wake up to. What woke him up was actually a call from Kenma, who almost never called him, so he figured it had to be important.

“Hello? Everything okay?”

“Are you on your way to your interview?”

Of course. How typical of Kenma, always straight to the point, no pleasantries or—

Wait.

“Wh—“ Kuroo blinks a couple times to wake himself up, groggily rubbing his eyes. He lets out a yawn loud enough to shift earth’s tectonics before continuing his sentence, “What’d you say?”

“Your job interview,” Kenma repeats from his phone, “it starts at eight-thirty, doesn’t it?”

Silence fills the conversation for a while. Kuroo’s eyes begin to flutter shut, lulled by the faint sound of static emitted by the call. It isn’t until his phone slips out of his hand and hits the sheets with soft thud! that Kenma speaks up, impeding the drowsy man’s short-lived slumber.

“Hello?”

“Hm,” Kuroo hums.

“You are ready, right?” His best friend’s starting to sound concerned. “Like, all dressed up and halfway out the door ready. Right?”

“Mm… hm.”

Kenma restrains himself from somehow reaching his hands through the phone and violently shaking Kuroo by the shoulders. “That does not sound convincing. Please don’t tell me you’re still in bed.”

Still clueless, Kuroo yawns again, rolling over onto his other side. “And if I am? I set an alarm last night, you didn’t need to call me. I can handle it myself.”

“Kuro,” Kenma says. Now he sounds dead serious, like he’s about to be the deliverer of either some grave news or an overdue love confession. Unfortunately for Kuroo, it’s the former; Kenma drops the bomb without hesitation: “You have twenty minutes before your interview starts.”

“I didn’t realise you were so punctual, Kenma. Twenty minutes, that’s plenty of t—“

Oh.

Oh.

(Pause, rewind, play: the night before. Kuroo turned off all the lights. Hopped under the covers. Went straight to sleep. He did not set his alarm.)

Shit.

“I swear I set my alarm last night,” Kuroo speaks into the phone, running a hand through his hair out of frustration. In the past seven minutes, he’s managed to brush his teeth, get dressed, and exit his apartment without any major troubles. Sure, his hair’s a little… controversial in the back, and there’s some noticeable creases in his button-up shirt, but clearly, a bigger issue lies at hand — and no, it’s not the judging stares that the other pedestrians are giving him as he power-walks through the city. “You don’t think they’ll mind if I’m a few minutes late, do ya?”

Kenma audibly sighs.

“I don’t know what that means, so I’m taking that as you telling me they’ll one hundred-percent hire me on the spot.”

This time, Kenma doesn’t make a sound, though Kuroo senses he may have rolled his eyes. Either that, or he made a face akin to someone tasting a lemon.

“I’m hanging up,” his friend finally says, deciding he’s done enough to help today. Even this is something he considers charitable in their friendship; usually, Kenma prefers to treat calls with his friends like another app on his phone and close out of the call without warning, so maybe Kuroo should be grateful on this glorious day, he thinks.

“What? No, you can’t do that. That’s.”

“…That’s what?”

“Treason,” Kuroo finishes. “I still need your moral support. So—“

There’s a dull beep coming from the other end. Betrayed, Kuroo pulls his phone away from his ear only to be met with the image on his lockscreen — a photo of an outing with his friends some weeks ago — and the ever-daunting time, which currently reads: 08:19. A second later, the screen turns black and he catches sight of his reflection, including his unfortunately dishevelled hair and his wrinkled shirt and—

He winces.

His tie needs serious fixing.

The building where his interview will be at is only a few blocks away. After only a moment’s contemplation, he decides it won’t hurt to spend a minute or two trying to fix whatever fucked up knot he made while he was still dealing with the effects of being just woken up several minutes ago, veering away from his line of travel toward a car parked along the side of the street. Using the tinted window as a mirror, he tugs at the fabric in an attempt to undo it, although to no avail.

Then, the window rolls down.

“Hey, uh.” Concerned eyes lock with his. Kuroo short-circuits, his face turning a sickly colour as his mouth drops in horror, giving the illusion of a fish out of water. “Can I help you?”

Tapping along the rim of your steering wheel, you wait for a response. It isn’t that you’re annoyed or mad or anything along those lines; rather, you were almost flattered at first by the sight of a handsome yet serious-looking man speed-walking past your car before doubling back and staring at you through your window with what you misunderstood as passion in his eyes. But after watching him fidget with his tie for a solid minute, the realisation crashed onto you like tidal waves: he was in fact not nervously blown away by your copious amount of beauty, and now you’re more disappointed than anything.

“I’m so sorry,” Kuroo says with an apologetic smile, straightening from his previously hunched position over your window after realising how creepily close he is. A voice in the back of his mind tells him you have pretty eyes — and pretty hands, he notes a moment later as he steps back to put more distance between the two of you — but he pushes back both thoughts. “Really, I didn’t know you were there.”

“Were you planning to steal my car or something if I wasn’t inside?” You intend for this to be a light-hearted joke, but maybe your tone comes off too bland for him to get it, and now that enough time has passed for you to think about it, you’re not sure what you were trying to do with this ‘joke’ either. Nonetheless, you find amusement in the way his expression swiftly switches from aghast to frantic and even more in the transition of his face to a deeper shade of pink.

However, there’s a part of you that feels bad, so you eventually reassure him, “I’m joking. Would you like some help with your tie?”

Out of the benevolence of your heart, you decide to leave out the part where you mention how it looks like a three year old trying to tie their shoes for the very first time.

Kuroo looks grateful, relieved almost. “Yes, please. Thank you.”

“C’mere, then.”

You motion for him to come closer and reach your hands out the window. Kuroo takes a tentative step forth, though that’s not near close enough for you, so you extend your arm and gently tug on the tie, pulling him forward until your elbows are barely past the window. To make things a little easier, Kuroo spreads his knees slightly, creating a wide triangle with the ground and lowering himself so that he’s level with you. For a brief moment, your eyes drift to meet each other’s before immediately looking away. You focus on fixing his tie, and Kuroo acts interested in a crack in the ground all of sudden.

Even if he does look a bit odd standing like this, he supposes it’s worth the judgmental stares from passers-by once again because in only a matter of a minute, you somehow manage to untie the hideous knot. As you begin retying it, you make an attempt to start up conversation.

“Got something important today?”

“Just a job interview.”

You hum, mildly intrigued. “Where?”

He tells you the company and building, and you beam in recognition of the name.

“I work there! Today’s my day off,” you tell him. Once you’re done, you tug at the tie one last time before, without thinking, moving to brush the dust off his suit jacket with your hands. You freeze up as soon as you realise. (Whatever deity of embarrassment that exists up there must be having a field day with the two of you today.)

“Sorry. That was. Force of habit. I mean, I’ve never done that before— sorry, again. I really don’t know why I did that,” you say honestly. Maybe it’s a thing you’ve seen married couples do on television and subconsciously kept inside your brain like some kind of secret weapon to only be unleashed when you want to woo someone, but you think it’ll be more humiliating if you admit that.

Kuroo laughs. It’s a unique sound, and you find yourself liking it a lot, unable to keep yourself from returning a small smile at him. “It’s fine. We all have our moments.”

“What time’s your interview at?” you ask out of curiosity, leaning an arm out the window.

“Eight-thirty.”

The both of you stare at each other in silence for a couple of seconds.

You purse your lips. “Isn’t that…”

“Yeah.” He glances down the street, then back at you, and it looks like he doesn’t really want to leave yet. Even though he really should. Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he reads the time: 08:26. “I probably should get going.”

“Well, it was nice talking to you. Good luck with your interview,” you say, trying your best to not sound dismayed. Right before he leaves, however, something — perhaps the prospect of him not getting the job and you never getting to see him again — urges you to call out to him, “Wait.”

He turns back.

“I, um. Parked here ‘cause I was searching up directions to this café that opened up recently. If you’d like, after your interview, we could go get coffee together. You can tell me all about it if it goes well… or complain if it doesn’t.”

“Of course,” he says immediately. He can’t help but feel giddy inside, internally wanting to kick his feet, twirl his hair, and giggle and squeal like a pig all at once. If he was inside a building or a room, maybe he’d also be comically bouncing off the walls like in cartoons. Regardless of these overwhelming compulsions, he retains his composure, cooly adding, “I’d love that.”

“I’ll wait for you here, then,” you affirm with a smile. “See ya later…” Oh, right. You’ve yet to exchange names, but you suppose that can wait for now. “…stranger.”

Amused, he returns, “Later, stranger.”

As he walks away, a voice in the back of his mind makes note yet again of the fact that you have pretty eyes, pretty hands, and, just now, a pretty smile. Maybe, he thinks, he’ll tell you after the interview.

[justrainandcoffee]

Meant to be (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc)

Alfie x Rose masterlist

Based, as prequel, on this fic that @evita-shelby wrote weeks ago, which at the same time is based on a dream I had. (Eva belongs to her)

Warning: Angst. Cheating. Infidelity. Alternate Universe.

Words: ±100. Just a moodboard+blurb.

There was a reason for Alfie to buy a house in Margate and little and nothing had to do with his early retirement. And it had a lot to do with his best friend's wife.

Because the moment he saw her a feeling he couldn't control invaded his mind. And heart.

Something was wrong with all of that. A curse, maybe. Bad spirits playing with them. Because how could you explain all the things they felt when they look at each other eyes? How could you explain the pain in her eyes every time they had to say goodbye?

The excuses. One after the other. He believes me, Rose said once.

But he didn't. Tommy didn't believe her, the same way Rose didn't believe him when he said that Arthur, Michael or Ada needed him at midnight. But she didn't care who's the other one. Or if it's a woman or a man.

But she pretends to believe him. Because it's easier to deal with the guilt. Thomas Shelby isn't a bad man, or it is, but not with her, it just happens she could never love him. Never. She never allowed him to touch her and Tommy never pressure her, nor asked why. It was part of the silent agreement they had.

But Alfie... That's different. Alfie was the proof that she wasn't broken as she believed for a lot of time. The first time he kissed her, under that roof near the bookshop, Rose felt that her world started to shine. But same as her, he's married. And Rose liked his wife because Eva was a good woman and most because of her than because of Tommy is the guilt she felt.

Margate is their secret place. Alfie gave Rose a key that she hid in her jewelry box.

The excuse this time is that a woman she knew gave birth and she was going to spend time with her. The whole weekend, in fact. And Tommy nodded and not longer after she left his office, he made a phonecall to speak with the real owner of his heart... That happened to be Alfie's wife.

One day they will realise who's the other one. But that day wasn't coming soon. In the meantime, they were four souls longing to be with another person, one they believe it's impossible to be with.

It's summer and even when the day wasn't that hot, the cold sea provided her a nice feeling. She's wearing one of his shirts and she's smiling at him, inviting Alfie to join her.

Alfie and Rose kissed one more time. That was the life they wanted to have. Together. Rose was meant to be a Solomons not a Shelby. What was wrong with that universe?

"I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you, too, Al."

Back in Birmingham, something similar was happening.

"I love you."

Whispered words said to a the person they loved but they weren't married to.

I blame Juli for this because she mentioned this again and 😭💔.

[merinathropp]

hi yeah so Kara's portrayal of Mrs. Danvers absolutely tore my heart out and blew the roof off when I saw Rebecca London two weeks ago so here are some observations I'm finally writing down

- after the costume ball scene, Ich was trying to run back up the stairs, and Danny came down them towards her with THE MOST SWEETLY EVIL GRIN IMAGINABLE, just absolutely smug and delighted and totally unashamed of herself, I have literally never loved Danny more, good for her, let her be happy etc. you just know she slept SO well that night

- balcony scene, when she's telling Ich to jump: for the first few lines, she wasn't looking at Ich at all, she was gazing out into the ocean, and she had this awful twisted look of despair/panic on her face as she said 'you'll never be happy, no one wants you, no one needs you', and my heart literally plummeted because it seemed as though Danny was talking to herself*, not Ich. she snapped out of it a second later and very deliberately turned to look at Ich to deliver the rest of her speech, but oh my gosh, WHAT an inspired and heartbreaking choice???

(*apparently Kara confirmed on Instagram that this is her intention with those first few lines huuhhjsdhfksajdf I'm obsessed)

- the first time I saw this production, I was confused by how polite and normal Danny behaved to Ich for most of Act 1, BUT NOW I SEE THE LIGHT!!!! the whole brilliance of Kara's portrayal is this delicate slow burn effect, she's perfectly cool and collected during their first interactions, then gradually gets more mad and emotional as the show goes on

- Rebecca IIII (after the phonecall) she walked very, very slowly down the stairs with one hand clapped over her mouth, fell to her knees clutching the banister, and sobbed. she hadn't sung a note and I was already crying watching her. so many Dannys make that moment about anger and betrayal (which is valid!!!), but I was bowled over to see Kara make it about Danny just crumpling to pieces and finally allowing herself to cry and cry for the woman she loved.

- (then she somehow proceeded to sob and belt her way FLAWLESSLY through the entire reprise, I couldn't believe how clean her notes were when she had tears streaming down her face???? and the absolute icing on the cake: on the final few lines, it was like all her grief just iced over, her face hardened into this look of total focus and hatred, and she stood up slowly singing 'now it's time for your revenge on Manderley' absolute perfection honestly.)

basically we're all blessed beyond belief by Kara's Danny and idk what I will do when this production closes. live in perpetual grief forever I guess.

[gatalentan]

PHONECALLS | AO3

Summary: Young Melissa/Barbara, wine, unexpected phonecalls, and getting closer by the inch.

Hearing Barbara's voice in her ear while four drinks in was a little too much right now, she had to admit. Overstimulation, or something. She'd crawled onto her bed somewhere around minute ten, the low rumble of her voice like a soft hand stroking her cheek. She was more than tipsy before the phone rang, and had sunk another since then, her limbs loose and warm. Drifting in space.

---------------------

Melissa was a substitute, had to be all things to all men. A swiss army knife. Adaptable. Resourceful. Good at a little of everything, but feet never planted long enough to build relationships or make a difference. Just long enough to prevent the classroom turning into Lord of the Flies 2: Fly Harder. She hated it. It wasn't why she'd become a teacher. But she had bills to pay, and it was the only gig she could get, two years outta college. 

It was still teaching. And she was still good at it.

But she wanted to be great at it.

She first got asked to sub for Barbara Howard about a year ago, when Mel was still really green. She didn't really know her, only to nod-to in the lounge. Sometimes chatted if the room was quiet. She was hard to get to know. Didn't really open up past the surface layer of small talk. Real tense, very dignified, by the book. Extremely handsome though, in the way older, confident women are. Shiny. Nice to look at over morning coffee.

But subbing for her class turned her guts to pastina. Those kids adored her. They drew pictures of her, for her, even though she wasn't there. "Mrs. Howard says this, Mrs Howard says that, is she coming back, when will we see her..." Mel couldn't remember ever missing a teacher. What kind of woman was Barbara? The fact the pin-straight room was absolutely littered with pieces of these kids told such a story of mutual love. Even if it meant the windowsill was covered in the ugliest clay… somethings known to man. They'd made them for her.

She was so fucking jealous.

She wanted it to be like that. 

Ached for it, even. 

It made her wanna get to know her, learn from her. To get to be just like her. She brought her food, after that, as an excuse to sit beside her, the way she always did when she wanted to make herself indisposable. Let me in. They always let her in. Nobody could turn her down once they took a bite.

So it was a crush, yeah. Big deal. She had eyes. The woman's face looked like she was made by Michaelangelo, all soft and hand made by something otherworldly, made you wanna touch her to see if she was warm or just made of clay. And she was warm. And pretty, and kind, but it didn't have to be a whole thing. 

Except y'know, it definitely was a whole thing. 'Cause after weeks of careful aim and persistence she'd finally learned just how to crack a real, genuine laugh out of her without fail, and whenever that happened, Melissa was always a total goner. She loved making people laugh, especially the uptight ones. It's the knowing that they'll carry that bit of her with them for the rest of the day. Made herself into a sunny spot they wanna come back to.

And it became their whole thing, over days and weeks and months, food and laughter and chairs that got a little bit closer each morning. Direct, focused attention that Melissa could just drown in. Barb seemed to grow excuses to touch her - by accident? on purpose? - punctuation while telling a story, a balm on a shitty day, a playful warning after a dirty joke. And Melissa read meaning into it that wasn't there, but mattered to her.

She'd made herself a fixture in Barbara's day to the point where she'd see her smile when she rounded the lounge doorway to find Mel already sitting there, and it made her wanna melt through the floor. 

She'd gotten in through the garden gate, and she now wanted to be around her every chance she got. 

It was a whole… problem. 

She wanted to be her friend, but she also wanted to crowd her into the janitor's closet and kiss the smile off her stupid face.

But she couldn't.

But she could think about it. 

Thinking is free. 

So hearing Barbara's voice in her ear while four drinks in was a little too much right now, she had to admit. Overstimulation, or something. She'd crawled onto her bed somewhere around minute ten, the low rumble of her voice like a soft hand stroking her cheek. She was more than tipsy before the phone rang, and had sunk another since then, her limbs loose and warm. Drifting in space.

"Did you get all that?"

"Yeah, yeah." 

Actually she hadn't heard a damn thing, had been too distracted by other thoughts, of that same voice in other, sweatier circumstances, with a pair of plum red lips attached, telling her other, filthier, things, in the shell of her ear, in the column of her neck. Stupid thoughts, but pretty ones, hanging in the air. So easy to let them drift there.

She took a swig of her wine to recenter herself.

"Hmm." Barbara didn't sound convinced, could almost hear the hand on her hips. Made Mel squirm a little, in the way disapproval always did. Pulled her out of her haze, wanting to be seen all of a sudden.

"I've got you, Barb. I know the drill. I've subbed your class how many times? You gotta trust me by now."

Silence yawned open between them down the line. Clocks ticking, cars rolling by. Trust was a loaded word to insert into this small conversation about lesson plans.

"I do. Trust you, that is." The creak of a floorboard. Melissa could picture her, barefoot in the living room, pacing around as she spoke. Cute. "I don't know if I ever told you, but the children always rave about you when I come back. 'Miss Schemmenti always does the voice this way! No, not like that, like this!' It's enough to give me a complex."

Oh. Melissa felt like she might shatter. Could feel the tears surging up, the cold tingle in her fingers and toes, heart stopped. The kids did see her. And by extension Barbara saw her. Barbara was jealous of her.

Even this drunk, with her barriers on the floor, she knew this was an insecurity made flesh that was too tender to reveal on what was meant to be an easy-going work phone call. She sniffed, rubbed her face, reworked it into something else. Toes still tingling.

"Oh yeah?" Her voice was shakier, more tense than she'd like, even with all the false bravado she tried to pack into it. "If I'm so good, does that mean you'll owe me a favour?"

Flirting was safe. It's just a game.

She was on her belly now, toying with the edges of her pillowcase, and the throaty chuckle on the end of the line lit her up like the Main Street Electrical Parade. 

"What kind of favour?"

Oh, she could think of a few. None of them PG. All of them ending in Barbara's hand twisted up in her hair. 

"Come over for dinner on Monday," burst out in a rush, up in the air before she could catch it, greased up by the wine. "If you're not busy," she followed, hoping she didn't sound too desperate. Friends eat dinner. She cooks for her all the time just not at… her house. It's totally fine. It's fine.

"Oh." Almost a gasp, and a long pause on the end of the line that nearly made Melissa's throat close up. "I'd love that." 

It could have been a lot of things - her brain, the drink, the way she felt simultaneously sleepy and keyed up - but she could have sworn there was something in her tone, there. Something else. She wanted to tear it open and sift through the pieces. Fixated her nervous hands on the pillowcase instead. 

"Seven?"

"Works for me. Do you want me to bring anything?"

Just you. "Wine?" She yawned, flicking through her mental recipe book so she could give her some direction. Braciole? Ribollita? "A chianti or something would be great."

"Perfect." A beat. "You sound tired, are you alright?"

Yes. No. "Sorry. It's the chardonnay."

"Tsk. I thought you sounded drunk."

"It's 9.30 on a Saturday night, Barb. I didn't know you were gonna call and expect to talk to me about IEPs"

"Hey, hey, no judgement from me. There's brandy with my name on it by the sink."

"Ooh, my kind of woman."

"So you keep saying." 

"You know me, I can't help myself.”

"So I've heard."

They both cackled then, throaty and light. Easy, familiar.

"I'll let you go so you can pass out in front of Walker, Texas Ranger."

"Shut up!" 

"Don't forget, top drawer of my desk." 

"Yeah. I got you. G'night Barb. "

"I know. Goodnight. Take care. Sweet dreams."

Click.

Yeah. They will be.

She put down the phone and pulled up her dress.

[garf-lover96]

my long ass elaborate ranking of Will Wood's (and The Tapeworms') albums!! (Everything is a Lot ranking list)

for the purpose of making this i've been listening to this whole album like non stop for the past week. i even made my parents listen to it with me (my mom liked it and said that she'd go to see the songs live if she could!). it was actually pretty difficult to rank all of them but i think the top 3 will remain unchanged forever, they're some of my all time favorites from will wood!! the way i'll do this i think is i'll write down all the things i like about a particular song, maybe a favorite lyric and a favorite moment or something. or just some general rambling. also i split Everything is a Lot into Everything is a Lot and Destroy to Enjoy, like in the remastered album!

———

1. Skeleton Appreciation Day in Vestal, NY (Bones)

first time i heard this song was over a year ago so i can't tell what my exact first impression was but it did almost immediately become my favorite song ever. I LOVE IT SO MUCH IT'S INSANE. also fun fact, memberoflottiescult really likes this song!

my main thing with this song is that it sounds like?? you know, bones?? it sounds like skeletons. the melody is like something a skeleton would've come up with. i can't explain it but it is hearable. best song ever

2. 6up 5oh Cop-Out (Pro / Con)

it was one of the first will's songs i've ever liked on spotify. ughhhh the energy, the general mashing of the piano and it sounding like it's about to fall apart any second lol!! the high ass notes. perfect, so perfect. i was listening to this song while purchasing a meter long plush goose. the song is like a brother to me

my favorite part is the spoken "am i being detained? am i under arrest? read me my rights please! I WANT MY PHONECALL" it's uhfhdfhkf. showstopping

3. White Knuckle Jerk (Where Do You Get Off?)

it took me exactly one (1) full listen to this one to absolutely fall in love with it, holy fuck. one of the best things i've ever heard. every time it's on i have to loop it a few times

my favorite parts are the "i wonder how i woke up in the middle of my surgery and i watched them botch my heart. only the second worst thing that i could've thought was 'this won't have to end if it doesn't start'" and "i'll never know what it's like to love you" because ummm???? the emotion in his voice omfg, i love it when this happens. it's so perfect (reminds me of julian devorak..........)

4. Lygerside Daydream

had me hooked after the first listen as well. i love the melody and i love how the lyrics are written here. i, too, want to blow the seeds of dandelions and wish for nothing more. such a sweet sound. one of my favorites as well. nice to daydream to, ha!!!

5. Front Street

idk how to explain this but the pace of the song, like the way the lyrics are sung is so satisfying. just the sentence structure and stuff.. uhhh i really don't know how to describe this, but i love it a whole lot. the piano melody here is amazing as well it so???? I DON'T FUCKING KNOW it's just good

6. The First Step

so nice to sing along to!!! "and i hope i don't choke on my vomit tonight" and "take my anxiety and my sobriety, i'll kill two birds with one stoner. so if you see me please, take my keys i don't wanna be an organ donor" are my favorite parts:3 so satisfyingly said

7. Chemical Overreaction / Compound Fracture

one of my first ones too i'm pretty sure. the chorus really pulled me in. fast and fun. i think i showed it to my godfather once. the spanish part scratches my brain so good

8. Cover This Song (A Little Bit Mine)

very nice to sing along to as well. i love the melody on the very first verse. i love the part with the piano solo so much

9. Everything is a Lot

i love the melody sooooooo much, "all the moments you've lost, all the money it cost" part is my favorite. shouldn't be overlooked!!!!!

10. Red Moon

i had to come around to it a bit but i actually love it. love the "the constellations form infinite paisleys in the sky" part, such a nice sound. satisfying lyrics in general

11. Thermodynamic Lawyer Esq. G.F.D.

nice to listen to when i want to have something screaming into my ears. loooove the fact that liar liar was sampled in the beginning, i really like that movie. i used to be obsessed with jim carrey also. i binged pretty much all of his movies as a little lad

12. Jimmy Mushrooms' Last Drink: Bedtime in Wayne, NJ

the kalimba kind of bothered me initially but i got used to it. i enjoy the melody. don't have much to say about it

13. ¡Aikido! (Neurotic / Erotic)

it's not horrible by any means, it just kind of doesn't do it for me. i usually skip it

14. Destroy to Enjoy

satisfying rhymes, i prefer not to listen to construction work as a past time

———

this took so long to put together, i kept forgetting about it or rearranging it...

[fromsupernaturaltof1]

"Last week I went home to Australia for my birthday, I haven’t done that since I was 17… so 17 years ago."

17 years it was probably a video like this or a phonecall from his family on his birthday, cannot imagine how happy he must've felt being with them in person 🥲

he needed this time off so much

[ineffablyendless]

Enough "Rose Walker has Hob as her Uni Professior" crackfics. Time for "Professor Gadling is ADAM YOUNG'S Uni history professor" fics.

(....)

Professor Gadlen is an immortal.

Adam Knew, the way he Knew some things sometimes, and it adds humourous context to what Adam imagines is his day job. A History Professor? Really?

"I don't think it's cheating." Pepper had said, during their first twice a month phonecalls. Its a great deal more frequent than Brian and Wensley does, nowadays, and he doesn't mind, not really. The Them had grew, as all children do.

Its been 10 years since the Nopacolypse, and while Brian and Wensley had grown to disregard what Adam was (which he of course appreciates) Pepper had not. It used to tick him off. Now he appreciates it too. She puts him in his place, keeps his feet on the ground. He doesn't know where he'd be without her.

(He does. It doesn't bear thinking)

"I never said it was cheating." Adam spoke into mic of his earbuds, hands free to throw the ball for Dog. Theyve decided to spend some time out on the quad today, and 5 people so far had come to pet him. Adam knows he enjoys the attention. "I said it was cliché."

"It is a little cliché." Pepper admits, and Adam laughs. He can hear her smiling. "Does he know? That you-,"

"No." Adam shrugs. "I mean, not yet."

The smile had dropped. "Adam-,"

"I'm not going to do anything!"

"That doesn't sound like the tone of voice of someone who wasn't planning to do anything."

"I'm curious!" Adam says, a bit defensively, and he hears the crackle of her sigh over the line. "Humans, you know it, Peps, youre the one between us with a head for science, Wensley's hopeless. They shouldn't be around so long, should they? What if he needs help?"

A pause, contemplating. Adam's glad she's giving it thought, makes him feel like this isn't one of his, you know, I-Know-Better Stints he gets into. "How long do you think he's been around?"

600 years, Adam thought, but didnt say. Precisely 633. "Longer than you'd think."

"Aziraphale and Crowley long?"

"Not that long." Adam assures, can't helping the smile that the reminder brings forth. He hadn't visited those old hats for a while. "Long enough."

"Did he seem unhappy to you?"

He didn't, Adam thought. He had come to accompany Violet, a friend he's made through their Introductory to 14th century Neopolitics class, to Professor Gadlen's office to ask some questions about the quiz carry marks for midterms, and while there is some modicum of stress, it is the normal, human background buzz. Professor Robert H. Gadlen, as far as he can tell, seems perfectly content, just the way he is. One of the most.

If it wasn't for Knowing, Adam wouldn't have suspected anything off about him at all.

He hadn't said anything into the line, but it seems he didnt need to.

"Then leave it." Pepper declares, her voice crisp with finality.

"But-,"

"Leave it, Adam, you don't know what he is and what he's been through, you don't get to make the call. You know this."

Adam scrunches his nose as Dog returns the ball to him, tail wagging in delight. "I-," he says, and halts himself. Pepper was right, of course she was right, and no messing about, that's what he said, 10 years ago, he'd promised.

"Yeah," Adam relents. "Ok."

"Thank you. I'm only helping you look out for yourself, Adam."

"I know," Adam sighs. "Thank you."

"Don't sound so glum, we're heading over to see you in a week, and we'll have a pint in that old Pub Brian spotted about last time that he wanted to try. The Pegasus, or something."

"The White Horse?"

"Same thing." It really isn't, but Adam doesn't corrrect her. "Anyway, keep safe over there, don't do anything stupid. And give Aziraphale a call, won't you? He's been worried lately over something or the other, something about dreams."

"I will."

"And you'll tell me if you've reconsidered what me and Brian asked? About leaving the town, seeing the sights? Because I know some people, and it'll do you good, you know. Seeing new things. It's not forever, Adam, and Tadfield's going to be right there when you come back."

Adam doesn't tell her she couldn't know that, not when he couldn't either. Doesn't tell her their sleepy little town had been so drenched as home to him, arms slack open for the Before and After of the NoPocalypse, the him of Before and the him of After, that him leaving and severing it, finally, might mean the town might lose the root and half of itself within the year, collapse like an old building with it's pillars stolen out.

He doesn't tell her that it's a part of him, the cracked tar roads and humped houses and ancient ice cream parlor, the ominous edges of Hogsback Woods and the old LifeGuard seat over the chalk pit he still comes to see every other evening, hearing it whisper the things he should have done, the well paved path of what He Still Could Be. How it looms and stretches and groans to make it seem like it was bigger than it truly was, a throne of dirt and earth and decay.

He'd left that behind now, that isn't him anymore, because he said so, didn't he?

He just remembers.

He doesn't tell him that he feels Tadfield like a limb, it's unchanging storybook perfect English weather, and that even departing to stay at Goldsmith's a campus not half an hour away, feels like leaving 10 fingers behind. He feels the phantom of it, he aches for it, feels incomplete of himself without it.

He doesn't tell Pepper any of this. It wouldn't change things, and there was nothing she could do. There wasn't anything Crowley and Aziraphale could do, the only two people with any semblance of understanding how it might feel like. Adam feels like a ghost, posessing his own skin, and he sees the world tilted 0.5 degrees to the left leaving the door open a crack to the secrets of the universe, a room unlit. Everyday, for 10 years, had been a fight to ignore it.

He loves Humanity. He does, he does, he promises. Its part of him too, the love, the agonizing, unpleasant devotion. He was meant to be King. And he loves being human, knows in his heart of hearts its simply the best thing he could possibly be.

But being content, fighting against the maddening glimpse of that unlit room?

He didn't know that was possible.

"C'mon Dog," he beckons, once he and Pepper had made their customary dance of goodbyes, tucking the old damp tennis ball into the pocket of his coat as the hound twirls leaps around his legs, cheerful and impatient and eager to please. "We have to take an early night. Morning classes tommorow."

It is Professor Gadlen's class, and Adam refuses to be late. He cannot wait to poke and prod for more pieces of him. He's promised Pepper there would be no intervention as to what he was, not unless he was harmed, and while Adam has no intention of breaking this oath, he had made no promises against snooping.

After all, he's just curious.