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mcfreakin-bxtch · 5 years ago

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Pairing: The Mandalorian x Reader

Warnings: Smut (slightly dominant reader in this one), swearing, some ptsd?

Word Count: 5.2k

A/N: Part five is finally out! I have about four or five more parts planned so far, if anyone has any ideas for future ones or any requests at all never be afraid to inbox!

The Mandalorian’s Love Series

(Oof)

...

Din had absolutely become insatiable since the last incident. His protectiveness over her and the baby had increased, that was for sure. Y/N had to talk to him about his constant eye, but at the same time she didn’t mind it, understood why he was more alert. He bought her a new set of armor, not nearly as good as his beskar, couldn’t find enough credits for it, but it would have to do for now, and even began training with her again; she actually really loved that comeback, for different reasons of course.

But most of all it was hard to get him off her. Din became more confident in that area the more time they spent together – although she was aware that it was mainly to ensure himself that she was still there – and it was getting to the point where he couldn’t even wait to get her back on to the Razor Crest. It sent a rush of excitement through her veins whenever he would pull her to an abandoned alley, push her up against the wall, and take her where anyone could see them.

The blaster shot not only affected Din, but Y/N as well, his words repeating in her head after their passionate lovemaking. The guilt from their fight from that night swept over her as she thought them over. The new nightmares that now plagued her mind daily showed from the dark circles under her eyes; the feel of the blaster shot piercing her skin, the face of the young, deceiving gunslinger was a constant reminder of what could have been. Din didn’t want to cause another fight between them, and so he did his best to comfort her, soothe the nightmares away with gentle touches and soothing words as she did with him, and to listen; she’d talk to him when she was ready.

This time Y/N stayed on the ship with the Child while the Mandalorian went to collect a small bounty. There were no problems on their end, she played with the baby most of the time before putting him down for a nap. When she heard the ramp to the Razor Crest open she got into a defensive stance, pulling out her weapon before she heard the familiar thumps of his boots enter the ship. With a sigh she set her blaster down and went to greet him. She found him down in the hull of the ship, barely getting a word out before the man was on her.

Ever since he felt her touch against his bare skin for the first time he hated putting his armor on around Y/N. It closed him out, closed out her inviting heat to his thirsty skin. But times like these would have to do. It was a stressful day, such a small job causing such a big problem for him, and it was barely enough money to get by and he needed her. Needed her to help him forget, to feel almost human again. And she was wearing a fucking dress today; the planet they were on experiencing a heat wave, even Din sweating horribly underneath his armor. He probably should’ve waited until he had gotten cleaned up, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care in the moment.

The dress was a plain gray, but it still looked so beautiful on her, hugging her curves in all the right ways. He could see some sweat glistening on her collarbone, between her breasts’, down the calves of her legs. He pushed her against the wall of the ship, being mindful of his armor as he placed one hand on her throat, barely putting any weight on it but the message was clear: stay. The other he placed at her mouth, pointer finger tracing her lips. Y/N knew what he was asking for and opened her mouth, tongue inviting and swirling and sucking on his finger, causing him to let out a choked groan. She finally took mercy and bit down on the glove, Din pulling back to slip his hand out of the glove and dive straight for her wet center.

Y/N moaned as he teased his middle finger around her swollen clit, coming close to begging before he circled it. She bit her lip, struggling to keep quiet as to not wake the baby. He trailed his fingers down to her soaking lips, almost moaning in response; usually he’d drag this out, making sure she was begging and withering under him for his cock, but that would have to wait until later. Pushing her panties to the side and helping her fumbling hands with his belt, he growled lowly as her hand circled his girth, swiping her thumb over the head of his leaking tip. Swatting her hand away, he swiftly turned her around, placing her front against the wall of the ship. Arching her back and running a hand down the length of her spine, he placed his forehead against her right shoulder and slid in, making them both moan sweetly. He immediately started a rough pace, gripping her hips as if his life depended on it. She deepened her arch, taking him in deeper as a result. The cool beskar armor felt amazing against her hot, sweaty skin and added more into the euphoria she was already feeling.

“Don’t stop,” Y/N begged, legs starting to shake. “Kriff Din you feel so good inside me.”

Din gritted his teeth, already so close to his orgasm, but he needed her to come first. Their breathless gasps and moans filled the ship,

“Fuck,” Din’s voice was ragged, desperate with release. “Touch yourself, babygirl. I want to see you.”

The words alone made her walls flutter around him. Before she could even move her hand, they heard the clatter of something dropping above them, followed by a small little coo. Scrambling to cover up, Y/N had barely fixed her underwear and pulled her dress down before the small little devil in question popped into view. The Mandalorian wanted to scream at the interruption as he fixed his belt, sighing heavily in frustration.

“We’re really pushing our luck with him,” he muttered. “He’s gonna catch us pretty soon.”

Y/N let out a tired giggle. He felt her hand caress his ungloved hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

“Later,” she whispered.

…

Din hated this idea. But they needed the credits and this one of the closest options they had. Y/N had heard about the people the Mandalorian used to work with and knew that he wasn’t particularly fond of them now.

“This is a bad idea,” the Mandalorian mindlessly said to the Child next to him in the cockpit.

Once Ran’s space station came into view Din’s heart started to pick up.

“Before you say anything,” Y/N said when Din turned his seat towards her. “I’m coming with. You already said that you don’t really trust these people and we’re not going to have a repeat of last time.”

She did not want to tell him that she was also scared, scared that she might not be able to revert back to her old self, to the self that was able to stand in front of an enemy without the fear or flashbacks. How she couldn’t even enjoy a drop of the glittery drinks she would try at the cantina’s they would visit anymore. She needed to try, to take it into her own hands now.

Din had spent years being able to his emotions and even body language from the general public, but it was hard to with her, the woman who had broken down most of his barriers. She immediately felt guilty for the last part when she saw him audibly flinch, but it needed to be said. She couldn’t let him go alone again when he needed the help. She could see that he wanted to argue before sagging with acceptance.

It only took two steps for him to stand in front of her, placing a hand on the back of her neck and placing his forehead on hers before going to secure the Child into their room; Y/N only recently found out that that was the equivalence of a kiss, of showing his love for her.

To be honest, Y/N was sort of excited and nervous at the same time to see this part of Din Djarin’s life rather than just hearing it; she had wished, though, that it was under different circumstances.

“Mando!” They both turned, seeing an old acquaintance and a short man with long, shaggy hair all around.

“Is that you under that bucket?” Ran teased, reaching out to shake his hand, eyeing up Y/N as he did so. “I was surprised when I heard from you. And who might this be?”

“Y/N.” She introduced before Din could say. “Partner of his.”

“Partner huh?” the man teased. The Mandalorian said nothing, only waiting to hear the details of their job.

“Well this was supposed to be a five-man job, but one more wouldn’t hurt. Follow me.”

Din was a little tense next to Y/N as they followed Ran, and it took everything in her to stop herself from holding his hand; she had to clench her fist to stop the twitching of her muscles.

“What’s the job?” the Mandalorian asked, voice stoic as it used to be before Y/N.

“Got one of our associates in a foul of some competitors and got himself caught. So we’re gathering a crew to break him.”

Y/N wanted to ask who this associate was but remembered Ran’s ‘no questions asked’ policy he had been quick to remind once questions started rolling and pierced her lips in a thin line. Din grinned under the helmet, being with her for as long as he had been, he knew questions were brewing from the woman trialing behind him.

“And you got a ship too, only reason why I let you back in here,” Ran told him.

The Mandalorian and Y/N both tensed. “The ship isn’t part of the deal,” he said, a warning growl laced behind his words.

“That Razor Crest is the only reason on why you both have a job,” Ran argued.

Din was shooting glares that could kill, and Ran could sense his agitation. He answered it with a laugh, leveling with the silver man.

“Is that gratitude under there?” Ran pointed, squinting his eyes at him.

It took everything in Y/N not to punch him in the face and be done with the job. If it weren’t for the baby on the ship, she probably would’ve.

“I think it is.” Ran was still chuckling when he walked away, towards the direction they had just walked in.

The Mandalorian was still tense when he turned around, giving Y/N a look before following. Y/N should’ve just stayed on the ship.

“Hey Mayfield,” Ran called out.

A man bent over some sparks looked up, raising his eyebrows at the approaches’.

“Yeah?”

“This is Mando, and his partner Y/N,” Ran introduced to him.

Y/N ignored Mayfield’s trailing eyes over her body, doing a poor job of concealing his interest, but Din made a mental note to take care of him later.

“This is the man I was telling you about,” Ran continued. “The one we did all those jobs with then. We were all just young, trying to make a name for ourselves but travelling with a Mandalorian? Brought us our reputation.”

Mayfield crossed his arms over his chest, sizing the Mandalorian.

“Yeah? And what did he get out of it?” Mayfield asked.

Ran chuckled. “That’s what I used to think. You remembered what you said?” He turned towards Din, who Y/N could see was clenching his fists and – she had gotten very good at reading his body language, a seemingly whole new language Y/N had to create and learn – it seemed as though he was trying to hide from her, worried of her reaction.

“Target practice,” Ran answered for him, laughing.

Y/N let out a breath she hadn’t realize she was holding. She wanted to take it back immediately once seeing Din twitch. She was a little shocked, yes. She had seen him angry and frustrated before, and they had their little fights and arguments, but never once was she afraid of him hurting her; it wasn’t that kind of fear that sometimes washed over her when she saw Din in those moments; could see the ruthless bounty hunter most were afraid of. It was fear that one day it would get him killed, that one day it would consume him entirely if something were to happen to her or the Child. It was the fear that maybe she’ll never truly know Din Djarin, that he would always hide parts of himself from her. Y/N looked at these as irrational fears in some moments, it was just her anxiety trying to get the better of her. Besides, it’s not like she was completely innocent herself.

“We did some crazy stuff, didn’t we?”

“That was a long time ago,” Din finally said, voice a little hoarse.

“Well I don’t really go out anymore,” Ran sounded a little disappointed from the lack of the old Mandalorian he used to work with. “So Mayfield is the main point. What he says will be coming from me, do you get that?”

Y/N and Din looked to each other, and even without seeing his face, they could still have their silent conversations. Mayfield looked annoyed but still smug as they looked back to him, the Mandalorian studying him.

“You tell us.”

There was a small moment of silence, the tension so thin you could slice through it. Ran, the one who seemed to have the most fun out of this situation so far, broke it with another laugh.

“Haven’t changed at all, Mando. And your girl, I can sense some spunk in her too.”

“Yeah, well,” Mayfield interrupted. “Things have changed around here.”

Mayfield glared back at the Mandalorian was he walked away, stopping only to check Y/N out some more when Ran stole his attention away. Y/N met his eyes, wrinkling her face in disgust when he gave her a small smirk, carefully listening to Ran’s and the Mandalorian’s conversation.

“That’s not saying much.”

Y/N giggled at the joke, enjoying Mayfield’s offense to it. They were introduced to Berg, who was eager to show off his bulky body and powerful strength, not wasting any time in showing off and trying to intimidate both the outsiders. They were both unfazed, used to being in the face of danger on a daily.

“I thought you said there were four?”

Y/N knew it was taking everything in him not to scream. She told herself to stay calm and focused not only for herself, but for Din as well; she knew it took a lot for him to return to this part of his life and wanted to be there with him every step of the way. He would probably say this later, but a part of him was happy that she was there with him; her presence alone was a constant reminder of the man he bettered himself to be and the people he loved and needed to protect.

“There are,” a voice answered from behind.

They all turned towards the source. It was a woman – Twi’lek to be exact – twirling a small knife between her fingers with a smirk aimed only to the Mandalorian.

“Hello Mando,” she greeted.

“Xi’an,” Din breathed in shock.

Y/N looked back and forth between the two of them, not liking the way the mysterious woman was looking at him; like they were well familiar with each other and she was beginning to be hungry for more. She knew he had others before, he could feel his blush under her palms when she held his face as he told her before their first time; it didn’t bother her, she had others as well, but actually seeing them was a different ball game.

Xi’an started to circle him now. “Tell me why I shouldn’t cut you down where you stand?”

Not giving Din any time to answer, she rushed forward, placing a knife at this throat. Y/N flinched, hand twitching towards her belt that concealed her knifes and blaster. Din, on the other hand, didn’t move a muscle.

“Nice to see you too.”

They all gave out a chuckle, sans Y/N and Din, Xi’an’s being particularly pitched as she moved away.

“I missed you,” she almost purred.

Her eyes finally fell onto the new woman, making a noise of surprise before turning.

“And who’s this?”

“Partner,” Din answered curtly before Y/N could open her mouth. “Y/N, she’s my partner.”

Y/N wanted to glare at him, but kept her eyes trained on the woman in front of her as she grinned mischievously.

“Partner, huh?” Echoing Ran’s earlier remark at their play. She didn’t sound convinced. “Forgot about me so quickly?”

Din could see the annoyance and jealously radiating from Y/N, as he was sure the others could sense as well. He hated putting her in this position. It was killing him seeing her doubtful, and – though it would take some work to get her to admit it – jealous and hurt. In the beginning of their new relationship, friendship even, Y/N would have her doubts on whether she was good enough to be travelling with the Mandalorian; she used to feel so out of place in his world, so incompetent. It took several speeches to assure her otherwise.

…

The teasing didn’t stop even when they were on their way to the prison. Xi’an and Mayfield were doing everything in their power to make sure that Din and Y/N were both jealous and angry. And when Mayfield not only touched but dropped the baby when in turbulence? They never wanted to hurt someone as much as they do in that moment. Leaving the Child on the ship alone with the droid wasn’t easy, even for Y/N. She rubbed Din’s back as he looked back, feeling the anxiety of the situation settling in.

Once inside they showed the hunters why they were partners in the first place. Y/N couldn’t help but smirk when Xi’an would notice how Din stood over her, how their movements together were as fluid and swift as ocean waves. She received a hiss in response.

But really, considering everything leading up to the moment of treachery, they should have seen this coming. Xi’an pushed her in first, Din pulling out his gun and before getting pushed in himself, causing him to fire a round into the closed off cell. The red dot blasted off everywhere in the room, magically missing them entirely before finding a spot to stay in.

Y/N sat against the wall as Din stood by the cell door, cursing as they laughed and left. She was frozen, breathing heavily as she saw flashes of Calican’s gun pointed at her blindly, could hear the shot of it as if it was happening all over again. The old scar throbbed under her skin, she was starting to sweat, and she had to close her eyes to stop more of the flashbacks from reappearing. The Mandalorian turned around at the sound of her breathing and his heart sank when he put two and two together, quietly crouching down by her side.

“Y/N?” He asked softly, careful not to jolt her. “Y/N, honey. Can you hear me?”

His voice sounded like he was in the next room, like it was through the walls, but she nodded her head anyway.

“Okay, I need you to take a deep breath and focus on my voice. Can you do that for me?”

Another nod. She took a shaky first inhale and a shaky exhale, could hear Din doing the same thing next to her with a hand on her shoulder, guiding her. After a few more inhales and exhales she started to calm, listening to the soothes coming from his modulated voice, still lovely as ever.

“I’m gonna find us a way out of here,” he calmly explained. “Once I do, I want you to go back onto the ship. Please don’t argue with me about this.”

Y/N didn’t have in her to and didn’t want to leave the Child on the ship alone any longer, so she agreed. She let him help her up on shaky legs, making sure she was okay to stand on her own before going back to the door. She watched as he waited for a droid to walk back, whipping his rope out to wrap around the arm of the droid and reel him to the door, struggling while he pulled the arm off.

“Okay,” the Mandalorian breathed out once the door was open. “Good to go?”

Y/N grabbed the blaster, nodding in confirmation. He took a step out before stopping, quickly grabbing her wrist to pull her over, placing his forehead on hers briefly before disappearing down the hallway. Sneaking away to the Razor Crest was easier than she thought – though she did receive some help from the Mandalorian watching the cameras – and quietly entered the ship, ears alert for any signs of life. Hearing the quiet little gurgle of the baby prompted her to move faster, climbing up to the cockpit where the droid had its back turned to her, gun aimed at the Child. With no hesitation, she aimed her gun at the droid and shot. Seeing the look on the Child’s face made her want to laugh, and she assumed he tried to use whatever he had against the robot; she was just happy he was safe.

…

“No questions asked, right?”

Ran was taken back before he cracked a smile. “Girl learns quick,” he mused.

“Yeah.” Was all Din said.

Y/N boarded the Razor Crest after their exchange feeling drained but happy with the outcome all the same. Sitting in the co-pilots seat to his left, the Child on his right, she felt a breath of relief whenever the X-wings flew past them to Ran’s station. Sending the ship into hyperspace, Din let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair, unscrewing the metal back from the handle to hand to the baby.

“I told you that was a bad idea,” he said to him. The Child reached his hand out, taking the ball graciously. Y/N smiled at the image in front of her.

“I’m going to clean up a little,” she said to Din, getting up from her chair.

“Are you okay?”

Y/N stopped in her tracks, nodding her head at him. “Yeah, I’m okay. It was just…”

“I know,” his voice cracked.

“We’ll talk after I get cleaned,” she said. “I promise.”

Din wanted to talk to Y/N, hoping that everything was still okay between them. He was afraid of her seeing his past self, and Xi’an didn’t make it any better, her words echoing in his head.

“I’ll make sure to take good care of you new toy, Mando,” Xi’an had threatened as he placed her in her new cell. “Spare her before you ruin her.”

He had to remind himself that Y/N and the Child were waiting for him. That Y/N was an adult, they had this conversation plenty of times.

And he knew what she went through in that cell, and it made him see red; it was hard keeping his emotions in check, this was about her, not him, but gods did his heart break and blood boil when he saw her pale face, frozen in shock from the blaster.

When he saw the Child blink his eyes tiredly, he got up to put him to bed, going back to his seat afterwards and thinking about what to say to her.

“You have nothing to worry about.”

Din jumped a little but hid it well, turning his head to indicate he heard her. She was in a comfortable long sleeve shirt and light pants now, barefoot as she walked towards his seat. He turned until she was in front of him and rested his head against her stomach, wishing that it was her hand running over his hair rather than his helmet.

“I’m sorry about Xi’an,” he croaked out. “And what happened in the cell. I should’ve known-.”

“Stop,” she told him softly. “None of that was your fault. I know it bothered you just as it did me, even a little bit more.”

He scoffed. “Yeah, not sure if I want to do anything like that again.”

“We’ll probably have to,” she whispered. “But we’ll get through it. We always do.”

He liked that she always said ‘we’, made it easier to get through the days knowing that she was always by his side by the end of the day.

“Din,” she sighed, climbing onto his lap. Din instinctively placed his hands on her hips, tilting his head at her.

“I know that was hard for you, going back to that and allowing me to see that part of your past. But I really do appreciate it, and so does the Child. And I don’t see you any differently than before. You’re still my Din Djarin. Nothing you can do will make me hate you or cower away from you.”

Din was always shocked to hear those kinds of words from anyone for that matter, let alone Y/N. She was his beacon of light, his love, his hope, and maker it felt as if all his worries and troubles evaporated from them.

Y/N then grinned mischievously, settling more comfortably in his lap before messing with the straps to his chest plate. She rolled her hips subtly against his, and she didn’t miss the quiet intake and the squeeze of his fingers on her skin.

“I do remember being rudely interrupted earlier,” she teased, unclipping the straps and pulling the piece off. Then his shoulder pads. It allowed her to scoot closer to him, her heat contacting with his hips, making his roll against it.

“That’s right,” he grunted, tightening his grip on her. He was about to get up to take her to bed, but she had other ideas, placing a hand on his chest to stop him.

“She never made you feel as good as I do, right?” She whispered sultry by his ear, rolling her hips hard against his again. She heard him gasp, was close enough to hear it unmodulated as well. It made her hips stutter, Din taking handful of her ass in his palms, encouraging more from her.

“No, never.”

“You know I have to laugh at her,” Y/N said breathlessly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, getting increasingly wet from the ministrations.

“She thought she had you, thought she could get to me. But could she when I’m the one you wake up to every morning? How I’m the one you take pleasure from, who gives it to you as well. Who’s tasted those delicious lips and who’s always there for you no matter what.”

Din couldn’t take much more of this, placing his feet on the floor to ground his hips against hers harder and faster.

“Always you,” he fucking whimpered, making her cunt clench around nothing and juices sweep from her; she was sure he could feel it, heard him growl.

“Gods Din,” Y/N whined pathetically.

“Tell me,” he stuttered out, breathing picking up along with hers. “Tell me what you want to do to me. Fuck I’d let you do anything, anything for my girl.”

Y/N moaned, trying to keep it low as to not wake the baby. She couldn’t form any coherent thoughts, words near impossible from the friction of his hips against hers.

She cried when he stopped, stopping her from moving as well.

“Tell. Me.”

“Shit I – I want to ride you. Right here on this chair. Fuck I’ve imagined it so many times, imagined your dick in my mouth as you fly.”

The words were flowing out of her without much thought, the words themselves combined with her airy voice made him harder if that were possible.

“Good girl.”

Before the words could relay their effect on her he pushed her off, not too hard or rough where she would fall, but enough that he could work on his belt. She took the hint and started with her shirt before her pants, only able to get one leg out before he grabbed her hips again, pulling her to his lap. His erection brushed against her stomach, hot and heavy against her. She groaned at the feeling of it.

“Close your eyes,” Din finally whispered.

Y/N closed them immediately, hearing the clank of his helmet on the ground before his lips hungrily attacked hers. It was all teeth and tongue as he ravished her, hands squeezing her breasts and roughly trailing over her body. She moaned and rolled her hips against his girth, earning a satisfied groan and a nip at her pulse point.

There was no need for a blindfold or complete darkness this time, he trusted her enough to know that she wouldn’t dare open her eyes.

“Turn around,” he growled lightly.

Y/N was going to, but placed her hand over his mouth, trailing the other over his chest, his nipples – which earned a groan from the Mandalorian – and reached down to line her dripping opening against his length.

“Next time,” she breathed as she took him in, both gasping at the feeling of each other connected.

He rolled his hips up, sheathing himself to the brink. He helped her roll his undershirt up, stopping just above his rib cage. She started a fast pace, too impatient to wait until she adjusted; she loved how his girth stretched her every time they were intimate, loved the pain that came with the pleasure.

“You belong to me,” Y/N growled. This new take of dominance coming from her was turning Din on even more, making him moan and thrash under her. “Just as much as I belong to you.”

“Yes,” Din groaned. “Always.”

She buried her face in his neck, pulling down the neck of his shirt just enough to feel skin, inhaling his scent and kissing every inch of the skin before biting down gently on his sweet spot.

“Y/N,” Din whined, hips jutting up faster and harder into her, feeling her walls squeeze him. “You’re gonna make me come too soon if you keep it up.”

“Good. I want it, need it.”

He grabbed a fist full of her hair, roughly pulling her up to stare at her beautiful face, constricted with pleasure, and kissed her, taking her bottom lip between his teeth. Y/N moaned into it, walls fluttering and clit pulsing as the curls of his hair brushed against it.

“I want you to come baby,” Y/N breathed into his mouth as she felt him pulse and twitch inside her. “Let it go.”

It only took a few more hard thrusts and a pinch of his nipple to come deep inside her, hips stuttering and voice choking. She came soon after, moaning into his ear and clenching her thighs around him and the seat. She sagged against him once their hips stopped moving, both panting. After their breathing slowed he placed kisses to her bruised lips and cheekbones before placing his head against her chest.

“If getting jealous does this to you, I might just do it more often,” Din joked.

Y/N chuckled, pinching him lightly on his bicep.

“Don’t you dare.”

Tags: @momc95, @treehousemagicblog, @riverquartzuniverse, @beepbeepyabitch, @smol-flower-kiddo, @harps-for-days, @teenagedirtbagg2, @goththespian

#the mandalorian #the mandalorian x reader #the mandalorian imagines #the mandalorian smut #din djarin #din djarin x reader #din djarin imagines #din djarin smut #pedro pascal #disney plus #star wars #xi'an #ran #mayfield #bill burr #baby yoda #the child

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swaps55 · 5 years ago

Note

You said you have a lot of feelings for post-war Shepard - have you written or can you please write more about it? Your silver sun strip shenko fic was SO good, I would die to read more about it from you. It's so good. My heart is broken but it's so good. (also I hope you have a good day)

Oooooh, this is such a fun question, and thank you so much for asking!!! I have written a few post-war things, but not nearly enough. The angle I took in that prompt with Anderson is one I’ve been toying with, but I hadn’t really dived into what it meant or how that would impact Shepard until I got the right prompt for it (I am THRILLED you liked it!!!!).

Basically, I imagine that post-war Shepard is someone very much trying to figure out how to live for himself. I think a lot about what Thane says about the spirit and vessel being separate things, and I think that ever since Alchera, Shepard’s spirit has been very much asleep. There are moments in the reaper war when he gets reminders of what it’s like to live. Like finding someone to live for. But he never gets to think about who he is or what he wants.

Now that it’s over, he has to do that and it’s hard. Figuring out what part of his identity belongs to him, rebuilding the pieces and creating a life he never in a million years thought he would get to see.

After the war, I think Shepard is much quieter. Withdrawn. He thinks more, says less. Sometimes it’s a good thing, other times it’s not. He doesn’t participate much in the recovery. It’s too much to ask. Sure, make an appearance here, there. He’ll speak for the krogan, because Wrex will listen to him, and step in when he’s truly needed. But he’s given all that he has to give. Now it’s time to figure out what it means to live. Turns out he’s got a lot to unlearn. But it’s worth it. For Kaidan, it’s worth it.

I *do* plan to write a lot more post-war stuff. I have a few stories mapped out in my head for my WIP (that’s not Sonata), including one where Shepard just gets to take a fucking nap. Here’s what I have written. Most of this won’t pack the kick in the pants angst punch that this last prompt did, but it all leans fairly hard into the bittersweet.

Toccata – About 10 years post war. Kaidan and Shepard live happily ever after at the Alenko orchard. Shepard rides horses to escape, but he doesn’t really know what he’s escaping from.

To the Shore – The prompt was happy endings with a beach and a bar. But my hand slipped and made it bittersweet and sentimental.

Sunrise – First time Shepard just…watches a sunrise. Takes place at the orchard.

Campfire kiss prompt - More fluffy than angsty, and more about Kaidan than Shepard, but it still offers a serving of bittersweet.

Better Angels (incomplete) Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3: This is unfinished wedding fic, and at least sideswipes some thoughts in general when it comes to mshenko and post-war Shepard (though I wrote it pre-Sam Shepard). One day I hope to go back to it.

All this said, if nothing here scratches your itch and there’s something in particular you’d like some fic about, you’re welcome to send a prompt my way and see what happens! :)

Thank you again for putting this in my inbox – I hope you have an AMAZING day!!

EDIT: Shit, forgot about my best post-war fic, because it’s not mShenko. It’s my Exordium!Shep. But I fucking stand by this story:

The Lifecycle of Butterflies

#painterofhorizons #swaps replies #mshenko #mass effect musings

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wildlyminiaturesandwich · 6 years ago

Photo

G’day everyone!

Thanks to the EA Game Changers Program, last Sunday SimGurus Jill, Morgan and Geoff hosted a super secret private live stream for those of us in the program who weren’t able to attend EA Play and I am so excited to finally be able to share all the information I learned about Island Living and the upcoming free patch with you guys!

I don’t have any new screenshots or gameplay to show you but I did take pages and pages of notes so I’ve spent the better part of today trying to condense those down and put them in order so that you guys can have a look over them and read about some of the amazing new stuff that’s coming in this pack.

Just be aware that because we weren’t able to take screenshots or record the stream, all I had to refer to while putting this all in a post is my own notes and while I did my best to simultaneously listen carefully, write everything down, fend off my cats, and stop myself falling asleep... I could have easily missed something or some information could be wrong because it was 4am in the morning and my cats get bitey when I don’t pay attention to them lol You should definitely check out some of the other Game Changers posts and videos to see if they have any information I missed too!

SO! All that being said, I’m going to put this all under a cut because it’s long and also because spoilers!

If you have any questions about Island Living, I can’t promise that I’ll know or be allowed to tell you the answer, but my inbox is always open and it never hurts to ask anyway 😊

ENJOY!

New World - Sulani

🌴 The beautiful tropical Sulani contains 14 lots spread out over 3 island neighbourhoods: - Ohan’Ali is a town/commercial area containing 6 lots. Festivals/Events take place every day in town, keep an eye out for balloons to find out where - Lani St. Taz is an upscale residential area containing 5 lots - Mua Pel’Am is a Natural Island containing 3 lots. There is also a beautiful (and useful) waterfall and possibly a hidden cave but shhh, it’s a secret!

🌴 All lots are fully editable and can be changed to any lot type you want 🌴 There’s a new Beach venue type 🌴 The weather in Sulani is generally pretty mild, but if you have Seasons installed you may get the occasional tropical storm

Traits + Aspirations

LOT TRAITS

🌴 Volcanic activity - Can be used on any lot - Causes lava bombs to fall on the lot - Lava bombs can catch your sim on fire if they touch them too much while they’re still hot - Once cooled lava bombs can be broken open and looted or turned into decorative objects

🌴 Off the Grid - Free base game trait to be added in an upcoming patch - Your sims bills will be lower BUT most electronics will not work on lots with this trait and you will have limited internet access - Objects in the buy catalogue will display “Off the Grid Functionality” if they can be used on this lot. Eg there is a new sink in Island Living that looks like a sort of natural spring water pump, it’s perfect for off the grid lots

🌴 Clothing optional - Free base game trait to be added in an upcoming patch - Sims will react differently depending on traits. Eg. Self-assured sims will be more willing to strip off than sims with other traits like Childish

ASPIRATION

🌴 Beach Life - This sim wants to take it slow and enjoy the beach life

SIM TRAITS

🌴 Child of the Ocean - Answer the call of the ocean! Sims with this trait will prefer water related activities and feel closer to their denizens of the sea. 🌴 Child of the Island - These sims experience a spiritual connection to the islands of Sulani. Honor the islands by partaking in their culture, summon powerful elementals and reap the rewards of their blessings — or the consequences of their disfavour. 🌴 Sim trait randomization will also be added to the game in a free upcoming patch!

Careers

🌴 Fishing/Diving Career - Fishing will also be getting a big update (I think in the upcoming free patch). There will be new fish to collect, a fish trap, a high skill cast, re-tuning and new fishing spots in lots of worlds

🌴 Lifeguard

🌴 In an upcoming patch, all teen part-time careers will be made available for all ages

Gameplay + Activities

MERMAIDS!!!

🌴 Sims can become mermaids via gameplay or you can make one in CAS (they are under the occult life states menu) 🌴 There are a ton of new customization options for mermaids in CAS, including eyes, tail shapes and textures, teeth, tops that match the tails. 🌴 Instead of a hygiene bar, mermaids have a hydration bar that will slowly drop the longer they are out of water 🌴 Mermaids who spend too long out of water might get a cramp, or a sudden chill, or get very tired if their hydration becomes too low 🌴 You can raise their hydration by having them drink a glass of water, take a shower, go out in the rain, splash about under a waterfall, or have a bath 🌴 If your mermaid decides to have a bath (even a bubble bath) their tail will reappear and hang over the side of the tub! 🌴 There was no mention of whether or not mermaids tails reappear when they’re in a pool but I would assume so? 🌴 Mermaids can give birth to Merbabies! 🌴 While Merbabies can be born, Merchildren won’t manifest into their tales and power until they’re teens 🌴 Mermaids have some pretty cool powers - Siren Lullaby - Sing one of the four different siren songs to a human sim to provide them with a moodlet… for good or bad is up to you - Summon Ocean Threat - Will drag a sim underwater and drain the needs of a human sim to a dangerously low level. If done on a sim with already low needs, this may lead to death - If you have Seasons installed, your mermaid can summon a thunderstorm - There are more but they didn’t have time to show us them all

🌴 Using powers will drain your mermaids hydration quicker 🌴 Mermaids have their own cool little plumbob, similar to aliens and vampires 🌴 If you’re sick of being a Mermaid (we can’t be friends anymore), you can find some special kelp to help you with that

OCEAN SWIMMING

🌴 Sims can now swim in the ocean! 🌴 Ocean swimming is only possible in Sulani, not other worlds BUT the Gurus did say that extending ocean swimming to the rest of the worlds is not off the table just yet and may come at a later date. They just really wanted to nail it for Island Living before even thinking about making it possible in other worlds. 🌴 Toddlers can’t swim (obviously) but there are little shallow areas of the ocean they can sit in and splash around 🌴 If you have Cats & Dogs installed your pets will also be able to swim in the ocean 🌴 Sims will receive moodlets depending on what’s happening while they swim. Eg. If they see a shark, or a beautiful sunset 🌴 Sometimes while your sims are in the ocean, they might think they see a shark… they might be right, they might not. Either way, I wouldn’t stick around to find out!

SNORKELING + SCUBA DIVING

🌴 Sims can snorkel around Sulani’s reefs and shallows 🌴 Snorkeling is fully animated 🌴 Sims can also scuba dive by clicking on a buoy and paying the fee for scuba gear 🌴 Scuba diving is a rabbit hole activity, there a no animations 🌴 Sims can take photos underwater whilst snorkeling and diving and keep them as souvenirs 🌴 There may be treasures and a secret area to be found whilst diving as well but don’t quote me on that, I was distracted by my cat jumping on my keyboard at the time lol

DOLPHINS

🌴 Your sims can now befriend a dolphin! 🌴 Dolphins can be found playing around buoys (possibly only twice a day?) 🌴 Sims can work on friendship with dolphins by feeding them fish, playing with them, and teaching them tricks. 🌴 They can even be renamed so you know exactly which dolphin is your friend

BOATS

🌴 Outrigger Canoe - Sims can fish off the edge of them, nap in them, and they are able to be dragged into your sims inventory

🌴 Aqua zip (jet ski) - Sims can do tricks on the Aqua Zip. The higher your sims fitness skill, the better tricks they can do. Aqua Zips can also be dragged into your sims inventory

LOUNGERS + BEACH TOWELS

🌴 Your sims can now relax and sunbathe on the beach (or at home) in lounge chairs and on beach towels 🌴 One lounge chair will also be available for free in an upcoming base game update 🌴 Floating loungers are also coming with Island Living. They have similar interaction to regular lounge chairs but sims can also sunbathe nude on floating loungers and can be splashed by other sims in the water. They can also be used in pools! 🌴 All loungers, floating and non, and towels are able to be dragged into your sims inventory and taken with them

TANNING + SUNBURN

🌴 Tanning and sunburns are exclusive to Island Living 🌴 You can “opt-in” to have your sim tan or sunburn using a float lounger, lounge chair or beach towel 🌴 Tans and sunburns will take into account what your sim is wearing at the time 🌴 Mischievous sims can also “sabotage” sims who fall asleep in the sun with some strategically placed lotion. These “sabotaged” sunburn patterns are completely random and there may be some funny little easter eggs in there

VOLCANOES + WATERFALLS

🌴 The natural island of Mua Pel’Am is home to an active volcano and your most adventurous sims can even live right next to it if they want 🌴 There is also a gorgeous waterfall on the natural island of Mua Pel’Am that is not only very romantic (wink wink), but also can be used as a shower by sims living off the grid

CONSERVATION

🌴 Your sims will be able to clean up the beaches of Sulani, which will impact the rest of the islands 🌴 At max level conservation the scenery of the islands change to be more beautiful, more wildlife (butterflies, turtles etc) will show up, and you might even see some bio-luminescent algae floating around in the ocean 🌴 There was mention of a special turtle hatching event but I’m not sure if it has to do with the conservation level or not

HARVESTABLES + COLLECTABLES

🌴 Coconut 🌴 Pineapple 🌴 Taro 🌴 Kava 🌴 Several new fish

DEATHS

🌴 Lava bombs are hot 🌴 Look out for sharks 🌴 Mermaids are beautiful but accidents happen

WOOHOO

🌴 I hear the waterfall over on Mua Pel’Am is a very romantic spot…

FANS

🌴 Coming soon with a free update, ceiling fans will now not only be able to be switched on and off, but they will also cool things down on hot days and dry off wet sims

Create-A-Sim

I think most of what’s in CAS was covered in the trailer and during the announcement from EA Play, and we really didn’t get much of a look at it during the private stream, but from what I did see there’s a lot of amazing stuff!

The only thing I can say for sure is that as per usual, the male options are lacking and a little lackluster compared to the female options. I also don’t think there’s much in the way of clothes and hairs for kids and toddlers either 😟

Build/Buy

There is TONS of beautiful new Polynesian and Pacific Island inspired build/buy stuff, some of which I’ve already listed above, so I can’t list them all but here’s a few that don’t really fit into any other category but were specifically mentioned by the Gurus during the stream or just plain caught my eye

🌴 A beautiful new island-themed wedding arch made with palm leaves and tropical flowers and urgh! Just trust me, it’s beautiful! 🌴 Sandcastles! 🌴 A grill pit, that gets covered with palm leaves while it’s cooking 🌴 So many new island plants (hopefully they’re in debug 🤞) 🌴 A new island speaker (for community lots I assume) with all new Island Living music 🌴 Glass floors! They’re not actual flooring like carpets and tiles though, they’re more like the Get Together dance floors where you just place them on the floor and you can see through them. 🌴 Stilted foundations! FINALLY!! They can be placed on any lot, not just ocean lots! 🌴 There was a ladder shown in the trailers that I know many people were very excited about, however it acts more like a diving board than an actual ladder you can use between house floors. If you place it on the edge of a deck, your sims will jump off the deck straight into the water. But that doesn’t stop you from pretending it’s an actual ladder 😉 🌴 This isn’t an object but I didn’t know where else to put it - Pools can’t be built on the ground floor of lots built on the ocean. I didn’t catch why but I’m assuming it would interfere too much with the ocean itself. I also assume they can be built on any floors above the ground floor though.

Animations

This is probably not that interesting to a lot of people but I’m fascinated by a lot of the animations that are created for this game and with this pack it’s really clear the team put a lot of effort into even just the smallest of animations so I wanted to point out some of my favourites that I saw in the stream

🌴 There is a new walk style/animation for when your sims are entering/exiting the ocean. Just like real life they will slow down and kind of struggle to move through the shallow water until they’re deep enough to swim or walk up onto the sand 🌴 There are different swim styles if your sim needs to get somewhere faster (similar to jogging instead of walking) that also use less energy than the standard speed 🌴 There is a bunch of cool new animations added for when sims are multitasking swimming with other things, like talking, flirting, and even kissing in the ocean! 🌴 The mermaid tail animations in general are so smooth and organic, it’s beautiful! Whether they’re swimming in the ocean, jumping in and out of water, or just lounging in a bath tub; the team really outdid themselves with the animations for the tails! 🌴 Speaking of mermaids, there’s an option whilst swimming to “Mermaid Kiss”! I don’t know if it’s available for human sims but it looks very cute and sweet when performed by two mermaids! 🌴 Not only do the floating loungers float, but they also drift! They slowly move around and drift back and forth with the waves just like a real floating lounger would!

#TS4 #The Sims 4 #The Sims 4 Island Living #EA Game Changers

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whyamistillwatchingtheseshows · 6 years ago

Note

Could I maybe ask for another fanfic request? Maybe something like Beam and Forth get into a argument and Beam says something that actually hurts Forth and he leaves. Beam cools off for a few hours but then gets worried when he didn't get a call or text from Forth, so he goes to find him and when he does, he apologizes and takes Forth home for some cheer up cuddles?

Does this work? I wasn’t sure what they’d exactly argue about but I do think Beam could boil over and say something he’d never mean.

“That’s it, Forth! I am sick and tired of being the “wifey” who you think must do everything around the house.”

“It’s a dorm room, Beam.”

Beam ignores his remark. “You get my fucking point. You need to learn how to clean up your fucking messes. I’m done with them.” He slams the door on his way to class.

—-

Later that day Beam tries calling Forth. No answer. He texts. No response. It doesn’t even say Forth read the message. He calls again and leaves a voice mail:

Uh, I’m sorry for this morning. Where are you? Can you call me back?

A few hours later and still no calls or texts back. Beam opens the door to his room. It immediately felt empty. The place was also cleaned and tidied but still it felt empty. Beam was so used to Forth lounging on the sofa when he got back or even napping on the bed. Beam tossed his satchel on the bed and the plopped onto the sofa. Maybe he was busy. Beam tried calling again. This time he answered.

“What?”

“Where are you?”

“Now you’re worried?” He snapped. “Figures. I went home.”

Beam had only been to his house once before for a dinner where Forth introduced him to his parents. “Why? Did you need to do something there?”

“You should be happy I cleaned up the mess before I left. Now, you can be done with them.” Forth hung up. That’s when Beam felt it. The sting of his own words. He hadn’t realized they’d hurt that much until they were spit back at him.

—

The next few days consisted of over 30 LINE messages. Probably even a full voicemail inbox on Forth’s phone. Beam concluded that he was going to have to convince Forth to come back in person.

—-

Someone opened the gate for him. Forth stood at the end of drive, arms crossed.

“I don’t think I should let you in.”

“Please, Forth. I’m sorry.” Forth glares at him. Then his expression softens, but not in the way Beam has seen before. Forth’s arms dropped to his side and his body language no longer showed frustration, but utter complete sadness.

“You want to know what it felt like you told me? As stupid as it sounds, it felt like you were simply done with me. If you couldn’t handle me as I am then I guess that’s that.”

A rendered speechless Beam didn’t know what to do. He got pissed but he didn’t think that’s what he was saying. Beam just didn’t want to continue to be the one to do all of that shit because somehow he’d been branded the “wifey” in this relationship.

They’d have to find equal ground somehow. Beam stepped forward. He wrapped his arms around Forth’s middle. Forth didn’t embrace him. Against his chest, Beam took a deep breath and then murmured loud enough for Forth to hear, “I’m stupid. I’m sorry. It’s just you really get messy and I don’t want to always clean it up.”

“You don’t realize that some of that mess was yours too? Hmm?” Beam thought a moment wondering how he contributed to the previous state of his dorm room. Then it dawned on him that oftentimes his schoolwork was a chaotic mess. Most likely pens could be found scattered across desks, tables, maybe there was even a stash under the bed...Beam shook his head.

“Forget it. Let’s just forget it. Let me come in. Let me make it up to you.”

“You’re done so why should I let you in?” Beam looked up and kissed him as his answer. Forth relaxed a little bit. Beam put a hand to his cheek. “Babe, I might’ve been mad this morning and I did say something very hurtful but I’ll never be done with you. Never. I am falling too much in love for that. I’m sorry about this.”

A small smile tugged at Forth’s lips. He can’t forgive him that easily? Who you kidding Forth? You cleaned up the dorm before coming home. You forgave him that morning and days ago. The cute ass messages and voicemails were enough. Though, a part of you needed him to say it in person too.

“Come on,” Forth finally embraced him. He took them inside and to his bedroom.

—

They snuggled underneath the covers. “So are you coming back tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’m coming back for classes.” Beam playfully smacked his chest. Forth rolled his eyes. “Er...you know I love your sofa. It’s the best. So soft on my ass.” Beam playfully smacked him again. Forth squirmed out of his arms and dived under the covers. When he came back up he was snuggled into Beam’s chest.

“You should be the one holding me,” Forth chided. “As much as I hate to admit this, I cried the whole time I cleaned up the room.”

Beam didn’t say anything. Great. An argument over something so stupid and he made his boyfriend cry. He wrapped his arms around Forth as tight as possible. “I will never be done with you. I can’t leave you,” Beam whispered. He grabbed Forth by the chin and gave him a reassuring kiss. The rest of the night Beam held him, because right now and for the future to come, Forth needed to know there’d be no chance he’d ever let him go.

#2moons2 #forthbeam #fic requests

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vagrantblvrd · 6 years ago

Text

Rock and a Hard Place (1/1)

Summary: The first time it happens is shortly after the Vagabond joins the crew.

Notes: Prompt fill for Anon who sent me the most amazing Ask: I’ve been having a good time imagining the first time the Big Bad Scary Vagabond™ manages to doze off leaning against Gavin, who at first is quietly panicking because he doesn’t know Ry well yet and he’s still a creepy assassin and now Gavin is trapped by him and they’ve never seen Ryan sleep before and he’s trying to silently get somebody to help him escape, until Ryan starts doing very quiet lil snores and maybe mumbly sleep-talking and Gav starts to soften to their insane murderer a bit

...and then shenanigans happened, idk.

(Read on AO3)

The first time it happens is shortly after the Vagabond joins the crew.

========

He’s just returned from one of those seek and destroy missions Geoff’s grown wary of handing out to the crew because there’s no knowing how out of hand they’ll get.

Could be a quiet(ish) little affair they’re meant to be. Property damage and all that confined to whatever building their target’s chosen to set up shop in. Could be a slighter louder event, something that makes the evening news while the culprits sip their beer and bicker over who gets the first slice of pizza while Geoff angrily sips his diet soda and (quietly) regrets entering into a life of crime.

More often than not, however, it ends up as a city-wide disaster. Flashing lights, screaming siren, and live footage of the car chase through Los Santos’ streets and freeway system with Jack setting up a betting pool while Geoff (loudly) regrets meeting any of them, let alone recruiting them.

Looks a little singed around the edges like Michael and Jeremy while Ray looks untouched by whatever disaster they must have caused. Waves the three of them off when they ask if he wants to go out for bevs to celebrate not dying horribly yet another day.

Makes his way over to the couch where Gavin’s fussing with the brace on his left ankle resting on the coffee table. Injured it on a botch job a few days ago and it itches something fierce. Sits down next to him making these noises like a man three times his age and just.

Sits there.

Doesn’t say a damn thing, not even about the way Gavin’s frozen like a prey animal hoping to remain undetected as a predator goes prowling past.

Several minutes pass by without a peep out of him, and Gavin relaxes. Gets restless, bored, after another handful of minutes tick by and pulls out his phone.

Contacts to keep up with, business to deal with that doesn’t wait, and his bum ankle slowing him down enough to get the chance to catch up on things for a change. He gets through a hefty chunk of it before he realizes he’s leaning to the side a touch?

Definitely not sitting upright the way he had been when he first tackled the mess of an inbox of his, and there’s this slight cramp along his side making itself known.

Gavin glances over, sees the Vagabond’s closer to him than before. Might be due to the state of Geoff’s couch, all the shenanigans it’s endured over the years (Roughhousing and the like, one of the other dive-tackling Gavin for some slight or inexplicable whim. Simple age catching up to it, cushions becoming compressed and all that, forming dips here and there where they sit most.)

“Er,” Gavin says quietly, too startled at the situation to do much more than that. “What?”

The Vagabond makes this odd little grumbling/snuffling noise, shifts about and let out this annoyed sounding sigh until -

“Um?!”

- he tosses and turns and contorts himself until he’s on his side, head pillowed on Gavin’s lap and dear God what does he do now?

Gavin stares down at the Vagabond in silent – it’s not terror, not that dramatic, just.

Dread?

Uneasiness?

The man’s this terrifying figure around the city, and Gavin’s seen some of it himself. In person and over the various camera feeds he uses to keep track of the others when they’re out on jobs and whatever else, just in case. (Adds to his workload like nothing else, but the peace of mind it gives him is worth it.)

Doesn’t know him all that well even though he’s worked a few jobs with the crew before this, but...Gavin’s mind is going in circles now, isn’t it.

Tripped up by the damn Vagabond snoozing away on him like it’s no big deal.

And that’s another thing, isn’t it? The Vagabond’s worked with them several times in the past. Mostly quick little one-off jobs. Minor bit of prep work before hand – if any at all – and out the door with his cut the same day.

A few longer jobs, things that took more time and resources to manage. Some reconnaissance and all that. Had him loitering about the penthouse with everyone else or wherever they were working out of at the time. Long days, hours. Michael the others finding somewhere to nap if they didn’t have the luxury of going to their own places for a few hours.

Gavin can’t remember a moment in all that time where any of them come across the Vagabond hidden away somewhere for quick snooze.

He’s so focused on his predicament that he almost doesn’t hear the door to the penthouse open.

Almost doesn’t hear Michael and Jeremy and Ray shushing each other and laughing at something before all three of them go silent at almost the same moment.

Almost thinks one of the bastards will help him out of this awkward situation before the Vagabond wakes up and thinks – well, who knows really, but Gavin’s sure it won’t end well for him.

What he definitely hears is Jeremy’s quiet, “What the hell am I looking at here?” Ray’s “Aw, they’re adorable.”. Worst of all, however, is Michael’s mean little laugh before someone takes a picture of Gavin and the Vagabond with their damn phone.

“Don’t just stand there, do something!” Gavin hisses, freezing in place when the Vagabond makes that snorting-snuffling noise again.

Snoring, Gavin realizes.

The Vagabond is snoring.

Tosses and turns a bit until he finds a comfortable position and lets out a quiet sigh as he settles down again.

Michael’s grinning, wide and delighted as he takes another damn picture before doing something on his phone. (Gavin hears Ray and Jeremy’s message notifications go off, so there’s that mystery solved, and Gavin sighs.)

Knows Michael won’t help him now, and by the way the other two are giggling to themselves they’re not about to either.

Michael just gives him a jaunty little wave as goes over to the kitchen counter to snatch up the wallet he must have left behind earlier. Pauses on his way back to Ray and Jeremy to take yet another picture of the sight Gavin and Vagabond must make to deserve so many pictures to commemorate the occasion.

“You’re the worst,” Gavin says, because he is.

Absolute bully, along with his cronies in Ray and Jeremy and just. Just awful.

“Yeah,” Michael says, like he’s proud of himself “I really am, aren’t I?”

That grin of his softens when the Vagabond mumbles something in his sleep. Goes all fond because Michael knew the Vagabond before this, didn’t he. Worked the odd job with him a time or two. Vouched for him when Geoff first floated the idea of bringing him into the crew on a full-time basis.

“Be nice”, Michael mouths, as though Gavin’s lunatic enough to bully the damn Vagabond of all people, and then he’s out the door with Ray and Jeremy on his heels.

Gavin can hear their quiet laughter as they walk away leaving him still solidly stuck where he is.

Lovely.

========

Michael thinks Gavin’s being stupid when it comes to the Vagabond. Insists the man’s just as much of an idiot as he is, if not more so.

“Seriously, Gav. Guy puts on a good front, but he’s dumb as hell.”

It’s reflex at that point to try and shush Michael, what with the Vagabond just across the room from them.

He’s frowning over the staggering amount of knives he carries on his person as he goes about sharpening them on by one. Nasty looking things, all shapes and sizes and while Gavin is no stranger to the practice of carrying weapons and so on, the Vagabond is one of those overzealous sorts.

Those damn knives of his and various guns he secrets on his person, walking arsenal and all that, which just makes him more unsettling to Gavin.

And yes, he knows Geoff would never have hired the man on if he felt he would be a threat to the crew, but that doesn’t make him any less intimidating. (The things he says sometimes. Side comments or jokes that make everyone else pause for a beat or two before moving on? Yes.)

“Michael, no,” Gavin hisses, hunching down when the Vagabond glances their way as Michael laughs at him for being an idiot. “He’ll hear!”

Michael just keeps laughing though, like Gavin’s being silly and the Vagabond won’t murder them in their sleep one night just because.

(Well. They’re an annoying bunch, which is good as reason as anything to kill them all and be done with it when you think about it.)

========

There’s a heist soon, all kinds of prep jobs and assignments.

Geoff and Jack take on the dubious honor of dealing with Lester and Agent 14 while they sent the rest of them out to handle the rest. Have clearly lost their damn minds because they insist on pairing Gavin up with the Vagabond up, send them on the more sensitive jobs.

Which.

To be fair, the Vagabond’s a better hand at stealth than Gavin expected, but it’s still the Vagabond, isn’t it? (Gavin may not live in terror of him anymore if he ever did, but he’s still an unknown to Gavin, and if there’s something Gavin’s not a fan of it’s not knowing things, so.)

Michael and the rest of the Lads do the heavy lifting, as these things go. Michael and Jeremy feet on the ground type feet on the ground types while Ray keeps an eye on things from above.

Lindsay and her cabal of B-Team misfits are operating in the shadows. Trevor reaching out to Alfredo and other independents like him to make sure Agent 14 is being as honest with them as expected from someone like him.

All hands on deck sort of situation because there’s no trusting the government to deal fairly with them if they expect to come out of things (mostly) unscathed.

“Er,” Gavin says, because the Vagabond is staring at him, head cocked just so. “Can I help you?”

The Vagabond’s been watching Gavin work. Hovering over his shoulder and making these little noises that sound like quiet approval as Gavin finesses the files they’re looking for out from behind encryption after encryption and passwords that are far too easy to crack.

Not the best time to have a leisurely conversation, what with the guards trying to break back into the room the two of them have barricaded themselves into. Angry guards and all their yelling and threats and shrieking alarms enough to give him a headache.

The Vagabond snorts, and turns as the guards break through the door thanks to the battering ram they’ve hauled up here.

Gavin watches as the Vagabond’s arm snaps up, sees him switch his aim from center of mass on the guard in front to the more difficult to hit target of his unprotected neck. Hears the gun go off and a moment later the guard swats at his neck and the red-tufted dart embedded there.

Eyes wide behind the visor of his helmet before the tranquilizer takes effect and he collapses.

Two more shots in quick succession and the guards that follow him into the room go down as well, and finally the yelling stops. There are more guards on the way, but if all goes well the two of them will be long gone by the time they get here.

“Oh, nicely done,” Gavin says.

Personal request from Agent 14 for them to keep the body count to a minimum, and these shiny tranquilizer weapons he brought them to make it more likely on their end.

The Vagabond looks back at him, seems bemused as though Gavin’s the odd one out for offering a compliment on something like that.

“What?” Gavin asks, feeling a bit defensive even though it was a lovely bit of marksmanship on the Vagabond’s part.

“Are you done yet?” the mas asks, strange note to his voice Gavin can’t quite place.

Not anger or annoyance, but clearly something to it, so Gavin decides to leave things well enough alone and checks to see if the files are down downloading.

========

There’s a fair bit of running after that.

Some skulking going on when they make it to the parking garage and have to sneak past armed guards on high alert.

The Vagabond’s hand on his back when one wanders a little too close to their position, quiet murmur of ”Easy, easy. He doesn’t know we’re here,” and Gavin’s heart beating rabbit-fast in his chest.

He’s no novice to situations like this. Started out as a bit of a thief and all, but back then he was smart enough to avoid moments like these, didn’t he? Kept away from the more dangerous jobs knowing there was no one to watch his back if he did, pull a daring rescue if he got caught.

“Okay, now,” the Vagabond says, and gives Gavin a gentle nudge towards a maintenance door they can use to reach the outside and safety.

========

The second time it happens, Gavin (almost) sees it coming.

========

It’s a long, grueling week. All heist prep and planning and so on. Mistakes and missteps and other little snags here and there which are all part and parcel of things for the crew.

Gavin and the Vagabond visiting sites and facilities to grab more files, intel for the heist itself while the others acquire vehicles and other lovely things.

The Vagabond moves on to help Michael and the others while Gavin stays at the penthouse to untangle the files and other interesting bits of information they’ve gathered. Pieces it all together so it makes sense, will help when they move on to the heist itself.

Spends long, tedious hours at it, the others moving around him as he does since he’s in the main room of the penthouse. (Summer and this perfect bit of light that comes through the windows, lets him soak in the warmth more than he would in what Michael likes to call the nerd lair.)

Dropping off energy drinks and takeout and reminding him sleep is a thing human bodies need, so maybe give it a try sometime, dickhead. (And he will, just a little longer.)

“Hey,” Gavin hears. Soft, quiet. “Maybe you should call it a night.”

Gavin looks up to see the Vagabond looking down at him.

He blinks, and winces when he realizes someone’s closed the blinds, pulled the curtain and all that due to the late hour. Everyone else gone home and Geoff off on a dinner date with Jack the two of them are passing off as a business expense Agent 14 will have to put on his report. (Can’t let the bastard think they’re thrilled with him using them like this.)

His eyes feel hot, dry, and his back aches. The coffee table is covered in cans of energy drinks. Mugs with coffee and tea and a smattering of empty takeout containers.

A damn mess, and sure sign Michael has been too busy to stop by the penthouse to yell at him for being a disgusting animal.

“Oh, uh,” Gavin says, brilliant rejoinder. “I will soon. I just want to get through this first.”

Annoying bit of encryption, stubborn as hell, although that could be the lack of sleep talking.

The Vagabond makes this grumbling noise that trails off into a sigh as he watches Gavin a moment more. Slips out of his jacket and tosses it over the arm of the couch as takes a seat next to Gavin with a tired little sigh.

Gavin watches him from the corner of his eye, sees him carefully scoot a coffee mug aside here, energy drink can there before he unlaces his boots and kicks his feet up on the coffee table. Wriggles his toes a bit as he picks up the remote and turns the television on, clicking through the endless channels Geoff gets with the cable package of his and settles on what looks like an old science fiction show.

Dated special effects and overdone acting, the sort of thing that’s so bad it circles back around to good. Turns the volume down low out of consideration for Gavin, which is nice of him but unnecessary.

“You can put the volume up,” Gavin says, “it won’t bother me.”

He was good with tuning out distraction before he joined the crew, and just got better at it once he had, given the insanity that runs rampant with them. (Prime target for good-natured bullying they get up to and all that.)

The Vagabond laughs, this quiet little chuckle sort of thing.

“Nah,” he says. “Makes it easier to do interpretive lip-reading.”

That -

Gavin doesn’t know what to make of that, so he leaves the Vagabond to it and goes back to his own work.

Smiles to himself when the Vagabond laughs to himself as the show goes on, quiet little chuckle of his again or this odd croaky thing that speaks to the sort of exhaustion where the smallest thing is hysterical as all hell.

After a while even that tapers off, and Gavin glances over when he hears a soft thump. Sees the Vagabond listing to the side, clearly asleep, and the remote on the floor he must have dropped.

At some point he’d taken off that mask of his, tossed it onto the coffee table as an afterthought. Too tired to bother with it, or maybe felt he didn’t need it.

Either way, there’s quite a bit a bit of trust behind that small gesture of his, even if he’s still got his face paint of his.

Gavin watches as gravity and the worn out couch of Geoff’s do their thing, Vagabond slumping over to lean against Gavin, head tipping onto his shoulder.

Goes so very, very still when the Vagabond makes this noise in the back of his throat that sounds like something caught between a cough and a sigh, and wriggles about until he’s comfortable.

Makes little noises now and then, mumbles too quietly – and garbled – for Gavin to make out what he’s saying, but whatever it is doesn’t seem to be part of an unpleasant dream or the onset of a nightmare.

Gavin tries to focus on his work, but the Vagabond’s snoring and quiet mumbling are proving to be far more distracting than a full-fledged gunfight or any other form of chaos he’s been introduced to since joining the crew.

Loose strands of his hair that have come loose from his ponytail tickling Gavin’s neck, brushing his face. Steady sound of his breathing so close to Gavin’s ear, warmth of his body bleeding through the t-shirt he’s wearing, and it really has been a long week hasn’t it?

Gavin might have been cooped up in the penthouse the last little while, but he’s been working almost non-stop himself. Hunched over his laptop and squirreled away in the nerd lair for most of it.

Not enough time to stop for a proper meal or even remember to drink something without an indecent caffeine level.

Gavin sighs – seems to do a lot of that lately, doesn't he? - and squints at the screen of his laptop. The files he has up are so much gibberish at the moment and experience tells him it won’t get better if he keeps on as he’s been doing.

Another one of those clear signs, this one telling him he should pack it up for the night. Sleep, maybe, if he can get his brain to slow down enough for that.

He glances down at the Vagabond, big scary bastard that he is all snuggled up to him like the strays Lindsay’s always mucking about with.

Adorable, scrappy little balls of fluff and feisty as hell. He tries not to laugh at the thought of the Vagabond being much along the same lines at the moment because with his luck the bastard will just know about it somehow, but honestly? There’s a marked resemblance.

After the week they’ve all had he’s loathe to wake the Vagabond. Doesn’t begrudge him the chance to get sleep while he can.

He can feel his own exhaustion welling up like rising fog as he fully acknowledges it. Fights back a yawn as he considers the situation.

The Vagabond doesn’t seem such an imposing figure like this, and while he’s still unsettling and a bit creepy, he’s also -

Well.

Gavin’s not sure what he is, other than a little odd.

Not unlike the rest of them with their quirks and such, mismatched idiots the lot of them. More terrifying than the others, perhaps, but Gavin’s gotten to know him better this past week and he’s not the monster the rumors make him out to be.

Far from it, actually.

Gavin scratches his chin, grimaces at the untamed scruff he finds there and makes a mental note to clean that up a bit in the morning. (Morning, afternoon. Whenever.)

The Vagabond snuffles in his sleep, dragging Gavin’s wandering mind back on track.

Geoff’s couch is getting up there in age, sure, but it’s still comfortable. Strikes a balance between fashionable décor and simple human comfort, even with the sagging cushions and all.

The suite Geoff’s set aside for him here at the penthouse is a few floors down, assuming Gavin could get out from under the Vagabond’s not inconsiderable bulk without waking him. Not impossibly far away, but the logistics of it all are too much for him at the moment. (Can’t be bothered and all.)

So.

Gavin sighs (again), and saves his work before powering his laptop down. Finagles his laptop down to the floor and scoots it under the couch where it won’t get stepped on, and wriggles around himself until he’s comfortable enough he (probably) won’t end up with a crick in his neck.

Laughs as the Vagabond grumbles to himself, face scrunching up at being bounced about a bit in the process, and closes his eyes. (Just resting them, that’s all. Quick little break and then back to it.)

But he’s got the Vagabond’s quiet breathing in his ear, warm weight against him and Geoff’s damnably comfortable couch underneath him, and it’s not long before he falls asleep himself, too tired to fight it anymore.

========

The third time it happens – well.

To be fair, Gavin stops counting after that second time. Doesn’t see the point anymore when it all gets tangled up together with the times he falls asleep on the Vagabond.

This whole give and take thing they get caught up in to the amusement of the crew at large and Ryan in particular because he’s just that kind of bastard.

“You’re laughing at me again, aren’t you,” Gavin mutters, tired after a very long day of running and hiding and terrified yelling because Ryan is quite possibly the worst driver Gavin’s ever met in his life, including himself.

Ryan chuckles, and tugs Gavin’s laptop out of his hands to set it down on their coffee table. Picks up Gavin’s phone and turns it off before pocketing it, slowly and methodically divests Gavin of the various gadgets and whatnot he’s surrounded himself with while working.

“Just a little bit, yeah,” Ryan admits, looking down at him with his head cocked just so.

Familiar gesture after all this time, one Ryan saves just for him.

No mask or face paint, and his hair is out of the ponytail he keeps it in while he’s out and about. Looks soft and approachable in an old shirt and pair of sweatpants, and Gavin -

“Rude,” Gavin mutters, fighting a smile at the one Ryan’s giving him.

Quiet little thing full of fondness and affection and Ryan knows for a fact Gavin’s weak against it, cheating bastard that he is. Comes at Gavin with the big guns right off and so damn smug about it afterwards.

“Come to bed?” Ryan asks, holding a hand out to him as though he thinks Gavin’s answer will be anything but yes.

#freewood #ragehappy #prompt fills #anon #Kings of Nowhere #vagrant fic #¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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fredthelegend · 6 years ago

Text

You're My Star

Pairing: Brian May x reader

Summary: Brian falls in love at first sight with Freddie's best friend, who just so happens to be stuck at Ridge Farm with them for the next few weeks.

WC: 2.5k+

Warnings: none

A/N: forgive any mistakes, it's very late but I wanted to post a story because my inbox is piling up with requests. I decided to combine three requests so I can get through them faster, the result is an extra long story! Enjoy and comment if you liked it!

“Dinner at five, Brian? Amazing! See you then,” Freddie shouted into the phone, not caring to hear Brian’s response. Freddie knew Brian would show, just as he knew that his great friend (Y/N) was about to as well. The ring of his doorbell confirmed his suspicions.

“Hello dear!” Freddie hugged his friend before she’d even walked into his house. “I’ve missed you.” He walked back into his house, (Y/N) trotting behind him, eager to start their plans.

“I’ve missed you too, Fred,” she smiled and sat next to him on the piano bench. “You’ve been so busy lately, being a rockstar and all.” Even though she tried to keep it out of her voice, there was a sort of bitterness in it. Freddie knew it wasn’t directed at him, though.

(Y/N) and Freddie had met when they were children in music class at school. They saw a passion for music in each other that they knew was in themselves. As they grew older and matured, their passion and talent grew as well. They frequently played together and sometimes played small shows. While Freddie played the piano and sang, (Y/N) would sing with him and play the guitar when there wasn’t a piano duet to play. But when uni came, (Y/N) chose to go to a prestigious music school, one that Freddie’s parents would never allow him to go to. Still, Freddie insisted that (Y/N) take the once in a lifetime opportunity. Of course they kept in touch, and Freddie filled (Y/N) in at every chance he got about his new band and their growing popularity. That was a few years ago, and it was the mid 70s. (Y/N) had been back from uni for a few months and was now teaching music lessons to people downtown.

“Don’t be bitter, dear, I have a proposition for you,” Freddie turned to his friend and put a hand on her shoulder. He knew that the tone in her voice was because she was jealous that Freddie was living out both of their dreams while she was stuck teaching little kids how to play scales. “I’ve talked to the band and to management, and we want to collaborate with you on a few songs for the next album!”

“You’re joking,” (Y/N)’s mouth had dropped open. She immediately felt her stomach take a dive. “Now wait, Fred, I don’t want to ride on your coattails, I didn’t earn this. I don’t deserve it.”

“Nonsense,” Freddie answered. “I’ve talked to everyone, given them your demos-”

“Fred you didn’t!” (Y/N) said exasperatedly. “You gave my demos to one of the biggest rock bands in the world, great.”

“That’s not the point!” Freddie grabbed her by the shoulders and shook lightly. “The point is that they loved them and this will boost your career!” (Y/N) huffed but realized that Freddie was right.

“Then it’s a good thing I have my song book,” she said, taking the book out of her inside coat pocket.

“Like this, you’ve got to put the emphasis on the first part of the sentence and let the latter just sort of drag on,” (Y/N) explained to Freddie. “Then your guitarist, oh what’s his name...Brian! Yes, Brian will pick up from there. That’s sort of how it goes in my head, anyway. Okay, let’s go from the top?” Brian’s ears had perked up as soon as he’d walked in the door and heard a female voice that didn’t seem to belong to anyone he knew. When he heard his name, he shut the door carefully as to not disturb Freddie and his guest, and made his way to the living room where they were. When he got there, Freddie was at the piano and his guest had her back turned to Brian, singing along with Freddie to the piano, playing a tune that was unfamiliar to Brian. He was struck by her voice. Even while singing along with Freddie, he could hear hers perfectly. It was full of emotion, booming at some parts and then quiet at others. He realized that this must be (Y/N) after recognizing her voice from the demos Freddie had shared with them. Before Brian had realized, the song was over and Freddie noticed Brian leaning against the doorframe.

“Ah, Brian!” Freddie said, causing (Y/N) to turn and look at Brian in the doorway. Brian felt his heart stop. While he was a completely logical man, an astrophysicist, a man of reason, he knew that he was in love right then and there. His heart already decided it, even if his head was a little behind. In the past, he’d made fun of others for believing in love at first sight, but now, as he stared at (Y/N) with her (Y/H/C) shining around her like a halo from the natural light pouring from the window behind her, he knew that he was in love. “Brian?” Freddie ripped him from his daze, face blushing in realization he’d been staring at (Y/N).

“Y-yeah, sorry Fred,” Brian said sheepishly. (Y/N) smiled at him, oblivious to what Brian had just gone through in a matter of seconds.

“As I was saying, this is (Y/N), my dearest friend and the girl on the demos I showed you,” Freddie said, nodding to (Y/N) who waved and smiled again. “(Y/N), this is Brian May.”

“We were just working on some songs,” (Y/N) said. Brian felt his cheeks heat again. Her speaking voice was just as angelic as her singing voice.

“I love to listen in,” Brian stuttered, smacking himself in the face mentally for sounding so nervous. And anyway, he had come here to pick up Freddie for their band meeting, he didn’t have time to sit here and listen to them sing. Freddie smirked, knowing that his plan had worked perfectly. He knew that (Y/N) was perfect for Brian and vice verses.

“Actually, Brian, we’ve got to go to the band meeting, haven’t we?” Freddie said. (Y/N) raised her eyebrows, turning back to Freddie.

“And what am I supposed to do?” (Y/N) said, tapping her hip on the floor.

“You can sit here and look pretty, dear, we shouldn’t be too long,” Freddie stood from the piano bench and stretched his arms above his head. (Y/N) looked dejected but nodded her head, sitting back down on the bench. Brian felt his heart twist for the girl he was in love with but barely knew. He could tell that she either didn’t want to stay here or wished she was in Freddie’s position, but he couldn’t quite tell. Freddie guided him out of the house, aware of the way Brian was feeling and feeling quite chipper with himself.

“Pack your bags, love, we’re going to Ridge farm!” Freddie shouted into the house, blasting the doors open. (Y/N) walked to the door from the piano, eyes wide.

“What?”

“We’re recording another album, darling,” Freddie answered with a twinkle in his eye.

“This is where we’re recording?” (Y/N) said, dropping her two bags beside her, mouth dropped open in disbelief at the thought that the band was recording an album in the middle of nowhere at an actual farm. “Freddie, I’m not sure what I thought you meant by ‘Ridge farm’, but this wasn’t it.”

Once the band was crammed into the main house, they were shown to their rooms. Freddie and (Y/N) would room together, Roger and Brian had seperate rooms on the same floor, and poor Deaky was in the basement. On the first day, everyone was just to get settled in and used to living at the farm until the record was finished. Most of the band just napped, but (Y/N) found herself in the kitchen looking for an afternoon snack. Once she realized there was almost nothing there, she began to make a list of everything she thought they would need before going to her room and retrieving a pack of instant noodles she had stowed away in her suitcase. Once back in the kitchen, she started boiling the water.

“What’re you making?” (Y/N) was startled by a voice behind her and dropped her spoon. “Oh, I didn’t mean to scare you! I’m sorry!” She turned and saw Brian, who knelt down to help her pick it up. Their hands touched and she saw Brian’s face turn thirty shades of red. She smiled and took the spoon from him, standing and smoothing her shirt.

“That’s alright,” she said, rinsing the spoon off in the sink. “I’m making instant noodles.” Brian raised his eyebrows quizzically. “You’ve never had them before?”

“I can’t say that I have,” he responded, leaning on the kitchen counter. (Y/N) smiled and he felt his heart beat faster.

“Well I’ll have to give you some of mine, then,” she answered, dumping in the packet of seasoning. “They give you this packet, but I like to add in some of my own stuff, too. It’s really quite good.” She stirred in the ingredients before pouring the noodles into two bowls. The pair sat down at the kitchen counter with their bowls and (Y/N) watched as Brian tried his first bite.

“This is really good!” he said with his mouth full of food. Brian realized how rude he was being, talking with his mouth full, but (Y/N) giggled. Roger and John walked into the kitchen.

“We smelled something cooking!” Roger rubbed his stomach and (Y/N) laughed again. Brian decided it was his new favorite sound.

“I could make you guys some noodles, too, if you’d like,” (Y/N) offered. Roger and John nodded their heads hungrily. “Okay, one minute.” (Y/N) hopped off the kitchen stool and ran to her bedroom for the other instant noodle packages in her suitcase.

“This is really good!” Roger mocked, earning a punch in the shoulder from Brian.

“The way you blush around her is a dead giveaway, mate, you might as well tell her how you feel,” John shrugged. Brian frowned and looked back at his noodles, mulling over John’s words. He’d only known (Y/N) for a few days, there was no way she could respond positively to his proclamation of love for her. He decided that he’d wait to tell her.

But it wasn’t that easy. After a few weeks of subtle flirting (which could easily seen as friendliness), lingering touches, and stares in the studio, Brian couldn’t take it anymore. The boys teased him constantly about his crush, and he couldn’t take all of the messing around anymore. He needed to know if (Y/N) liked him back lest he suffer in silence. Brian found the perfect excuse to be alone with (Y/N) after he found her at the kitchen bar one late night, sitting in the same spot she’d been the first day Brian and her ate their noodles together.

“Can’t sleep?” Brian said, pulling out the chair next to (Y/N). She looked at him with tired eyes. They were all tired. They woke up early and recorded, worked through the day on songs, and went through the night arguing, getting a few hours of sleep only to wake up and repeat the same cycle over and over again.

“You know Freddie,” she laughed tiredly. Even when she was exhausted, Brian thought it was the best thing he’d ever heard. “He thinks of an idea, he has to write it down, no matter what hour it is. I couldn’t sleep with the light on.”

“I couldn’t even think of sleeping when the night is as clear as this one,” Brian hinted, catching (Y/N)’s eye.

“What’re you saying, May?” she eyed the blankets hanging over his shoulder.

“Allow me to show you the stars, Miss (Y/L/N)?” (Y/N) giggled and took Brian’s outstretched hand. He guided her out of the kitchen and into the courtyard, taking a trail to one of the fields. They walked in comfortable silence, and Brian relished the feeling of holding her delicate hand in his, as she’d neglected to drop his after taking it in the kitchen. He took the blankets off his shoulder and layed one out, taking the other one and spreading it across them as they lay down beside each other.

The night was cool, but not too cold. The blanket made it the perfect temperature, and the bed of grass below them was surprisingly comfortable. Brian stared at (Y/N) as she looked up at the stars, which were bright against the navy blue background. Because they were so far outside the city, this was the brightest Brian had ever seen the stars without a telescope.

“That one’s Sirius,” Brian pointed out, arms stretching toward the sky.

“Which one? I can’t quite see it,” (Y/N) admitted, craning her neck for Brian’s view, absentmindedly scooching closer to him so that they were connected at the side. He pointed up again, showing her the stars. She nodded and set her head back down, right onto Brian’s chest. His cheeks flushed and he put his arm around (Y/N). “Why are they so bright?” She asked.

“Because they’re so hot,” he answered. “That’s why fire gives off light, it’s hot as well. The nuclear reactions going off inside of them give them their energy.”

“What is a star?” (Y/N) asked tiredly, her eyes closing.

“You’re a star,” he answered quietly. (Y/N) giggled and opened her eyes, looking up at Brian. “You’re my star.” She smiled widely and buried her face into Brian’s chest abashedly. “I’m serious, (Y/N). I’ve always been a man of logic and reason, but when I saw you for the first time, that all went out the window.” He stopped, unsure of how far he was going to take this confession.

“And?” (Y/N) prompted, unsatisfied with his answer, looking up at him once again. This time, Brian didn’t meet her gaze.

“And I fell in love with you,” he clenched his jaw and screwed his eyes shut, embarrassed that he’d finally admitted it to her. When he didn’t respond, her nervously opened his eyes, fearing he’d messed up. He was surprised when she connected their lips in a sweet and short kiss.

“I fell in love with you too, Brian,” she admitted. “You’re so kind and gentle, you make me feel so comfortable and at home. Freddie’s been teasing me about it ever since we got here.” She cuddled into his side again and Brian wrapped his other arm around her, holding her tight.

“You have no idea what the boys have put me through these past couple weeks,” he groaned. “I was worried one of them was going to tell you before I did.”

“Well I’m glad you did,” (Y/N) reached her head up and pecked his lips again.

“Me too,” he responded.

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notlikegcds · 6 years ago

Note

Head tips back to rest against the tree trunk, eyes closing when she pulls the brim of her hat down to cover her face. nothing like a mid-afternoon cat nap under a tree -- 'cept just as she's starting to doze off, a very hyper puppy dives into her lap & armistice's laugh fills her ears. adjusting so she can see Ya on her lap, she glances to the bandit with a smile. " i was wondering when you'd get back. " she reaches out, beckoning for the blonde to lean down & kiss her.

Melody Cleans Inbox / @dierationem - Hanaryoaccepting

“ We got a little caught up on the way. “ Armistice smiles with the comment made as she props the rifle along the tree. That was the excuse she gave, but in truth the pup had cried to play longer in the mess of green that she had left him to while packing up her saddle. How could she say that she didn’t have the heart to tug him from his little patch of happy? Easy. Say nothing.

Lips quirk with the gesture made, and she is powerless to resist.

Armistice kneels slightly to close to make it easier to close the distance between them, a gentle touch coming to caress along the side of her face with the dip of her head to mesh her lips against Hanaryo’s. She makes a low sound complete with a quiet sigh as the tension bleeds from her own form. The bandit smiles when they part, but only just so, as a hand reaches between them to pluck their puppy from her lap. Setting the pup safely in an arm as own weight settles down, thighs straddling her lap while Armistice took another kiss.

This time she allows herself to sink fully into her, free hand settled between them to rest within the silken cloth at the other woman’s chest. Lost in the feel of her until the lapping of a tongue from Ya touches at her chin and a kiss suddenly turns into a lick of laughter and she can’t hold her a moment longer. Settles weight back again Hanaryo’s thighs to look at the little devil in her arm. “That was rude.”

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dividivisee-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Photograph #3

Part 1 (AO3) / Part 2 (AO3) / PART 3 (AO3) / Part 4 (AO3)

Pairing: Hyuk x Reader

Genre: Fluff / Slow burn

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 2,019

Summary: A month after your day with VIXX, you’re still slaving away at your office job but a surprise leads you to a big change of pace and the discovery of your number one supporter.

Author’s Notes: Honestly, this chapter focuses a lot more on you rather than your relationship with our dear Hyogie, so I hope you’re not disappointed! I’m developing our characters as we go along. This was a tougher chapter to write for me, but I hope you all still enjoy! As usual, my inbox is always super open to making new friends, comments about my fanfic so far, anything about VIXX! I’m pretty open to VIXX prompts! I’ve received a couple of new followers and messages since the last chapter and it’s made me really happy! Please keep them coming, I love to hear from you!

If you also use AO3, I would appreciate any comments/kudos there!

You are sitting on a toilet seat in one of the stalls of your office bathroom. You shift your weight, adjusting your scrunched-up pencil skirt and fuss with your button-down top, before hunching down closer to your phone, trying to unscramble letters in a word game. You glance at the clock on the top of your screen and feel the time ticking down from your break.

You jolt as your phone buzzes. You receive a text from none other than Ara. Sent you something today! Tell me when you get it! You always hear her voice in her texts, even if you don't mean to. You frown and scroll up and down your conversation history. The last time you spoke to her was a month ago, the morning after the photoshoot and drinking session with VIXX. You remember the day after clearly: waking up with a hangover, lying about feeling sick, getting an earful from your superior, and diving straight back into the worst of work with difficult clients and a clogged up to-do list. You read your messages. You thank her, She brushes it off and praises you, you get embarrassed, and finally she asks you when will you “quit your damn job so you could pursue your photographer career”. No replies afterwards. You sigh deeply, trying to expel the pang of guilt in your chest. Your mind is still as blank as it was a month ago.

You straighten your body, stretch your arms over your head, and stare at the door in front of you. You look at the bathroom door, a dull gray with no scratches or markings. The view reminds you of the countless days you've spent plopped on this seat either hiding from your boss, playing games on your phone, or just crying. “What was I doing here? Why am I wasting my time? How can I do this while my old classmates are succeeding?”, You would ask yourself regularly in this exact spot, confronted by this blank door, and the answer would always be the same, the crippling combination of financial, family, and societal pressures. You fantasize about a resignation letter you wrote months ago on your computer, waiting to be dated and printed. You pull up your phone again and stare at the blank reply line, your thumbs hovering over the keyboard. But before you could begin making a reply, you hear the bathroom door open and high-heeled steps shuffling in. It was your cue to leave so you flush the toilet, wash your hands, and exit the stall. You return to work. "Are you (Y/N)-ssi?", A young man asks. You're standing at the entrance of the dark, empty office, in front of the young man, who's dressed in a rain jacket, jeans, and sturdy sneakers, lugging a hefty backpack. He smells like a mixture of sweat and the outside. "Yes, I am.", You reply. You were in the middle of getting ready for your noontime nap, a rare quiet moment in the office, until the young man knocked on the glass door. You fidget in place, standing uncomfortably in another pair of cheap flats. The young man smiles and nods. He hands you a little clipboard with two small slips of paper. "Kindly sign both, please!", He says while pointing at the lines at the bottom of the receipts. He quickly twists his bag towards his front and rummages through. You can hear the contents roughly rustling together as his hand sifts the inside. You sign the papers and hand the clipboard back to him. "Thank you!", He takes the clipboard, slips it into his back pocket, and hands you two plastic-wrapped magazines, with your name labeled on both. He bows and bids you goodbye. You look at the magazines and see the title emblazoned on top, "CHICK", in a bold font. The cover was a colorful photo of a trendy actress and model, sunbathing on a roof in nineties-themed clothing. You see a few headlines littering the cover but your eyes fall on one, "Your next boyfriends, VIXX". You couldn't run any faster to your desk. You turn on the lights, skid onto your desk chair, and quickly open up one of the copies. You flip through the pages and there you see it, in its printed glory, VIXX standing the way you precariously envisioned and in white letters beside them, "Photographed by (Y/N)". You stare at it in disbelief, clapping your hand over your mouth. You quickly take a picture of the first page and send it to Ara, your sheer excitement overtaking any anxiety. You carefully turn the pages to see the whole editorial: a close-up of N with one of his signature expressions, a full-body of Leo, looking to the side, soft and sentimental, a portrait of Ravi artfully slouched on a chair, Ken and Hongbin laughing while play fighting, and Hyuk gazing straight to the camera. You feel your face growing warm and you trap a scream in your mouth. Your phone buzzes and it's a reply from Ara, "Congratulations on your first editorial!! I told you they would turn out amazing!!" Your mind races, thinking of how to repay her.

You feel your heartbeat pounding, sending adrenaline all over your body. You stand up and pace near your desk, trying to calm yourself down. You check the time on your phone, you have a few minutes until everyone returns from their lunch break. Fuck it. You sit back down in front of your computer and the whirring sound of a printer fills the empty room. When you step out of your office building, you feel light, the lightest you've ever felt in a while. You begin walking with a skip to your step and you resist the urge to do a little jig. You look at your phone and your eyes widen when you see that you have hundreds of notifications from one of your social media accounts, the account you used to share your photography. You furrow your eyebrows. You haven't touched that account in months. You open the application and see that you've been flooded with a huge number of new followers and comments on your older works, none of these people you recognize. As you scroll through the commotion, you begin smelling a delicious aroma. You look up from your phone, and notice that you're already outside of the little, casual dumpling place you and Ara agreed to meet at. You peep into the windows and notice she isn't there yet so you decide to wait for her outside of the restaurant while sorting through the sudden attack on your social media.

Your thumb feels a growing cramp as the timeline of notifications seem endless. You groan as the list goes on until an unfamiliar username catches your eye. You tap on their profile.

You see that it's Hyuk’s verified profile, followed by hundreds of thousands of people. You refresh the page to make sure the number is correct. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t change. Besides his selfies and rare glimpses into his personal life, his latest posts are him showing off the editorial in the magazine, him showing off the pictures you took, and crediting you as the photographer. "Look at my hyungs! Thank you for having us, CHICK magazine!" His caption reads on the pictures of his fellow members, tagging you and CHICK magazine's social media account. You hold your breath as you see sixty-thousand likes and sigh in relief when you read most, if not all, the comments were positive. You press on another post, his solo portrait and blink when you read fifty-thousand likes. "Was really nervous during this photo shoot, but it was an unforgettable day!", He wrote, tagging you and the magazine again.

You laugh and think, “That makes the two of us”, and smile.

After finding out that Hyuk was the cause of the fuss online, your stomach grumbles, a sign that Ara is ten minutes late. You look towards one end of the street to the other and can't seem to spot her in the distance. You think for a minute and decide to get a hold of the man himself. "Good evening, Hyuk-ssi. Are you busy now? Can I call you?", You type and send off to Hyuk, hoping you weren’t disturbing him in anyway. In the back of your mind, you considered the possibility of him changing his number but surprisingly, you get his reply. "I'm not busy, go ahead and call. :)", He says. Your heart skips a beat, but you call him anyway. You listen to the ring twice before he answers. "Good evening, Hyuk-ssi! I'm glad I was able to catch you. I’m sure you have a full schedule." "Nah, I’m just eating dinner," his voice, warm and familiar through the phone, "What's up?" "Nothing much, I just wanted to thank you for sharing the photo shoot and tagging me! I got a lot of new followers and likes and I'm sure the exposure will help a lot!", You say while bowing your head to no one in particular.

"Ah, it's no big deal, (Y/N)-ssi," He laughs, "I really hope it does help you and…Um, I should be thanking you for taking such nice pictures." "What! You made my job easier by being so handsome!", You laugh and there's a deathly pause, you horrified by what you just blurted out and Hyuk completely silent. You feel each second painfully pass between the two of you. You look around awkwardly, trying to find something to say, but all you hear is handsome ringing in your head. Unluckily, at the turn of your head, Ara is in your face, her loud makeup emphasizing her growing sneer.

"(Y/N)-ssi? I was-", Before Hyuk could finish his thought, you interrupt his thought as you watch Ara’s grin get wider and wider. You swiftly turn your back on her and cup your mouth over your phone, "Hyuk-ssi, I'm so sorry, I have to go now. Good night!" You hang up on him and look at Ara, whose grimace has somehow gotten worse. "So, who could that handsome person be?", Ara says as she creeps closer to you. "No one, Ara!", You laugh nervously, "Let's go in, it's so cold!" You rub your arms and shiver with a dramatic flourish as you brisk walk through the restaurant's doorway. Ara follows behind you, whining your name. Ara doesn't let up the whole night, asking who this secret lover of yours is. You valiantly attempt to protect your privacy and Hyuk's by dodging her questions and denying her sordid assumptions. You hide your phone in your bag, despite the constant buzz of notifications, in fear of Ara snatching it the moment you pull it out. Eventually her focus turns to drinking rather than interrogating. The two of you eat and drink merrily, surrounded by the fog of tasty dumplings. You clink your glasses together in celebration of your first work in a major publication and your first step towards pursuing your dreams. You don't hold back, as you and Ara hop from bar to bar, feeling untethered to any of your worries.

When you finally get home, you stumble straight into bed, still dressed in the wrinkled button-down and your most hated skirt. You fall asleep in a happy haze, knowing that you never have to wear this outfit, that you don't have to hang out in bathroom stalls, and you'll never be obligated to touch a spreadsheet ever again. You groan in your sleep as an alert rings off your phone, a text message from a certain, flustered idol.

“(Y/N)-ssi, are you alright? I got a bit worried since you hung up so fast! I know it’s already pretty late, so I just hope you’re safely asleep but text me when you wake up, so I know you’re not dead or something. Good night!”

Another alert follows.

“By the way, let’s work together again soon, before I’m no longer handsome, haha! ;)”

You snore peacefully as your phone battery dies.

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riverheadbooks · 8 years ago

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READER HOROSCOPE FOR FEBRUARY 2017

Turning the celestial pages of love

AQUARIUS

Bust out the champagne and crank up the music - it’s your birthday month, and you are ready to party! You’re full of energy this month after a pretty drab and boring January, and it’s infectious! Have you noticed a recent uptick in the number of brunch and happy hour invitations in your inbox? Get used to it! You’re in the spotlight this month, Aquarius, and you are loving it. While you embrace moment in the sun, just be sure to monitor your calendar so you don’t overbook yourself. Looking for a high-energy read that fits your current mood? Look no further than your lucky book for this month, a wildly imaginative and deliciously unusual account of the dawn of the modern era. You’ve undoubtedly heard snippets of the circumstances around the death of Anne Boleyn, or memorized some facts about the Aztec people in middle school, but be warned: this is history like you’ve never experienced it before. While you whisk around this month, charming the socks off of everyone you meet, remember the power that a sparkling personality and a tiny twist of fate can yield. Who knows, you may end up altering the course of history yourself.

LUCKY BOOK: Sudden Death by Álvaro Enrigue

PISCES

Time to bring out the bathrobe and fuzzy slippers, Pisces. You’re in desperate need of some rest, and this month is your time to finally indulge in the magical art of doing absolutely nothing. Well, okay...doing less. You know how to read your body, and you know when your mind is stretched to the breaking point - this is the time to slow down and use your spare time to just let yourself be. Work is work, and the pressure from deadlines and upcoming projects may trick you into thinking that you need to be on edge all the time, but that is simply not the case! Allow yourself to do what you need to do at the office, and then give yourself the freedom to pursue an activity you want to do - whether that be taking more naps, dusting off your baking pans, or settling down with a good book. And speaking of good books - if you’re looking for a long, juicy read to fill the time you’re gaining this month, your lucky book this month is just the ticket. Take a walk through several decades of history - from Kingston, Jamaica to the streets of New York - and read a fascinating fictional account surrounding the assassination of Bob Marley, and the world-changing events that followed. There’s no better time to sink your teeth into a gripping, spellbinding story than during a self-imposed exile from the noise and clamor of the real world, so get ready to dig in.

LUCKY BOOK: A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

ARIES

One may be the loneliest number, Aries, but that's not a worry you'll have this month. People are just clamoring to be in your orbit, from friends to strangers to colleagues, and you're working on making your exchanges both smooth (always check your teeth after going to town on a kale salad!) and profitable (business cards at the ready!). Collaboration is of the utmost importance right now, as the connections you forge today will only help you become a better team player, listener, and person overall. Having at least one partner to work with in all things academic, corporate, or even romantic can help the both of you become greater than the sum of your parts - and perhaps even create the beginnings of a lifetime bond. The characters in your lucky book can attest to this: two orphans abandoned at birth, who grow up together and eventually fall in love. Follow them on a whirlwind journey through the world of dance and theater, through temporary separation and desperately trying to find their way back to each other to make their childhood dreams come true. It's a spellbinding paean to the wonders of enduring love, suffering difficult times, and coming out on the other side stronger together - an appreciation that you can truly share this month.

LUCKY BOOK: The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

TAURUS

There's no stopping you from getting what you want this month, Taurus, and it's inspiring to see. They don't call you the bull for nothing - you refuse to be deterred from going after your dreams, and you're willing to do just about anything to achieve the level of success you've always wanted. That means, of course, that this is a month in which your social calendar will be pretty bare bones: you only have so much time to spare, and getting your affairs in order to strive toward the next level in your career or passion is of utmost importance right now. When is the last time you spoke to your mentor? That's one lunch date that should be prioritized - you can have all the ambition in the world, but without a bit of guidance from someone who's seen more and experienced more, you may merely end up spinning your wheels or even end up suffering from the residual effects of self-sabotage. In your lucky book this month, you'll learn all about a nation that achieved an incredible feat way ahead of its time: establishing a modern-day revolutionary theocracy. From the outside, Iran now appears to be dangerous, a threat to our way of life, but within it lies a much deeper and more complex story of the many religious thinkers, political operatives, poets, journalists, and activists that have staked their entire lives and beliefs on what they feel their country should represent and be capable of. For a mover and shaker like yourself, this is the kind of book you won’t know you needed until you're halfway through. Go get em, Taurus. We'll be cheering you on.

LUCKY BOOK: Children of Paradise: The Struggle for the Soul of Iran by Laura Secor

GEMINI

This month is focused on personal growth, Gem, and not a moment too soon. If you've been feeling bored and listless, then find a class to take or new route to run. If you've been feeling hopeless about the state of the world, use this time to push yourself to action - get involved in a way you may have been afraid or hesitant to until now. This is the time to expand your everyday reality, to take small leaps of faith that leave you with some pretty undeniable results. Your inner circle will be crucial during this time of self-discovery and boundary-testing: they're smart, reliable, and you trust them to have your best interests at heart. That is not a gift to be taken lightly, so be sure to learn from them this month, and let them know how much you appreciate their presence in your life. To assist you in thinking on a larger scale than you normally do, your lucky book this month is a small volume with dizzying scope. Learn the facts around some of our most common yet awe-inspiring realities, like the makeup of space and time, and the elementary ingredients that comprise our world. It's the perfect reset button, going back to the basics of our physical world and coming to a deeper understanding about how truly miraculous and beautifully fated our very existence is. You'll walk away from this book with a much richer perspective on life, and less fear around wresting control of your own, and shaping it in the way you've always dreamed. You know what they say about shooting for the moon, Gem. Landing among the stars really isn't such a bad deal.

Lucky Book: Reality is Not What it Seems by Carlo Rovelli

CANCER

Who says being a recluse is a bad thing? There are times you just need to be alone, to recharge and re-center yourself, and this month, it's your turn. A lot has happened over the past few months, both in your personal life and on a global scale, and if you want to be able to navigate the many different challenges that have presented themselves, reconnecting with your values and checking in on your state of mind is a must. This doesn't mean you need to confine yourself to your apartment at all times, just that it would be in your best interest to embark on a journey of some inner exploration, and maybe limit your social engagements to outings with only your closest friends. The clarity that can come from this time spent with yourself or with your most trusted loved ones is invaluable. The main character of your lucky book this month makes that discovery as well - on a trip to Greece to search for her missing husband, there are some questions about his disappearance that are never answered, but by the end of the book, she has plumbed her emotional depths and discovered long-dormant truths about herself that could only be found during a sustained period of solitude. Don't be afraid to do the tough psychological work of digging through your own impulses, desires, fears, and hopes - self-reflection is a skill that becomes more crucial the more life is lived. Dive in.

LUCKY BOOK: A Separation by Katie Kitamura

LEO

Once upon a time, there was a Leo who felt like they would scream if they had to answer another benign "How are you?" You know what, Leo? We certainly can't say we blame you. You're all about the real talk this month - you say what you mean and mean what you say, and don't have time for meaningless pleasantries. Life is too short for wasting precious minutes on anything but the conversations and experiences that will help you get where you're trying to go. January was a bit slow - the first month of the year tends to be a rough one - so now you're fired up, ready to go. Your mind is buzzing, and your creative energy is flowing - so keep that vibe going! The author of your lucky book this month is the perfect accompaniment to your current mindset: quirky and unusual, a series of traditional fairy tales with stunningly inventive departures from the norm. Is it a love story, a tragedy, or merely a series of strange misadventures? That's up to you to decide. Go on a journey filled with twists and turns, and surrender yourself to the glorious ambiguity of familiar stories turned on their head. I know you’re a straight shooter this month, but there is value in taking the road less traveled to your intended destination - or, perhaps, to a destination you didn’t even know you wanted to reach. You’re going to make it to your _______ ever after - and filling in that blank is the best part.

LUCKY BOOK: Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi

VIRGO

Fire up that blender and start stretching those limbs, Virgo - this month, personal fitness is the name of the game. Chances are, you’ve been following the news cycle obsessively, nearly driven to the edge with worry, and stress-eating is often the only solace to be found after going down a dark social media hole. No more! Banish the Doritos from your room and just say no to the peanut M&Ms. Get rid of the nagging guilt by listening to your body and doing what it’s politely asking you to do - put your health at the forefront of your concerns and allow yourself to shut everything else out, if only for an hour a day. Better yet, put your money where your mouth is, and get outside to volunteer with an organization doing the work you feel passionate about. Aside from it being a small humanitarian act that can go far, you’ll feel better for having spent your energy on an activity that helps put the world to rights, just a little bit, rather than simply complaining about it on your Facebook feed. After all, this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint - better to limber up for the long haul rather than let yourself burn out quickly. For inspiration, your lucky book of the month is a historically accurate account of a slave’s escape right before the Civil War - a reminder that despite even the most inhumane and depraved circumstances, the human will to persist, to survive, is more durable than we often believe. Remember the struggle others have faced before you: grieve their sacrifice, but take strength from it too. You are capable of more than you know.

LUCKY BOOK: Song Yet Sung by James McBride

LIBRA

Ooh, la la, Libra! Love is in the air this month, and you are just reveling in it! And what a beautiful thing that love is, when it’s free, and shared without guilt or shame. You feel light, unburdened, and that’s not an easy feat. Few can allow themselves to wear their hearts on their sleeve like you do, but that doesn’t make you weak-willed or unable to keep a secret. It means you have courage in an area where others often don’t: the courage to be rejected. The courage to be disappointed. Instead of hiding your affection for whoever has captured it, you’re letting it shine and going after what you want. In a world that increasingly favors mind games and obfuscation in matters of the heart, your approach is a wholly refreshing one - so don’t be surprised when it works! Your lucky book this month is written from the point of few of the outsider - the witness to an extraordinary love story that grows into a personal passion. Such is the power of love - particularly in this case, when it’s between a housemaid and a policeman, two individuals who come from totally different cultural and political backgrounds. As they struggle to legitimize their true feelings in a society that does not want them to be together, the narrator becomes more and more attuned to their private anguish, and is ultimately changed just by having seen their relationship blossom. If that’s not an endorsement of living and loving out loud - especially in a time and place where you are granted that freedom - then what is?

LUCKY BOOK: A Word for Love by Emily Robbins

SCORPIO

Kick off your shoes and relax your feet, Scorpio - this month is shaping up to be a quiet, introspective one. There’s no place like home right now, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of - everyone needs a chance to just relax in their own abode from time to time. If you’re feeling the sudden urge to paint, or change your curtains, or even do some plumbing - go with it! This is your sanctuary, and it can be incredibly therapeutic and soothing to put the time and care into maintenance that it deserves. Your home is much more than the physical structure, however; be sure to spend some time with the people closest to you as well. They are your anchors - whether it be your girlfriend, roommate, little cousin, or parents - and keeping you grounded can be a pretty taxing job, if we’re being honest here! Don’t neglect those relationships; they need as much maintenance and TLC as your apartment does. Your lucky book this month is a heartwarming, hilariously realistic tale of two families who learn, through a series of misadventures, how vital they are to each other, despite any build-up of resentment, or jealousy, or awkwardness. The people who love you the most know your flaws, and continue to love you in spite of them - and what an incredible reminder when the world just makes you want to lie down for a long time. There truly is no place like home.

LUCKY BOOK: Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

SAGITTARIUS

You’re just the life of the party, aren’t you, Sag? You’re radiating positive energy this month, and it is joy to be around. It’s rare that you run out of things to talk about, because you have opinions to share and refuse to keep them locked away! Good for you - a little bit of honesty is healthy, and breaks down walls that keep potential friends apart. Your forthrightness is attracting all sorts of people to you, and there’s a good chance that it may lead to a brand new friendship - or more! There is little doubt that you will find a kindred spirit in the protagonist of your lucky book for this month: a young woman who charms her way from small-town girl-next-door to mega-popular It Girl. You know the risks of laying yourself bare, inviting commentary and criticism from friends and strangers alike - it can be demoralizing and downright scary, as people will often take your kindness for weakness. This is where your signature optimism and honesty come in handy - sometimes in order to protect yourself, you need to let people know when they’re crossing your boundaries. And if they take offense, well then, that’s their issue. You know who are you, what you want, and you’re not afraid to stand up for yourself when no one else will. Keep doing you, Sagittarius. It suits you well.

LUCKY BOOK: Funny Girl by Nick Hornby

CAPRICORN

Work, work, work! Cap, I truly admire your commitment to your craft and seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy. You’re firing on all pistons this month, breezing through deadlines and taking on extra projects - and killing it! This is your month of productivity, and so far, it’s a very successful one. Be careful to avoid burnout, though. If you haven’t already, scale back your side-ventures and hobbies, if only for the next few weeks while you’re in work-mode. Balance is vital - either work less and socialize more, or vice versa, but at all costs, avoid burning the candle at both ends. You always want to be economical with your greatest commodity - your time. But guess what, Cap? Being focused on your work actually doesn’t preclude engaging in play - quite the contrary. According to your lucky book this month, some of our most invaluable resources were the result of an innovator having fun. Makes weird sense, doesn’t it? Think about your own daily schedule. How much more productive are you when you actually enjoy what you’re doing? How much more exciting are the ideas you come up with when you’re truly enjoying the brainstorm, or are working towards an enjoyable product? Work doesn’t have to be boring - and, really, it just shouldn’t be. And you can - literally - take that to the bank.

LUCKY BOOK: Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World by Steven Johnson

#riverhead #riverhead books #february horoscope #february readerscope #astrology #zodiac #aquarius season #aquarius #tbr list

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samuelfields · 5 years ago

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Working From Home: The Essential Beginner’s Guide (with scripts)

Here at IWT, we are big believers in working from home. In fact, our entire company works remotely.

That’s why I wrote an entire free Ultimate Guide to Working From Home to help anyone who wants to work remotely:

Convince their boss to let them telecommute

Find a new work from home job (and get hired for it)

Start freelancing online on the side (or go full-time doing it)

Or start an online business that allows them to work anywhere in the world

This blog post covers a lot of the most important points, but I dive much deeper in my Ultimate Guide to Working From Home, so make sure you grab the free PDF.

Let’s get started.

How to get started working from home

Imagine this scenario 6 months from now:

You stroll into your boss’s office one morning and hand over your two weeks’ notice.

But he says, “Wait, we’ll bump your salary 20% AND give you a corner office.”

“Sorry, I can’t do it,” you tell him.

“25% more?”

Nope.

“I’m flattered by the offer, but I’m going to have to pass,” you say.

And of course, you found a new job that offers benefits that you can’t put a price on.

The freedom from commutes and evening runs to the dry cleaner. The choice to live wherever you want. And the flexibility to control your own hours.

You’re going to be working from home.

This isn’t something that “other people” do. Forbes reported that one in five Americans now work from home. And that number is expected to rise in the next few years.

Who are these lucky folks who get to work from home?

They’re people on payroll with a company — everyone from assistants to managers and even executives

They’re freelancers with skills that are in high demand

And they’re business owners who make tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with nothing but a laptop and internet connection

They’re the new class of professionals who define success as doing what you want, from wherever you want, and on your own terms.

But it’s not all about lifestyle. It can be a great move for everyone involved.

According to Stanford Business School, people who work from home are not only happier, they’re more productive, too.

I’ve put together this blog post to explore all the options you have, and what it takes to pull them off.

I’ll even show you the technology, tools, and skills you’ll need so that nobody will even realize you’ve left the building.

Who am I?

I’m Ramit Sethi, the New York Times best-selling author and founder of GrowthLab and I Will Teach You To Be Rich — a business that I grew from a dorm-room blog into a multimillion-dollar online business with over 30,000 paying customers around the world.

One of my personal philosophies has always been flexibility. I love going to the gym in the middle of the day when it’s not crowded. And I love meeting up with friends for a long lunch whenever they’re in New York.

So when I started to hire employees, I wanted to give them the flexibility to work from home, on their own schedule, from wherever they are in the world.

In fact, one of my employees wanted to move to Paris, and we supported it 100%.

Not setting up a central command center and letting my employees work from home has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

Not only is everyone happier and more productive, but we also get to recruit people who are the best at what they do since we’re not limited to geography.

I’m thrilled to share everything with you today.

4 Essential Skills For Working From Home

Anyone who ever tells people they work from home will often hear, “Wow! I could never do that.” And it’s true, it takes discipline to get up, log in to your computer, and work when nobody is standing over your shoulder and directing you. Distractions attempt to grab you from every direction.

The La-Z-Boy recliner you thought would be awesome to type your weekly reports from becomes a sinkhole for your productivity.

And once word gets out that you’re home all the time, friends and family start to ask if you “could do them a favor in the middle of the day.”

Which is why, if you want to successfully work from home and maintain a healthy work-life balance, you need to declare war on distractions.

In this section, I want to talk about the 4 skills you need to consistently produce great work no matter what industry you’re in.

Remote Work Essential Skill #1: Master working in short bursts

Working from home means that nobody is looking over your shoulder anymore. You don’t have to pull up a random Excel spreadsheet whenever someone walks by to make it look like you’re working and not checking Facebook.

As long as you get your work done, you can free up time to tend to other things. Heck, my team can walk their dogs and pick their kids up from school without asking anyone for permission. Because I know they’re on top of their work.

The best way to be productive is to work in short sprints — not long, drawn-out marathon sessions.

My friend Chris Yeh is a Harvard MBA. He works a demanding full-time job, teaches at Stanford, writes for various publications, advises startups, and still manages to make time for his family.

Did you get tired just from reading that? Watch and learn how he pulls it off with the Pomodoro Technique.

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Remote Work Essential Skill #2: Stick to project deadlines and due dates

According to my friend and bestselling author Tim Ferriss:

“Most people fail at new year resolutions because there is no consequence. If you don’t go to work, you’ll lose your job. But if you don’t stick to your diet, there’s no consequence — other than staying fat.”

The solution to finish everything you start?

Hold yourself accountable.

Tim’s favorite way of doing this is by using a website called stickK.

Go to stickK.com

Once you sign up, you can make a commitment contract: “I will nail the project deadline.” Then, if you don’t, stickK will take your money and donate it to a charity you despise.

You can also invite friends or coworkers to referee your progress and make things more fun.

This is a great way to stay on track for work projects when the living room recliner is calling your name for nap time.

Remote Work Essential Skill #3: Make small changes for massive results

It’s much harder to shut down for the day when your “office” is where you live. There’s no night-time cleaning crew that comes to empty out the trash to signal that you’ve been burning the midnight oil.

You have to decide when to call it quits for the day. Because sooner or later, trying to jam in another task at the end of the day can rob you of your sanity.

Which is why it’s important to make stepping away from your desk a regular habit. Whether it’s a short walk, a trip to the gym, or taking an afternoon yoga class, exercise can help keep your mind sharp when you work from home. It also helps you strike the perfect work-life balance.

Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, built a healthy eating habit while working for The New York Times. His approach was unconventional in that it started with chocolate.

Yes, you read that correctly. Chocolate triggers reward centers in your brain and makes you want to do things you normally procrastinate on.

And you can use the same exact principle to make exercise a habit. Watch the video below to see how you can put it into action as you work from home.

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Ready for more great advice on working from home? Download your FREE copy of my Ultimate Guide to Working From Home now!

Remote Work Essential Skill #4: Manage your emails

Email is a great tool. But it can suck up the most productive hours of your day if you’re not careful. And once you start working from home, you’ll get more and more messages since people can’t stop by your desk to ask questions.

Some of them will be urgent and important, most of them won’t be. It’s your job to make the call. Luckily, since I get thousands of emails a day — and yes, I read all of them — I can give you some advice.

HOW TO PUT YOUR EMAIL ON AUTOPILOT

My goal is to not answer emails. Instead, I think of email as a tool.

This is where so many Inbox Zero people go wrong. The goal is not zero emails in your inbox — it’s actually getting the right things done.

I don’t give a damn if I end the day with zero unread emails or 350. I only care about getting the right things done.

One of the ways I do that is to stop waiting on responses, and instead systematize follow-ups so I don’t have to remember to do them.

For example, if I send an email about a project but I can’t proceed until I get a response from somebody else, I need to make sure I stay on top of it.

So I use SaneBox to automatically remind when I need to send a follow-up email.

It looks like this:

An example of using SaneBox to send me a reminder to follow up in 2 days.

I also use it to automatically elevate important emails to the top of my inbox. Others get de-emphasized and I can read them later.

THE EXACT SCRIPT TO SET UP A MEETING AND MINIMIZE BACK AND FORTH EMAILS

Talking on the phone to set up meetings only takes a few seconds. But if you use that same conversation framework on email, you’ll create a long thread of messages, waste time, and be a nuisance for everyone involved.

There’s a better way.

I like to have canned scripts for the most common situations I’ll encounter. That way, I can read an email, mentally categorize it, and reach into my vault of scripts to select the best response.

Here’s one I use to set up meetings that saves me hours of back and forth every year.

How to convince your boss to let you work from home

Your current job might be the best way to embark on your new telecommuting lifestyle. Even if it’s not a common practice at your company.

But you can’t just stand up on your desk one Friday afternoon and declare, “From now on, I will work from home!”

Everyone will think you’re a weirdo, and building security will usher you out of the office.

The key is this: If you’re great at what you do, you have A LOT more leverage than you think.

To put everything into perspective, you’re not just a body they hired. They had to screen hundreds of resumes, conduct 30+ phone interviews, and then invite a handful of people to meet in person.

Many people forget this.

So if your manager gives you a glowing performance review, it’s the perfect time to bring up the idea of a work-from-home job.

Don’t give any ultimatums. That can lead to confrontation, which never works out well.

Instead, offer to do it on a trial basis. You can use what I call the ARMS techniques to make it easy to get your boss’s stamp of approval.

Those four letters stand for:

Here’s how it works in action:

Later that day…

Boss: So I talked over your proposal with a few people, and we agree. It could be a good move for the company. You can start next week. Let me know what days you want to work from home.

Big Win!

The important thing to remember is that you’re proving the concept for now. Once your boss agrees to this small request, and it works out well, they’re more likely to agree to you working from home regularly.

If your company is set in their ways, and you’re set on working from home, don’t worry. There are tons of work-from-home jobs that you can apply for now.

How to land a job working from home and ask for double the average salary

If you look at the average salary for many work from home jobs, you might think they are kind of low. But those are the AVERAGE income.

The truth is, if you’re a top performer, you can find the best jobs with awesome perks, and ask for MUCH more than you think possible.

Many of my students have done it.

What do they know about getting their dream jobs that you’re in the dark about?

They know The Briefcase Technique, my proven strategy for getting a job you love at a great salary.

Ready for more great advice on working from home? Download your FREE copy of my Ultimate Guide to Working From Home now!

Case Study: How IWT works completely remotely with dozens of employees in 23 states and 6 countries

IWT started as a personal finance blog that I launched from my Stanford dorm room. Over the years, as I got more readers, I realized that living a Rich Life is about more than just money. So I expanded into careers, freelancing, social skills, and online business.

This would’ve been impossible without hiring a team to help me. Early on, I made the decision to get the very best people I could find. I didn’t want to be limited to geography. So every position I post is open to anyone in the world.

We always get a flood of applications for any job opening. The competition is fierce. But for the people who make it through the hiring process, the work is challenging. And the perks are worth it.

That’s the benefit of being a top performer. YOU get to call the shots and decide how you want to live as long as you keep producing results for the company.

As of writing this, we have dozens of employees in 23 states and 6 countries.

We have former professional athletes on the team. People who used to manage Fortune 500 companies. Marketers and copywriters who’ve worked behind the scenes on multimillion-dollar launches.

Even entrepreneurs who never have to work for anyone else again if they wanted have dropped everything they’re doing to join our team.

Had I rented office space in some New York City high rise, I would’ve never been able to attract this caliber of talent.

What IWT team members LOVE about their work from home careers

If you’re great at what you do, we might have a spot for you.

Working from home by starting an online business

So far, we’ve covered working remotely for an employer and freelancing online for clients. For some of you, that might be your Rich Life.

But there is another option:

Starting an online business that allows you to work from home (or anywhere in the world). That’s what I did. And now I work as much (or little) as I want.

I can spend a 6-week vacation every year traveling with my wife while my business runs on autopilot.

If you want true freedom with when, where and how much you work (and to be able to make a ton of money too), I believe there’s no better solution than starting your own business.

That’s why I put together a free PDF with 30 proven online business ideas you can copy. Just enter your email below.

Then, let me know what your biggest takeaway from this post was in the comments below.

Working From Home: The Essential Beginner’s Guide (with scripts) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Finance https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/working-from-home/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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kennethherrerablog · 5 years ago