#we’ve both been busy with a few things but we can’t wait to get everything up and running!

[shadowmonkeysbigbang]

Hi! Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our polls. We're very happy to officially announce that a new Shadowmonkeys Big Bang will take place this year! 🎉🎉🎉

It will be run by @subtle-as-an-earthquake (Minnie) and @uhbasicallyjustmilex (Lulu), and details about how to get involved will be posted later this month.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop the Shadowmonkeys account a message/ask, and we'll respond as soon as we can 😊

We're so excited to get into the creative spirit with you all! 💖

[quirrrky]

—•✦ 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 𝙏𝙊 𝙔𝙊𝙐

KUROO, your business partner and bestfriend, had one birthday wish and that's for you to attend a party as his fiancee, his fake fiancee

3k+ f!reader, friends to lovers, fake dating

ꨄ︎ happy birthday to the male lead of my life! wishing you'd finally show up for real now lmao

“So Kuroo, you’re turning thirty this weekend, right?”  

“No, sir, just twenty-nine.” Kuroo gave a stiff and stony grin. Mr. Onitsuka, the CEO of the sportswear company he was trying to get as a sponsor, happened to be a rigid family man.

“Just twenty-nine...” There’s certainly some hint of disappointment with how it sounded from the older man.  

Kuroo gulped and bit the inside of his cheeks. This deal was his most important thus far. We’re dealing with one of Japan’s prestigious brands. He couldn’t let this opportunity pass, especially that he just recently got promoted as the Sports Ambassador for the Japan Volleyball Association. 

“Well, we can feature our players-” 

“You mean athletes.” Mr. Onitsuka corrected. 

Kuroo gulped and almost banged his head against the nearest wall. Of course, athletes! Not players.  

Not a “player” like...him.  

Who would’ve thought that his singleness was not a good credential for the strictly traditional man in front of him? Everyone who’d see the specimen of a man Kuroo was could tell that he had a high market value among the ladies, which screamed one thing. He must be a player! 

“Yes, that’s right. Athletes...”  

“Look, Kuroo, it’s clear that you had everything well-planned out.” Mr. Onitsuka closed the folder. “But I’m sure you can’t do all this by yourself...” 

“I know someone who could cover this partnership.” Kuroo beamed, excitedly. His face lit up like he had the most brilliant plan out of his pocket. “We’ve been together and conquered a lot by now. I would even bet my life to guarantee you that she is the best!” He pronounced, loud and proud. 

“I never heard about her before.” Mr. Onitsuka's expression changed into something a bit lighter. “So when did the both of you start together?” 

At last! He’s passing the test. Kuroo thought. 

“Oh, me and Y/N? We began working on a project about a year ago and we really hit it off so well. Our chemistry’s just...out of this world.” 

Kuroo’s phone rang with the Star Wars’ Imperial March, a ringtone you personally assigned for yourself. Mr. Onitsuka saw your name and said, signaling for Kuroo to answer the phone, “Your girlfriend.” 

In a slight panic, Kuroo almost juggled the phone in his hand. For a short while, he thought that he was now accepted by Mr. Onitsuka, however there seemed to be a misunderstanding. He wanted to clear it up, but he had to answer you first... 

“H-Hello...” Kuroo gulped. “How’s my girl?” He saw a tinge of disappointment on Mr. Onitsuka's face, and he got agitated, mindlessly spouting things off. “How’s my beautiful...” Of course, he couldn’t say girlfriend. “Bride...” Shit! That's too sudden, so he added. “...to-be.” Bride to-be? 

Oh crap. He ran his mouth without thinking. 

You laughed. “Wait...Are you drunk?” 

“Mhm hmmm...so drunk on you, only on you, babe.” Kuroo winked at Mr. Onitsuka, who was obviously enjoying the show he was putting on. 

“What have you gotten yourself again, Tetsu?” You cracked up and followed, “Hey...listen, I already reserved the bar for your birthday party. It’s all good now.” 

“You’re the best! Wait, love. Just hold on a sec, okay? I’m in the middle of a meeting, but I’ll be there in a heartbeat once this is done.” 

You scrunched your face, laughing. “What’s wrong with you? Are you being hit on by an old lady again?” 

Kuroo chuckled, genuinely. Oh...that smartmouth of yours... 

“Let’s talk about it in a few, alright? See you the soonest, sweetheart. Bye bye, love you.” He hung up and sighed apologetically at Mr. Onitsuka. “Sorry about that. My woman needs me.” 

“Then I suggest you go to her right away. You musn’t keep her waiting.” Mr. Onitsuka said, sounding more relieved to have found out that JVA Sports Ambassador Kuroo Tetsurou was a “committed” man. “If that’d be my wife, I’ll be having an earful by now.” The older man oddly broke his rigid exterior and laughed.  

“I’ll take that advice to heart,” Kuroo affirmed. 

“I’ll be sending the documents with my signature within the week.” Mr. Onitsuka extended his hand and Kuroo shook it. “It was nice meeting you, Kuroo. I’ll see you and your fiancee on your birthday party.” 

Kuroo chuckled, nervously. “Can’t wait, sir.” 

Now, he’s left with convincing you to be his future wife even just for a night.  

⋆ ˚ ꩜ ｡ ⋆୨୧˚

As the new sports ambassador for JVA, Kuroo now carries the image of the sport, well, including its athletes. As much as it’s great to recognize that Volleyball athletes were good-looking, values such as commitment must be reflected as well. Kuroo knew that.  

Though he admittedly had a past of dating around and exploring his options, it wasn’t the deal now. Kuroo wanted to commit but...he wanted to be slow and careful... 

Opening up the door to the restaurant, he immediately spotted you browsing on your phone. He didn’t miss the look of the man seated beside you on one of the bar stools. He sighed. Another one of those bastards... 

Approaching you, Kuroo wrapped an arm around your shoulders and planted a kiss on your forehead. “So, how’s the check-up? Is our little peanut okay? I’m sorry I missed it.” He said, making sure that the man heard.  

You subtly rolled your eyes and answered back, “He just kicked inside me now like he wanted to kick you instead.” 

Kuroo acted animatedly amused. “Sounds like his mother. That’s too early.” Taking the other seat beside you, he swiveled your chair so you’re facing him.  

“Last week you put a ring on me and now it’s a baby.” You snickered. “What’s next, Tetsu? Retirement plan?” 

“Come on. I’m just being the best bestfriend there is. Plus, you have saved my ass a million of times too.” 

Indeed, you didn’t know when it started but you and Kuroo played as each other’s fake partner whenever you’re both being hit on by strangers you didn’t like.  

“Yeah, remind me to pose as your lovesick wife next time.” You joked and Kuroo rubbed his chin. 

“Maybe at my birthday party?” He suggested. 

You took a sip of your juice. “Yeah, sure.” 

“No, seriously, though.” He took your hand and held it firmly. “Mr. Onitsuka...” 

“Oh, Family Guy...” 

“Exactly! I...” He’s now starting to take out his greatest weapon, his sad boy pout and unfortunate doe eyes. 

Oh. “How did you mess up this time?” 

His hold on your hand tightened. “I might’ve made it seem like we’re getting married.” 

That explained the cheesy lovey-dovey petnames a while ago. 

You were speechless. Kuroo’s not the one to lie. He’s always the straightforward guy, so... “How the hell did that...” 

“I don’t know. Man, he’s been grilling me with my life plan, my age and all, that I had a slip-up.” 

Well, you’ve done this countless times before, but his birthday party was a different thing. His friends and some colleagues will be there. You looked at your joined hands and then back at his troubled expression. 

“Y/N, just for my birthday, please...” Kuroo pleaded, “Be my lovesick wife even just for that day.” 

⋆ ˚ ꩜ ｡ ⋆୨୧˚ 

Kuroo leaned on his car as he marveled at you so breathtakingly beautiful in a red dress. Playfully, he whistled. “It might be hard for me to think this is all pretend when you’re doing some serious damage on me with that dress.” 

Equally, you admired how handsome he was in that black sweater, and got lost at the sight of him that you almost trip on your wat to his side. Almost.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you in check.” Lightheartedly, you set an alarm in your smartwatch. “You got me until midnight, love.” 

The two of you laughed. 

Today’s the big day. Tetsu’s birthday. And yes, the birthday part did get you to agree to his "proposal". 

In no time, you reached the little bar you rented. It was cozy and had a little dancefloor and disco lights that could make the activities later on at night extra special.

You assisted in arranging a party for him, inviting his close friends and some colleagues. No lies, you’re a little nervous. This was different from the strangers you’d been fooling. 

This is it...  

Kuroo pulled you closer to him, grabbing you by the waist. “You got this, sweetheart.” He brought your hand to his lips. You gave him a prim smile and he opened the door for you.  

You were welcomed by familiar faces which put you at ease, while he had a hand at the small of your back. All the worries you had earlier dissipated. Having Kuroo right next to you like this made you feel more confident.  

Though everyone had their eyes on the two of you, everything about this situation felt natural. The electricity that surrounded you...It was so strong. The chemistry you had the first time you met was glowing in front of everyone right now. You could tell that they looked at you and Kuroo like you’re made for each other.  

“Here comes the future Mr. and Mrs. Kuroo,” Kenma welcomed, mischievously knowing fully well what the both of you were up to.

Lev greeted, “Happy Birthday and Congratulations!”  

“What? I thought you two are already married!” Bokuto remarked, which shocked the both of you. “I mean... ever since you two got along, Kuroo talked about nothing but you. I even got a little sad because I thought I wasn’t invited.” 

Kuroo was just pretending not to be affected by all this, but he’s definitely dying on the inside as Bokuto ratted him out. Slowly, you tilted your head to sneak a glance at your “fiance”. 

“W-What?” he asked. 

You giggled and teased, “I didn’t know I’ve been on your mind a lot.”  

Kuroo just simply scoffed. This was totally not how he planned things to work out.  

Mr. and Mrs. Onitsuka finally arrived at the scene. Kuroo squeezed your hand as if you were going to face the biggest challenge of your life.  

“Kuroo,” The old man called as he patted Kuroo’s shoulder, “Happy Birthday, boy!” 

This was shocking. Mr. Onitsuka went from a scary strict dad to a friendly goofy one. It must be the effect of being with you.  

“Thank you, sir. Ma’am,” Kuroo acknowledged Mrs. Onitsuka’s presence, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles.  

“Hmm...You sure know your way with the ladies.” The older woman complimented.  

“Gives me headache every now and then,” you said, playfully, which made the old couple laugh.  

“You must be Y/N,” Mr. Onitsuka shook your hand. “Now, I know why you got this boy to settle down.” He patted Kuroo’s chest twice. “You’re such a lucky man to have someone like Y/N right here beside you.” 

“See, even you could tell how bad she got me.” Kuroo glanced at you with an unexplainable softness in his gaze. “So damn bad.” 

The way he looked at you, his smile, his eyes, almost stopped your heartbeat. You felt so little...small? Cute? Weak in the knees? Excuse me. You’re probably smiling like a preschooler having a crush right now, but this felt like a fairytale. Someone must stop you. 

“You both looked so good together I wonder how you fell in love with each other.” Mrs. Onitsuka mused.  

Kuroo confidently replied, “It was love at first sight...” 

You choked up a laughter at his statement. Love at first sight? Crazy.... 

He raised a brow at you with a vexed and hurt expression on his face. 

“Hey, now! It sounds like a Hallmark movie. You can’t blame me,” you reasoned out.  

“But it was the truth!” 

Kuroo took a long and deep inhale. His eyes refused to look back at you as he explained, “When we met for the first time to finalize our partnership for the Volleyball video game project, I really thought you’re beautiful, and as lucky as I am, you’re also smart, funny and someone whom I found comfortable to be myself with.” 

Smiling, you recalled that moment. It wasn’t only him who felt that way that day. “Yeah...that’s...” ...what you felt too. You almost forgot this was all just a pact.  

The two couples found your bickering very amusing, which roused their curiosity even more. “Well...let’s go to the proposal. How did our lady’s man right here propose?” 

“I first asked her to marry me during the successful launch of our first project.” Kuroo shared to spark a memory in you, bashfully rubbing the back of his neck. 

“What?” 

“You really can’t remember?” He complained. 

You explained, “I thought you’re just talking about our next projects to come.” 

He gave you a stare of disbelief like you’re the stupidest, silliest girl alive. 

You paused for a moment, trying to grasp what happened in the past when Mr. Onitsuka cut your musing with a laugh. 

“Those were the days...” Mrs. Onitsuka admiringly commented.  

Mr. Onitsuka sighed. “I guess we’ll leave you two alone then.” 

You and Kuroo bowed your heads as gesture, watching the older couple take their seats.  

A sigh of relief escaped the both of you and you looked at each other chuckling.  

“Let’s go?” Kuroo invited, taking your hand to pull you close to him until he had an arm around your waist. 

You nodded your head, giggling. For the rest of the night, you did nothing but that. He was greeted from time to time, but he’d always return his attention to you. He pulled your chair close to him and playfully fed you with spoonfuls that had your mouth full—ridiculously full that you were swatting his arm almost non-stop.  

You didn’t drink anything alcoholic, but it felt like you were tipsy. You didn’t know where this endless happiness was coming from. It’s that free bubbly feeling that just fizzled out inside you. You were always playful and childlike around Kuroo, but there’s something in this moment that was just different. It was like you were set free–free to express whatever it was you wanted to for a long time.  

Kuroo rubbed your belly, “Looks like our little peanut is getting bigger now.” 

You both laughed at his teasing. “It’s ‘cause you’re feeding me a lot, dummy!”  

“What can I say? I’m just simply being a good provider. Making sure that the love of my life is well-fed and happy.” He boasted and you rolled your eyes.  

Kuroo was so close to you, the warmth of his body surrounding you in full as he had you caged all to himself. Your body moved on its own and you laced your arms around him, burying your face in the crook of his neck. All of a sudden, you didn’t want to let go.  

You didn’t know why, but your heart was about to burst at any moment now. He’s right. You’re... “Happy...” You said with a muted voice. “Birthday, Tetsu.” 

Kuroo embraced you back and even tighter, closing his eyes firmly while he was holding you so close like you’re something that could melt away in his arms at any moment. “I’m happy. I’m very very happy right now, Y/N.” 

He parted a bit, cupping your face with both hands. You searched for his eyes, and he probed yours. Your gaze shifted to his lips while his did the same thing, lingering a little on yours. You swallowed.  

What is this? 

Kuroo bit his lip. His eyelids were getting heavy as he was reaching forward. You had your lips parting a bit, just enough so you’re breathing from the space between.  

What’s happening? What’re you anticipating? 

Slowly, your noses touched. 

Just a little bit more... 

But the speaker close to you started blaring, shocking you both from your little moment and made you laugh instead.  

Kuroo stood up and extended a hand, “Care for a dance?” 

You accepted, taking the dance floor with him. He had his hands on the sides of your waist as you both swayed to the music. Your eyes were not leaving each other’s as you both got lost in the moment, cheeks hurting from the smile that won’t just fade away. 

“Screaming, I testify that we'll survive the test of time they can't deny our love.” The lyrics blazed all over and you let yourselves loose, singing the song together. “They can’t divide us. We’ll survive the test of time. I swear that I’ll be right hereeee!” 

You both burst out laughing at each other with how your voices cracked, failing to hit the high note.  

“I don’t know why it feels like I’m drunk right now,” Kuroo pondered fondly.  

“Drunk on me?” You teased, recalling what he said on the phone last time. 

“Most likely,” he smirked and returned, “You know I didn’t have any alcohol.” 

You laughed. “Yes, because that mouth of yours may run some BS again.” 

“Oh...” He scoffed and rebutted, “You speak as if my mouth is only good at talking.” 

Your quirked a brow up. “What else would it ever be good at?” 

You’re really getting him so bad like this, huh.  

The look in his eyes turned dark and he bit his lip. He stopped dancing, pulled you closer and whispered, “A lot of things.” 

His gaze slickly traveled down your lips thirstily taking in how he wanted them so bad. He grazed back to pin your eyes with a serious stare that showed how he’s already at his limit. You gulped, air got stuck in your chest. You were lost at the sight of his handsome face being accentuated by the colorful lights that you failed to ready yourself when he placed a hand behind your head and brought your lips together. Your eyes automatically closed, arms snaked around his body as he had a hand at the small of your back. Your lips danced, gobbling each other passionately, intensely. You’re taking one another’s breath.  

At that moment, only the two of you existed, intoxicated by each other’s taste and fully consumed by the fire inside you that finally came blazing after a long time being kept hidden. 

Miya Atsumu whistled. “Man, this got me frustrated.” 

“Ugh, get a room.” Oikawa chided, bitterly. 

“Just admit you’re jealous nobody wants to kiss you that way,” Iwaizumi rebutted while Kenma had his phone up, streaming the entire show.  

Your smart watch started alarming, cutting off your kiss. You glanced. It’s already 12 o’clock, which brought you back to reality. This...This was all just an agreement. An odd stabbing pain hit your chest. You looked around and the Onitsukas were nowhere to be found. They must’ve gotten home already. Your heart was knocking loudly in your ear, and you just looked at Kuroo painfully confused. 

All these emotions... 

“Excuse me,” you said, and briskly walked outside the hall.  

Your hands were cold and trembling as you placed them over your lips. It’s done now. You couldn’t run away from it anymore. For so long, you’d been telling yourself it was all just friendship even if you knew that all this time, the person you wanted to be next to you was just him.  

With this heavy feeling in your heart, you knew you wouldn’t be able to handle denying anymore. You love Tetsurou more than just a friend. 

“Y/N!” You heard him called out, and you shut your eyes firm.  

You’d just end up broken if you’d keep on pretending. 

Kuroo held your elbow, and you were swept away when he spun you around so you were facing him. He had you in his arms, with his hands clasped at the small of your back. 

“Tetsu...” You placed a hand on his chest, putting up a boundary. “Mr. and Mrs. Onitsuka went home already.” 

“And so?” He answered, noting that you’re not pushing him away. 

“I-It’s already past 12,” you reasoned out with a shaky voice. 

He bumped his head into yours. “We can have it extended, you know?” His tone was almost begging.  

You chewed on your bottom lip. “What do you mean?” Your heart stammered so hard against your ribcage.  

“The love at first sight, the proposal...they’re all real for me, Y/N.” His voice was staggering that you could feel how nervous and scared he was. Scared of losing you and letting this moment slip away. He might not get another chance. “I slipped up that you’re my bride-to-be because that’s what I’ve been wanting to happen all this time.” He ran the tips of his fingers across your cheek. “I love you, Y/N and should’ve shown you how much a lot earlier”  

“Oh, Tetsu...” you smiled at the brink of tears. “You’re such an idiot!” You lightly smacked his shoulder and scolded, “I thought I’m gonna be single forever because of you, dummy!” 

You both laughed, finally feeling the freedom of having things all let out in the open. 

Leaning close to your face, he teased you with his lips lightly grazing against yours as he spoke. “You’re still not answering me...” he muttered under his breath. “It’s past midnight now. Are we extending?” 

You smiled against his lips and asked, “For how long?”  

Kuroo grinned, pressing your noses together. “Indefinitely.” 

And you answered him with a kiss, knowing that you both won’t have anyone standing next to you aside from each other, indefinitely.  

𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 w/ my fellow kuroo babes @mayarii-darling @sookisaurus @tetzoro @shidouryusm @kuroosexuall @jotatetsuken @boosyboo9206 💋

© quirrrky 2023 - All rights reserved. No work shall be reproduced, reposted, modified, translated in any form or by any means.

[sserajeans]

mine

kim minji x fem! reader

synopsis: you both knew love came with downhills, but neither of you thought it'd get that bad. you made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter, and she's the best thing you could ever call 'mine'.

genre + others: non-idol reader x idol minji, goes over the ups and downs of their relationship, semi angst but fluff end TRUST ME

notes: (TW: implied suicide of minor character) , y/n has been through so much pls give her a break, idk if either of them were toxic, but they work around it bc love >>>, not requested, i was just listening to the album and got an idea that made my soul go WHOOSH hehe, THIS IS A VERY LONG ONE

WORD COUNT: 6.9k

you were in college, working part-time, waiting tables. left a small town, never looked back. i was a flight risk, with a fear of fallin', wondering why we bother with love, if it never lasts.

you and minji were your friend group's favorite couple. almost anyone would agree, actually.

you met in high school when you transferred from a smaller, almost unknown town under a merit scholarship sponsored by the school. you were your family's pride and joy, the eldest daughter and older sister to two siblings. your parents weren't born with the same comfort they provided you and your siblings, or any comfort at all. it took a lot of work for them to get to where they were, and even then they still work day and night to give a life better than theirs for their children.

being born first, you witnessed everything. the blood, sweat, and tears your parents poured into everything; their failed start-up business, their multiple part-time jobs, and the low-paying wages they'd get in return. but above all this, you also saw how your parents did it all for love. love for you, love for their kids, love for the family they made. and so you swore, as an adorable 8-year-old, that you'd work your hardest and earn enough money to get your parents to rest comfortably once they were of age. you were raised in a struggling house, but a loving home. you knew love. you weren't a stranger to it. you loved love and the power it held.

minji, on the other hand, didn't. when you met her in your first year of high school, her parents had just signed divorce papers after her dad caught her mother cheating. she was only 16 at the time, and her parents were her role models of love. to her, they represented what love would, could, and should be. she believed in love, until she grew to hate it. she hated the way it hurt her father, she hated the way it hurt her, but most of all she hated the way it pulled her mother away from her. minji knew love. she wasn't a stranger to it. but she hated love and the power it held.

because of the stark difference you two had with your outlooks on love, it was a shock to everyone when the kim minji agreed to not just being your prom date, but to you courting her during your junior year of high school as well. 

“kim minji is this really you?” her best friend at the time, seol yoona, waved her hand in front of the raven-haired girl’s face. she was trying to finish an essay in english, one of their final requirements for the semester. “what’s different about park y/n?”

minji sighed and closed her notebook, finally facing the rest of her friends who sat crowded around her.

“look. she was nice to me at prom and she’s…” her friends’ eyes widened in anticipation. “cute, i guess.”

“oh come on minji that can’t be just it…”

“yeah you rejected like a quarter of the student population! i’m sure there were a few nice and cute ones!”

“they all…” minji started as she stood up from her desk and began packing her things in her backpack. “i’m just more comfortable with her, okay? we’ve been friends a while, and she’s patient about everything right now because she knows about…”

the rest of the table nodded their heads in understanding. there was no need for her to expound on that. 

meanwhile, in the complete opposite side of the school campus, was where you and your two closest friends ate lunch. under the shade of the courtyard’s largest tree.

"you're fucking playing with me..."

"i'm not! she said yes! she really did!" you exclaimed, mouth full of the school's spam and kimchi kimbap. 

"you better not mess this up y/n... you're like the first person i know of that she's ever said yes to." your other friend commented, playfully shoving your upper arm.

"do you guys not have like... the teeny-tiniest bit of faith in me?" 

they looked at you for a solid minute before nodding and shrugging. jokes aside, you were a selfless and caring person, and every one that has ever gotten to know you was sure of that.

and fair enough, by your first year of college which was also minji's first year as newjeans' leader, after almost 2 years of courting her, you asked her to have things official, and she said yes.

do you remember, we were sitting there by the water? you put your arm around me for the first time. you made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter. you are the best thing, that’s ever been mine.

it had been just over a year since you two started officially dating, and nothing much changed since you put a label on it. you were now in your second year of university, simultaneously maintaining a part-time job at a local restaurant. 

it didn’t take an idiot to know that dating an idol was hard. and it also didn’t help that your schedule wasn’t the most flexible either. there were even some days where minji had more time in the week to spend than you did. the both of you hated that, and it frustrated you two to the point where there were times you’d take it out on each other.so when you and minji had your first big argument, it was a shock to none of the peers who knew of your relationship.

you sighed deeply as you unlocked the door to your apartment. it was the middle of midterms week, and you had just finished an evening shift. you didn’t even want to think about studying for your calculus exam tomorrow, but you knew you had to if you wanted to keep your gpa up to the scholarship’s requirements.

“park y/n.” minji’s voice interrupted your brain’s train of thought. you were so busy trying to figure out the most efficient way to spend the rest of the time between the present and your exam. 

usually, minji’s voice calling your name would be warm and sweet. you talked about it to your friends one time, describing it as melted chocolate, and she gagged at how cheesy you were being. but god forbid you speak the truth.

but now, her voice was neither warm nor sweet. it was cold. it was cold and sharp. if you had the time to process it you’d probably describe it as ice shards, rather than melted chocolate.

you hesitated to face her, because you knew exactly why she was here in your apartment at 11pm in the evening instead of her dorms, fast asleep. you couldn't count how many times you cancelled a date last minute within the last month, and minji was tired of you not explaining properly.

you heard her stand up from the living room couch and walk towards you in the dining table. 

“what is it, minji?” you spoke, leaning your forehead against your palm as you brought out school textbooks and worksheets.

“what do you mean ‘what is it, minji’? you know why i’m here, y/n.” 

she wasn’t lying. again, you knew why she was here with you, which is why you dreaded the conversation that was about to come.

“this is the 4th date you’ve cancelled this month without telling me why. if you wanted to break up i’d much rather you tell me directly…” the last sentence felt like a stab to your chest. the cold and sharp dagger that was her words, taking one large hit.

“what the fuck? no, okay! no i don’t!”

“then for the love of god would you at least tell me why you’re being so fucking distant?!” 

you kept silent. eyes avoiding hers as you internally debated on whether you wanted to burden her with your struggles or not.

“see? you can’t even say it.”

“fucking hell. my sister is sick, minji.” 

you let out a shaky exhale as you spoke, finally gathering the courage to face her.

“she has pneumonia. she’s sick. she’s in the hospital. and i-“ you cut yourself off as tears made its way down your face. the cold exterior on minji’s face dropped almost immediately at the sound of your voice breaking. your breathing remained shaky as you tried your best to verbalize everything that has been piling up over the past few weeks.

“medical insurance isn’t enough to cover it. my parents are working endlessly, but they’re getting older and i don’t want them to overwork themselves or they could get sick too, so i asked if i could pick up more shifts at the restaurant because that’s really all i can do right now. it just breaks my heart whenever i visit her because she’s always telling me that she’s sorry for causing trouble when none of it was her fault. and fuck, as if it doesn’t get any worse it’s midterms week, and if i fail just one exam it’s enough to bring my gpa down for the school to drop me.”

you gasped for air.

the girl sat beside you and rubbed your back, reaching over for your water bottle and offering it to you. you muttered a thanks as you gulped down half of the water inside and gave yourself a few seconds to speak again.

“and i know what you’re thinking. ‘why didn’t you tell me? i could’ve helped.’ but minji please. you’re an idol. you’re a celebrity. fuck, you’re the leader of one of the biggest group’s right now. you have enough on your plate. i don’t want to add to that.”

minji nodded to show you she was listening despite not saying anything since you started letting it out.

"let's take a walk." 

you were shocked by the suggestion, and minji could tell. she would be too.

“but won’t people recogn-“

"more air to breathe, more space to think. come on." she got your coat for your and brought your most comfortable pair of shoes over.

you weren't agreeing, but you also weren't objecting the idea. from what could've been a fight to this, you were just glad you had the warm minji with you right now.

she dragged you along by the hand, just a few steps ahead of you. it didn't take too long until you two found yourselves sitting on the park bench facing a small river. it wasn't too far away, just a couple meters from your apartment building.

“can i ask you something, y/n?” there it was. the warmth, the sweetness in her voice. 

she turned to face you. “do i bother you when i tell you about my problems? when i talk to you about how i worry for haerin not opening up, or when i tell you about how hanni might’ve bothered me on a certain day. does that burden you?”

you looked up at her shaking your head, your eyes still red and puffy. 

“w-what? no. never. i like that you let me know. i like knowing you have some type of output for it."

"well if it doesn't burden you then what makes you think you'd burden me?"

you slowly looked away, eyes busy gazing the clear water and the rocks that laid under.

she moved to wrap her right arm over your shoulders, and slowly reached for your left hand to hold if you'd let her. after all, she didn't expect to be comforting you when she planned on seeing you.

"i may be an idol. i may be a celebrity. i may be newjeans' minji a lot of the time. but i'm also your girlfriend, park y/n. the one you met in high school whose life you changed forever the day you asked me to prom." you leaned against her when she pulled you closer as she spoke.

"i stopped believing in love when my parents split. remember when i told you that? but you were there every step of the way. you understood, and you were fine with waiting." minji took a pause to make sure you were still with her, listening. 

your eyes were heavy, but your brain couldn’t be more alive. 

“y/n, i don't want to be the person that makes their partner feel like they can't talk to them. let me be there for you too, okay? i may not be able to do a lot to fix it, but i'll be there because you shouldn't be facing things alone. not when you have me."

you nodded, letting out the last of your tears on her shoulder while she ran her fingers through your hair. 

“so next time, please, please tell me what bothers you.”

you never gave a clear response, just your sobs slowing down as she held you. minji would later on regret not noticing this.

a few minutes later, after you calmed down, you pulled away to finally fix your eyes on hers.

"thank you. and i still owe you an apology. for how i was the past couple of weeks.”

“you really don’t have to y/n.”

“well, you say that now after i told you. but what i did was still such… an ass move, and i should’ve told you what was going on because you deserved to know with the way it affected you too.”

minji gave you a smile. a small smile that held the largest emotions a human could ever feel. she leaned against your side, head on your left shoulder with her arm around your waist.

“it’s okay…”

“i love you.”

three words. eight letters. the first time it was ever said between the two of you. 

on the inside, you were a little shocked. if your relationship was a sports game, no one would bet on minji saying it first. but she did. and that just made those special words mean a little more than they already did.

you wrapped your left arm around her shoulders and rested your head on hers, giving the top of her head a kiss before saying it back.

“i love you too.”

flash forward and we’re taking on the world together. and there’s a drawer of my things at your place.

a couple months later, you felt on top of the world, and so did minji. you found a higher paying stay-at-home job, your sister got better miraculously quick, and your grades were stellar. for minji, newjeans had just released another hit mini album, and it was played everywhere you went. in the store, at the mall, on tiktok, on the radio. everywhere.

eventually, you two found a free spot on both of your schedules, and used it to have sleepovers at your apartment or her dorm. she’d always prefer staying at yours though. one of the few times you stayed at hers, the second you left, hanni and hyein were teasing her endlessly about… well, usual couple stuff.

this night was one of those sleepover nights. the two of you just finished dinner and were cuddling on the sofa, trying to decide on a movie to watch.

“mean girls?”

“didn’t we watch that last week?” minji reasoned out, looking at you with a questioning face.

“uhm… horror?”

“i don’t mind.”

you hummed and browsed through the horror collection your streaming site had. it took you a while to find a movie, you and minji each always had a minor problem with whatever came up.

“oh hey this one looks fun. zom-“

“did i ever tell you the full story of my parents?”

“ha?”

you looked at her with a rather surprised expression on your face. sure, she’s told you all about being a child of divorced parents and how it affected her. but you never bothered to ask more about it in fear of her discomfort.

“well… no. i wanted you to bring things up at your own pace.”

it felt like a silent agreement that maybe you two were going to drop the movie for a little “deep talk” moment.

“my dad went m.i.a., well, sort of did, on my mom.” she began, you sat cross-legged beside her, reaching for her hand to play with while she muttered a quick ‘thanks’. it was your little show of comfort. 

her parents was a subject that you two didn’t bring up very often. she’d mention them once in a while, like when you were preparing a dish that reminded her of her mom’s cooking, or when you came over to help fix hyein’s bike like her dad used to do for her. but it was never in the subject of the divorce. you two always had more to talk about when you were together anyways.

“he lost a lot of the money in their savings, and he’d never talk to my mom about it thinking he could cover it up soon enough. mom was convinced he was cheating and was sending money to another girl. even after my dad explained everything she just… went and did what she did. until he caught her and… well, you know the rest.”

minji was surprisingly calm throughout the whole storytelling. you figured it must’ve been from keeping it in for so long, finally letting the old wounds heal.

“wow…”

“yeah, ‘wow’.”

“i’m sorry, i just…” you paused and grabbed her other hand, holding them both closely within your palms. “do you think if your dad was honest from the beginning things would’ve been different?”

“i-… well…”

“nevermind, sorry that was int-“ you dropped her hands and ran yours through your hair, the other covering your mouth in disbelief.

“no no, it’s okay.” she reached for your hands and they were intertwined once again. “i think things would’ve turned out the same. it probably would’ve just… took a longer time.”

“i guess… since your mom practically ignored your dad after he explained…”

“yup. i believe things happen for a reason.”

“really? i’m 50/50 on that.” you looked up at her with a questioning look.

“well, for one, it led me to you.” she gazed in your eyes, her hands soft and gently cradling yours side to side. you looked at her with amazement. since when was she making the moves with all the cheesy lines?

“okay… so i’m not 50/50… maybe 70/30.” “dork.” “your dork?” “…” “sayyy it…” “…” “you know you wanna…”

“my dork.”

“hehehe…” 

with a victorious grin on your face, you pinched her right cheek, something she both hated and loved. rolling her eyes, she positioned herself to lay her head on your crossed legs while your hands automatically fixed her hair to keep her face clear.

“god you’re so-“

“lovable? i know… it’s crazy.”  

“well…”

“oh, we were serious?”

“yes, seriously, y/n. there are times i think about that night by the river.”

“that night by the river…”

“when i told you i believed in love again, after my parents. because of you.” she opened her eyes and looked up at you like you were a constellation in the night sky. eyes wide and full of wonder.

“i know what you’re talking about, i didn’t forget, don’t worry.” you smiled, tucking a strand of hair that went astray behind her ear.

“when things get hard i think of that night, and how… i don’t know. you know that feeling when something means so much, and it’s so good, feels so right, almost too perfect, you’re just scared it’ll slip away?”

“mmhm. of course. that’s how i felt about this book i was reading. things were going so well at the beginning, like it wa-… continue though.”

“sometimes i’m scared we’ll slip away.”

“what?!”

“i mean like! it’s just a tiny… irrational fear in the back of my head.”

“ell… good thing that won’t happen!”

“how are you always so sure about things?”

i tell my secrets and you figure out why i’m guarded. you say,

“i get why you’re worried, okay? but we’ll never make your parents’ mistakes.”

she sat up straight to give you a proper hug, or, well, she more or less just threw herself on you. not that you were complaining, you loved her bear hugs.

“you and i… we talk things out. we work well that way, right?”

“yeah.”

“i love you. and thank you for letting me love you.”

“i love you too. so so much.”

and we got bills to pay. we got nothing figured out, when it was hard to take, this is what i thought about. 

throughout your relationship, you two came across a couple, or well, several bumps along the road. but it was always something you two had dealt with before. even if it wasn’t, you were beginning to feel comfortable sharing the weight you carried on your shoulders with minji; talking about the usual late night shifts, a terror professor, etc.

communication was one of the last things your relationship with minji lacked.

until one fateful evening, you received a phone call from your brother. one you wished you never had to hear. one no one ever deserved to hear. 

before he spoke, something about it already felt wrong. the combination of muffled sirens, crying from who you surely knew was from your sister, and conversation between who you assumed were adults, was straight eery. a shiver ran down your spine, realizing the nature of the news.

and you were right. 

you could feel your hand shake as he spoke with a stutter,

“noona… it’s about… about d-dad… h-he… he… did it to hims-himself… he-he w-went out… and to-told us not to follow. a-and, and then we- we heard… we heard a r-really… r-really loud noise… n-noona… wh-when… when are you coming b-back?”

what?

who?

how?

your father. he shot himself in your neighborhood’s park.

and you’ve yet to understand why. why he’d choose to abandon his family. why he suddenly switched from the hardworking man who’d endure hell for his family, to a man who chose to escape his troubles.

after consoling your brother and the rest of your family on the phone, you packed your bags and took a taxi the next day. heading straight back to your hometown, a much smaller and rural area compared to the skyscraping city of seoul. 

you ran straight to your parents’ room as soon as you arrived, your bags dropped and forgotten by the conjoined living room and kitchen. there was no time to reminisce the warmth, comfort, and love that came with the childhood home you haven’t seen in years. 

as soon as you stepped foot in your parents’ room, your younger sister, who was much taller than the last time you saw her, ran straight into your arms, almost knocking you over. it didn’t take long for your younger brother to follow, his added weight finally pushing you to fall butt first to the fortunately, carpeted floor.

you rubbed their backs as soothingly as you possibly could while they started dampening your shirt with tears. in a way, having them in your embrace comforted you the same way you comforted them. you shed your own fair share of tears, hugging them even tighter when they’d take deep breaths and wail.

you also needed to process whatever the hell just happened.

a few minutes later, once your siblings had calmed down, you slowly stood up from the floor and approached your mother who was sorting out papers on what used to be your parents’ shared bed. the mattress dipped as you sat beside her. you wrapped your arms around her frame, giving her a warm hug. 

her pain was silent, and you wished it wasn’t so you’d at least know she had an output, but at the same time, you both knew she held it together for your siblings’ sake. she gave your forehead a kiss and ruffled your hair, muttering a soft “you’ve been eating well.” 

she was just happy to see her baby home.

the next couple of days were dull and grey. it was the only word you could use to describe it. your mother would head out to deal with government papers, your siblings stayed at home with modular work as permitted by the school after what had happened, and you picked up a small full-time job at a bakery as a cashier.

in a private conversation with your mother, late at night when your siblings were fast asleep, she explained to you the law of debt and inheritance in simple terms. it was difficult, but most definitely much needed for you to at least grasp understanding on why your father did what he did. 

“i know what your first thoughts were going to be. and he wasn’t being a selfish person, y/n. he never was and he never will be. in this province specifically, debt isn’t passed down to your heirs. your father… he… he borrowed a lot of money, y/n. and we thought we could pay it back over the agreed 3 years. it was taking longer than expected, and they began looking for your dad with threats that… i’d rather not share with you.”

“wait what? what about the money i’ve been sending? did it help? did you use it?”

“of course we did, y/n. we don’t want your hard work going to waste. we used it for yoonseo and junseo’s tuition. there was an increase that wasn’t in our… scope.”

“fucking school…”

“hey… listen. do you understand things a little better now?”

“…yes.”

“repeat to me what you understand.”

“dad… didn’t want them coming after me… us.”

“yes.”

“i… i don’t understand how you’re so… calm about it right now, ma. did you know? did he tell you he would?”

“he didn’t. we fought about it, actually. i couldn’t believe all that… nonsense he was saying.”

“oh… i’m sorry. i’m sorry i thought he-“

“it’s okay, y/n. and i know you. i know you, yoonseo, and junseo. it’s okay to not be okay right now. i want you to feel that. let it out. cry, scream, take a walk, do anything. let the pain pass through. i’ll be here to make sure you’ll be alright.”

“but we want to be here for you too ma…”

“you will be there for me when you feel better. but right now, you’re my children, and i’m your mom. i want to make sure you’re okay first.”

and for the rest of the night, you silently wept against your mother’s shoulder as she held you tight against her chest, the same way she did the day you were born. you were always your mother's child at the end of the day.

since the day you left til that night, your focus was on yourself and your family. comforting your siblings when your mom couldn’t, helping around the house, and searching for more jobs dirt-paying jobs you could take, for you didn’t care as long as it’d help fill the gap your father left.

your focus was solely on the grief held over yourself and your family, that somehow, you had completely forgotten about your life in the city.

the life with kim minji in it.

on her side of the world, minji was struggling. newjeans was still a popular and well-received group with global success, but their growth was exceeding expectations, and that meant that the hate wave had only gotten stronger.

as their leader, minji was the supporting pillar, the foundation of sanity for the rest of the girls. when one of them had the need to cry or rant, they’d go to her, and she’d hold that responsibility willingly out of love and care for them.

but newjeans’ leader minji, is human. 

newjeans’ leader minji, is kim minji. 

a 20-year-old girl facing the world’s backlash and carrying the weight of her members’ hurt alongside her own on her back.

she wasn’t meant to deal with all of that alone.

where was kim minji’s supporting pillar? where was her foundation of sanity? 

where were you?

where were you when she needed you the most?

and i remember that fight, 2:30 am, ‘cause everything was slipping right out of our hands. i ran out, crying, and you followed me out into the street. 

things have calmed down a bit. you and your family decided it was best for you to go back to the city as it was where you’d earn the most for your work. you hated saying goodbye to them, especially at a time where it was best where you were all together. but you and your family didn’t have the luxury of choice. you and your family couldn’t afford to lose the opportunity.

on the 2-hour long taxi ride home, you finally decided to charge your phone. you hadn’t realized how you completely deserted it the moment you arrived at your childhood home. leaving it on the car seat, you decided to take a nap to get rid of the headache that was building up. whether it was from the anxiety of being away from your family after what happened, or the pressure of having your family’s financial support come mostly from you, you needed an escape, even if it was just for 2 hours.

you weren’t sure how or what you felt. you knew most would be sad. grief-struck and lost. and you did feel that in a way, when your family held a small ceremony at the memorial center because it was all you could afford. it was just you, your mom, your siblings, and a few neighbors who knew your parents.

that was the hardest you ever let yourself mourn, the loudest you ever let yourself cry, and after that, you felt empty. your chest and your stomach ached, but there was nothing else to feel. your head, on the other hand, felt heavy. like it was rammed against a cement wall and forced to carry the weight of hardbound books. 

the moment you picked yourself up from your wallowing in sorrow, the weight of responsibility crashed into you all at once. like being thrown anvils to carry on your back, every step you took wherever you went. your father wasn’t just one of your family’s sources of income, he also stood as a figure of support for your siblings and your mom while you were away. you were angry at him for leaving you, but you beat yourself around into understanding that it wasn’t an escape.

it was about 2am by the time you arrived at the small apartment complex. an inconvenient decision that may have seemed senseless, but before you insisted in spending as much time as you could with your family before you were required to report to work the next day.

and so here you were, backpack in hand, unlocking the door to your apartment late at night.

seeing the living room and kitchen lights on alarmed you. you were sure you turned everything off before you left. your electricity bills were going to be horrendous that month.

you settle your bag down on the floor and bent over to untie your shoes.

“oh… you decided to come back?”

that voice.

kim minji.

hearing her voice again felt fresh. but it felt fresh for only one reason.

you ignored her the whole time you were away. you didn’t tell anyone anything, not even you friends in the city.

minji’s tone was firm. it wasn’t sharp and cold like the time she came over to confront you about missing your dates.

it was firm, but it was also vulnerable. the night she confronted you her voice lacked all the emotion in the world. tonight, it was full of it. you couldn’t tell if she was worried, angry, disappointed, sad, maybe everything and in between.

“where were you?”

there it was. the burning question of the night. 

unlike last time, minji didn’t bother approaching you. she stayed seated on the living room couch, her head turned to face you at the front door.

“minji, listen. i-“ you walked towards her, approaching the living room couch with caution from what you could pick up in her voice.

“y/n i was in pain… did you know that? the past few weeks have been horrible… and before i can even begin to talk about why, i have to worry about whether you were even alive or not!”

“i’m sorry! okay, i’m sorry!”

you were defensive, and it came out like you were throwing around apologies for a band-aid solution, when that really wasn’t the case. you just didn’t have it in your heart to tell her what happened.

“we had to cancel 2 fansigns because of threats we were getting, did you even know that, y/n?”

no, you didn’t. you weren’t aware of how far your girlfriend’s career had gone for the group to be receiving that kind of treatment. even before your dad passed.

“…no.”

“and that’s just… the tip of the fucking iceberg… so i ran here thinking i’d find you. because, y/n, i know for a fact you’re my safe place. but you weren’t even fucking there…”

“i’m sorry…” you muttered, your hands clasped together as you stood in front of her.

“you weren’t answering calls, you weren’t responding to texts. from me or any of the girls! i asked my manager to get in contact with your coworkers! fuck, i even asked some of our high school friends… but none of them knew where you were! do you know how sick my stomach felt?” she looked up at you with tears in her eyes. one of the few times you���ve ever seen her cry, and somehow, it always had something to do with you.

it made you feel sick.

“i’m so sorry…”

“and before you fucking arrived, for a moment i really thought you were going to just leave everything like my dad.”

after all the pain she’s shared with you?

“minji i-“

“but a part of me knew, or wanted to know you’d never do that. like you said, ‘we’d never make my parents’ mistakes’. but in that moment it felt like you did. like we did.”

“i’m sorry… i wasn’t thinking…”

“i think we need a fucking break y/n.”

she stood up.

what?

“w-what? minji what do you mean w-why a-“

“this isn’t the first time you just disappeared on me, don’t you get it? the first time it happened i had to confront you because otherwise you’d just let it slide and it’d probably happen again within the next few months.”

she walked to the dining room, away from the living room. it was closer to the apartment entrance.

“that’s not true.”

“when i told you about my parents, it was because i thought i had finally found something different with you.”

“and we did! we are! we’re not like them…”

she stood by the door, hand on the knob.

“you keep disappearing on me, y/n. i don’t know what to believe anymore.”

and just like that, she dropped the spare keys to your apartment on your kitchen counter, and left your apartment unit. 

you knew better than to let her go. you knew better to let the love of your life go. you knew better than to let her, a celebrity, run out in the middle of the night, with no security, and god knows who or what out in the streets of the area you stayed in.

braced myself for the goodbye, ‘cause that’s all i’ve ever known. 

for minji, she had no idea what she was doing, but she knew couldn’t take another second in your damned apartment. the apartment she stayed in the weeks she was waiting for you to come back. it reminded her of the times she felt like her mom, desperately waiting for her dad to come back to her. it reminded her of how she felt like her dad during the first month of the divorce, and how he kept his hopes high telling her and her brother that things would get better because their mom would always come back, when she didn’t. she hated that apartment because it reminded her of why she hated love. why she stopped believing in love.

she hated that apartment because it was yours, and you showed her how to believe in love again, and you made her believe you two would be different. 

if that was so, then why did you leave her feeling like things were going to end the same way her parents did?

she couldn’t take it anymore. how could she fully commit to someone who’d leave her out of the loop. someone who can’t at least try to share part of their world with her. someone who, after seeing all the sides and versions of her, could still get up and leave without a word.

you cursed under your breath for minji being so long-legged. it didn’t take long for her to get to your apartment building’s lobby, but timing was by your side. for once, it felt like maybe the world wasn’t against you.

the scene was cinematic. you grabbed her wrist from behind her, and pulled her by the arm, back towards you. back to you where you knew she belonged.

“i’m sorry, and i promise i’ll tell you everything. and i know i left with no warning, no sign. i know that it was best to tell you. but i promise i wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t something as serious as that.”

you gently reached over to hold her other hand in yours. hopefully it was enough to not have her run away again.

“i don’t know how many sorry’s i have left in me, but whatever that amount is, i know, won’t be enough. but please, minji, i’m begging you now, please don’t leave. i know it’s been hard, it’s been difficult for me too. fuck, it’s been hell the past few weeks and not a single second of it has felt real, but i need you. i need you to stay.”

you took a deep inhale. you hadn’t realized you weren’t breathing throughout your mini speech. 

“because right now it feels like i’ve lost everything, and i can’t take it if i lost you. and i know… i know, i sound like a guilt-tripping asshole right now but that’s really... you mean a lot. you mean so much… you mean so fucking much to me, minji, and i know that’s not what you felt when i disappeared, but it’s the truth, and i-“

your legs gave in. you were exhausted, but you weren’t going to stop until you knew she’d stay.

you knelt on the floor, in front of her, holding her hands above your head.

god, you looked so ridiculously desperate. but you didn’t care. not an inch of your body felt a bit of shame. you knew minji was worth everything you had.

“i love you. i love you. i love you so much. and i don’t know how else to say this without sounding like a fucking asshole, but i know you love me too, and i just need you to hear me out, before you decide to leave. and if you still want to go after, then i-. i wouldn’t blame you, and i’d let you, but please… please.” you whispered out the last of your words, your sobs echoing through the empty, dim-lit lobby.

she’d never seen you like this before. 

not once in the several years of being your friend or your girlfriend.

and you were right, she loved you so much. just as much as you did her.

and that was enough for her to listen.

“get up.” she spoke so softly, you could’ve missed it if you weren’t listening for any response.

you scrambled, shuffled onto your feet, and finally came face-to-face with the girl you loved.

it took everything in you to not hold her, kiss her, and comfort her, when you knew you were the cause of her pain and suffering.

but if god made angels roam earth, you were convinced minji was one of them.

she almost catapulted towards you, causing you to stumble backwards until your back met a wall. your arms automatically wrapped around her waist, like it was second nature, or maybe because it was.

you heard her sobs, and you ran your fingers through her hair like she’d do for you. rub her back comfortingly like when you held your siblings in your arms, her tears dampening your clothes the same way theirs did.

you let her be, and waited patiently until she decided to speak. her face rested against your shoulder so her voice was slightly muffled, 

“i thought you’d leave.”

you felt your chest tighten in guilt.

“i thought i did something wrong, or that you were tired of me. tired of dating someone with a job like mine, packed up, and left.”

then, you took me by surprise. you said,

“i’m sorry i made you feel that way.”

you kissed the top of her head and rested your cheek against it.

“never again. i promise, and i say it out loud this time.  i’ll never leave you alone.”

[padfootagain]

Only an Almost (IV)

Chapter 4: First Time

Hello!! Here is a new chapter! This is one includes sexual themes, even if no explicit descriptions, so no minors here, please!

I hope you’ll like this chapter! Please, tell me what you think!

*************************************

Pairing: Hozier x fem!reader, friends with benefits AU

Warning: No explicit smut or nsfw content, but there are sexual themes and heavy make-out sessions (it’s a friends with benefits AU, I can’t really escape it), so 18+ only!

Summary: Andrew has been in love with you for years, and yet he has never confessed his feelings. But a night out celebrating the engagement of his best friend changes everything. However, you don't seem ready to be with him just yet. You make him an offer that he can't refuse... but will certainly regret.

Word Count : 2435

Masterlist for the series – Hozier’s Masterlist – Main Masterlist

Andrew and you didn’t see each other for a few days. You were both busy with work, and an impending fear seemed to hang above the two of you. You were both happy to pretend that you didn’t have time to see each other, it was easier to tiptoe around the line of friendship rather than to cross it for good.

But then Saturday arrived, and with it Andrew’s promise to help you move furniture around your house. You were buying a new bookshelf, and needed to move a couple of things to accommodate the larger shelves.

It was raining, for a change. When Andrew knocked on your door, his hair was curlier than ever, and on its way to get properly drenched. Luckily, you hurried to let him inside the warmth of your house.

“Alright, muscles! Let’s get you dry and warm, and then you can show all that manly strength of yours!” you joked, making Andrew laugh before you had even closed the door behind him.

“Yes, ma’am. I am but your humble servant today.”

It was your turn to laugh. You walked to your kitchen to start a kettle, while Andrew was ridding himself of his wet shoes and coat.

“So, how many muscles will be pulled today?” he asked, walking into your living room to assess the work to be done for the afternoon.

You appeared soon after, carrying two cups of tea; you handed him the one containing two teabags.

“We need to move the sofa, the coffee table, and all the furniture set against this wall,” you explained. “Once that is done, we need to pick up my bookshelf at the shop, and bring it home. We can set up everything now, it shouldn’t take too long.”

“Last time we’ve tried to build a piece of furniture together was at Jon’s, and it took us three hours… I expect to be free at nightfall,” Andrew pointed out, but you shook your head.

“No, don’t worry about that. I can assemble the bookshelf on my own.”

Andrew raised a surprised eyebrow.

“You don’t want any help?”

“I can do it.”

“I know you can… I’m asking if you want help.”

“I don’t want to bother you…”

But he merely let out a laugh.

“When did you decide to stop being insufferable?” he joked, making you roll your eyes. “Y/N… I’m here to help, so let me help.”

You grew a little shy, and Andrew tried to ignore the way it made his heart inflate, warmth spreading in his chest at the sight.

“You’re sure?”

“Of course!”

He drank a little bit of tea, before rolling up his sleeves.

“Alright, tell me where we’re putting all these.”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait!”

“Pivot! Pivot!”

“I can’t believe you’ve made that joke… Andy!”

“Put it down. Y/N, just put it down, we’ll pick it up again.”

You heaved a relieved sigh as you put down the large cardboard box in your hallway. You took a couple of deep breaths, trying to slow down your heart.

You caught Andrew rubbing his back as you turned to him.

“Okay, next time I need help with something like this, I’ll ask someone my height. Are you okay, Andy?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?”

“Of course. You should close your door, and then we’ll lift this up again and get it safely to your living room.”

You managed to get the box in the right room on your second attempt, even if your arms and hands were sore by now.

Building the bookshelf was quicker than expected, thanks to Andrew’s help. He heaved a content sigh once you were finally done.

“Not too bad!” you nodded, an excited smile on your lips.

He leaned back on his hands, admiring your work. You were both sitting on the ground, in the mess of cardboard and spared screws that came with building furniture.

“So… that means…”

“I can buy so many more books…”

He let out a bright laugh, shaking his head at you with a fondness that made you look away.

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Hey! How many books did you buy last time we went to the bookstore together?” you asked back, making him roll his eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll have you know my purchases were perfectly legitimate.”

“The first two, maybe. Not the six that came next…”

Andrew laughed again, he couldn’t help it. And it made you break your act, the most beautiful sound in the world…

“Alright, alright. I might have a bit of an addiction.”

“Want some tea before you go?”

“You don’t want help organizing your brand-new shelves?”

“I reckon I’ve bothered you enough for one day.”

“God, stop saying that,” he mumbled, a tinge of annoyance in his voice. “You’re never bothering me, Y/N.”

You gave him a smile, the kind that made his heart melt, that illuminated his entire world…

… Christ, he was such a desperate case.

“Even when I steal all your chips?”

It made him laugh again, of course, even if it was silly. Perhaps because it was silly. You were adorable like this, sitting on the ground with pieces of cardboard all around, your hair a mess and wearing your most comfortable clothes. Domestic. That’s how the scene looked. It could have been a moment held in a shared home…

He wanted to make a snarky remark, but his heart was too soft, too warm, a little too painful as well.

“Even when you steal my chips.”

Your smile grew more mischievous, and Andrew’s gaze lingered on your lips.

“Now that you’ve admitted that, you’ll never get the chance to eat chips ever again.”

You both chuckled at that, and Andrew leaned closer to you without noticing, sitting straighter again. He didn’t pay attention to the way you leaned closer as well.

“Alright, that is too much. I like you enough to concede… 1% of my chips. Not one more.”

“One?! And you say you like me?” you huffed. “I deserve at least 25% of your chips.”

“You’re never getting one-fourth of my chips. Have I never mentioned that chips are my passion in life? You’ll get 5%.”

“20%.”

“I won’t go above 7%.”

“Come on, 10%...”

You leaned even closer, so close your shoulder was brushing his arm. So close, he could feel the warmth of your breath on his chin as he bent down a little.

He struggled to swallow. The thought crossed his mind that you were barely a breath away, that all he had to do to kiss you was to slightly tilt his head and lean down some more…

When did the temperature of the room rise so much?

When did the playful atmosphere turn into this longing?

“Alright, 10%.”

“Deal.”

You offered him your hand, and he looked down at your open palm. He shook your hand, his so much larger than yours. When he looked up, you were blinking, lips slightly parted. He didn’t have the strength to pull away, decided to let you break your hold on him. But you didn’t. Instead, your gaze dropped to his lips, and you tightened you tightened your hold on his hand. Andrew’s heart skipped several beats, he glanced at your mouth as well. When your gazes met once more, you let go of him, and Andrew blushed furiously, ready to pull away, to pretend that nothing had happened.

But then your fingers were lifted to his cheek, your thumb softly stroking his beard. He blinked at you, holding his breath.

When you leaned up, he could barely believe it.

“Andy?” you whispered, your lips almost touching his.

“Yes?” he struggled to swallow, voice low and deepened by want.

“Are you still okay with… what we discussed the other day? About… our arrangement?”

Andrew tried to speak, but he merely nodded instead.

“Can I kiss you, then?”

But instead of answering, Andrew merely closed the gap between your mouths.

It was as wonderful as he remembered, just as overwhelming, as perfect… a feeling he never wanted to end. A sensation he knew he would never stop seeking if he lost you…

The kiss, this time, quickly got heated though. Andrew’s lips had soon found the sweet spot over your pulse, and he busied himself gently biting on the skin of your neck, before kissing it to sooth the tickling flesh. You were breathless in his arms, hands lost in his hair, gently pulling now and then.

When you started to unbutton his shirt, shivers ran through his entire frame.

“Can we take this to the bedroom?” he asked, voice raw and deeper than you had ever heard, deep enough to make your soul tremble, lust audible in his tone.

His pupils were as dilated as yours when you looked at each other.

You quickly nodded, staggering to your feet.

You offered him a hand, one he knew he couldn’t refuse.

“Just sex, though. We still agree on this?” you asked.

Andrew’s chest tightened, and yet as he looked up at you, your lips reddened with kisses, a mark left by his mouth over the curve of your neck, a lustful look in your eyes… he could never have said no. He would have accepted anything to have you, no matter the consequences for him.

“Yes. Yes, we agree.”

You helped him up, keeping your hand in his as you guided him to your bed.

You were still holding his hand.

There was no sound in the room but your two breaths, heaving across silence, scattering over empty space and furniture and the perspiration across your brow.

Andrew couldn’t look at you yet. His mind was just coming down from its height, from reaching for the heavens and gently landing back into your bed, across the soft cotton sheets that smelled of lilac and you. His thoughts were still a little foggy, a little distant even, hanging above him just out of reach. The dizziness that came with utter pleasure and release was dissipating, leaving some room for the return of realisation and consciousness.

He had sex with you. Andrew had just had sex with you. You had slept with him. And God, what love-making that was…

Your hand tightened slightly around his, and he finally gathered his courage to turn his head on the pillow, blinking and then looking at you.

You were dishevelled, struggling for breath still, your eyes closed. Your bare chest was heaving; he couldn’t help but let his gaze trace your shape, the lines of your skin, the perfect curves of your body, for now still uncovered by the sheets. You looked messy and perfectly content. Glowing in some way only pleasure could bring.

He wished for this to be the only sight he would ever see from now on.

“Wow… that was amazing, Andy…”

His lips curved into a cocky grin.

“So… not as disappointing as expected?”

You chuckled at that, finally turning your head to look at him.

“Barely.”

You exchanged a tender smile, while he raised his hand to brush a strand of hair behind your ear. His hand lingered to cup your cheek, touch gentle, loving even.

“It was amazing for me too, by the way,” he whispered, moving closer, his tone as quiet as a confession.

You leaned closer to kiss him, and you tasted like heaven, something sweet and impossibly you, a taste he would never forget and always crave for…

“Hold me… please,” you asked in a whisper, and he didn’t hesitate as he wrapped his arms around you, holding you against him. You rested your ear right against his heart, listening to the steady beat of the organ.

You nuzzled into his chest, one of your hands still holding his, the other resting across his stomach where you drew mindless patterns that lulled him into a peaceful state, one he had not reached in years. He bent his head to kiss your hair.

This could work, he thought. None of what had just happened felt like a mere fling, like some meaningless sex. There had been a connection the second your lips met. It wasn’t fucking, it was making love. And now, you were craving for his embrace as much as he was longing for yours. This could work. For now, your life was complicated and stressful. It was okay, Andrew would wait for you to be available again, for you to be ready to give him a proper chance. It would be alright, all he had to do was to be patient. You couldn’t properly date him at the moment, but nothing that had occurred in this bedroom was mere physical attraction. It was more than just sex. You pretending that it was nothing more than a friends with benefits situation… it was temporary. Andrew was not fooled. You were still holding his hand. It would be fine, it was more than just sex… so much more…

He pressed his lips to your hairline.

“God, you’re so beautiful, Y/N,” he whispered, and he felt your smile against his skin.

His hold on your waist tightened slightly, before he would move his hand across your back, long fingers splayed across the base of your spine. Feeling your bare skin against his was driving him absolutely insane…

“Let’s take ten minutes like this, and then I’ll clean the mess we’ve made in the living room.”

“An hour.”

You chuckled, pinching playfully his side.

“Quit having such a terrible influence on me, would you? I’ll give us fifteen…”

“Why the rush?” he argued, his eyes closing while his lips were still resting against your skin and he breathed in the blooming scent of your shampoo. “This is nice… let’s enjoy the moment, okay?”

You didn’t say anything, remained quiet, went back to tracing patterns against his skin.

It lasted a few blissful minutes, before you were sitting up.

You let go of his hand.

“I’m gonna go clean up everything in the living room, and reorder my bookshelves. Do you want some tea?”

You weren’t looking at him, as if you were avoiding his stare. Andrew wondered why.

“No, thanks. I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, though.”

You hurried back into your clothes, and Andrew grew self-conscious, now that he was the only one still naked. He reached for his underwear as well, then his undershirt.

“You’re alright, baby?”

You finally turned to him.

“Let’s make a new rule. No pet names. Okay?”

He blinked up at you from the bed, taken aback, too much so to stop you from leaving the room.

[walkingintheheartbreaksatellite]

Hii! I hope you're having the best day! I've got a few prompts, if you're taking requests, hardly anyone does Niall prompts and I'm sad:( the prompt I have is something along the lines of "Niall is back in London after a few days away and wants to meet up with his girl but she says she's busy. He's sad but goes to his signing of The Show, his girl surprises him by queuing as the last person in line and getting a CD signed" I went to the signing and met him after 13 years of being a fan and it's made me need more Niall fluff in my life😂 xx

Welcome To The Show

Niall Horan x reader

*pic of this precious baby does not belong to me*

Summary: Y/N surprises Niall at his London signing for The Show

Okay first of all, thank you so so much for trusting me to write this for you! I love writing for our Irish boy and he doesn’t get as much attention as he deserves. Second of all, HOLY CRAP YOU MET HIM?! UMM YOU’LL HAVE TO TELL ME HOW GREAT IT WAS!!! I’m seeing him next year and I honestly can’t wait😭 Okay anyways… I hope this is everything you wanted! Feel free to request more of him or checkout Flicker!

“You really can’t make it, Y/N? I haven’t seen you in six weeks! You can’t cancel this one time?”

I sigh and run my hand through my hair.

He’s right… We’ve both been so busy that we haven’t been able to see each other, barely talking either since we’ve been on different time zones. But he’s got a surprise in store…

“I know, Ni. I promise, I’ll make it up to you as soon as I get home next week! I’m almost done with my book and I send it off to the publisher. After that I am all yours!”

He sighs and I can’t help but frown.

“I know Petal, I know. I just miss you. I’m proud of you, just wish you could be done already.”

I clutch the CD in my hand, my smile not wavering as I continue to talk to him, walking towards the line outside of the record store.

“I know, me too. But I took time off of writing when you started on the Voice! Andrea’s still mad about pushing my deadline… But I promise, this is the last in the series and I should have some time after before I have to think of something new to start. I’ll be all yours babe.”

I hear him let out a small laugh and I sigh.

“Sure Petal, I’ll be holding you to it! I have to go to my signing but I’ll call you tonight?”

I bite my lip but I reply to him.

“Yeah, I’ll stay up. Have fun!”

He hangs up and I let out a sigh.

I had been planning this all week. My book is already done, so I figured I would surprise him. By showing up out of nowhere. At his signing.

The line moves progressively slow, as I suspected. One thing I’ve always loved about him is he cares, especially about his fans, so he takes the time to talk to them. After about 30 minutes, I finally make it inside.

Paul spots me immediately and I raise a finger to my lips with a smile, to which he nods and returns my smile. Niall’s focus stays on the fans in front of him and finally, it’s my turn. It takes him a moment to look up and he doesn’t notice me at first as he takes my CD from Paul, who had taken it from me moments before.

He signs my CD with his elaborate signature and he begins to talk to me.

“How’s your day going? I appreciate you coming all this way and supporting me!”

I hold back a laugh as I respond.

“It’s going good! I just thought I’d pop in and surprise my boyfriend!”

He smiles as he looks up and his mouth drops when he sees me. He shoots up from the table and runs around it, picking me up and squeezing me tight in his arms.

“I missed you so fuckin’ much!”

I laugh as he twirls me in his arms and I hug him tight. He sets me down but he takes my face in his hands and pulls me into a kiss. I sigh into his hold, pulling him closer as our lips move in sync.

He finally lets me go, and I see tears in his eyes. I smile and wipe his tears with the sleeve of my- no, his cardigan.

“Why the tears, handsome? I thought this was supposed to be a good day?”

He smiles and kisses my hands before he squeezes them.

“I just missed you, Petal. And I’m honestly surprised to see you. What happened Y/N? I thought you were behind and had to finish?”

I smile and shake my head.

“That’s what I told you, but I wanted to surprise you. Did I succeed?”

He chuckles and nods as he wraps his arms around my waist and looks down into my eyes.

“You definitely did. And I’m kind of glad you did. I think I’m all done here, should we go home? Catch up some?”

He wiggles his eyebrows at me and I giggle.

“Yeah, we should. I’ve missed you and honey. I need my dose of puppy cuddles.”

He nods and takes my hand and I move to follow him when I stop, turning around. He raises a brow at me and I grab my CD from off the table before turning back to him.

“What? It’s the #1 album in the UK and it’s signed! I’d be crazy to forget this!”

He laughs and shakes his head. We walk hand in hand to the car, and I can’t help but feel the happiest I’ve ever been. With Niall, I know I always will be.

>>>————->

I hope you enjoyed! I loved writing this!!🥹 Requests are open lovelies!

Tag List

@be-with-me-so-happily @swiftmendeshoran

@babyiamperfectforyou @freedomfireflies

@kaminokatiee @harrysmimi

@violetsandfluff @fruitmans @fruitmansrecs @strwbrrydaydreams

@rafaaoli @kimmi-kat

[star-gazer101]

Pet Names

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Pairing: Idia Shroud x Reader

Characters: Idia Shroud and Ortho Shroud

Warnings: GN reader, Slight OOC, Uses of the nickname ‘Darling’ despite gender-neutral reader

AN: Just a fun side story, before anything serious happens.

-

Today was just an typically ordinary day. 

An ordinary day to do nothing but laze about in Idia’s dorm.

Ortho paused his current playthrough of farming dancing blobs to gaze at the “potential couple” doing their own thing.

His brother was currently raiding online with his online companion Crimson Muscle, while you were busy playing on a handheld console. You had said something about wanting to help solve puzzles with a “Gentleman traveler and his apprentice” before the new game comes out sometime this year.

Maybe he should be more concerned about his brother’s personality rubbing off on you than the other way around.

On the other hand, you both were now comfortable enough to do whatever, he guess?

Perhaps you missed a step after skipping the confession?  He really doesn’t know.

What exactly comes next?

Please don’t let it be another session of feeding his brother peeled apple slices when he last got sick…

Thankfully, you broke the silence. “Hey, Idia?”

Idia only grunted in response, his eyes fully fixated on his game. However, he was listening.

“I know we’ve been friends for quite a while, well, more than that, but…I was wondering…Would you…Would you be okay with taking our relationship to the next level?”

That…Was so sudden! You really do have no shame! Idia is choking on his drink and everything!

Better calm him down before it gets worse!

“S-sorry if that was too sudden Player 1,” You apologized as you patted his back. “I should’ve waited until you were done drinking.”

“Yeah, you should have!” Idia gasped. “What’s with the sudden sneak attack? Are you trying to send me to an early grave?!”

“Maybe?” You gave a teasing smile and then awkwardly giggled when he glared. “It’s just that…I’ve seen things where the best of friends use special names for each other. Not that I’m against our current nicknames: Player 1 and Player 2. I just want something a little more…intimate y’know?” 

At this Idia groaned as he quietly muttered things like “typical normie stuff”, but the pink in his hair never faded. “I knew I should have never let you watch late-night shojo anime…Too many unrealistic expectations…”

“He’s just shy,” Ortho whispered on the other side, finally giving his two cents on the topic, causing you to giggle.

“We don’t have to, if it’s too much.”

“I-I never said that! And Ortho, stop enabling them!”

“No promises, big bro!”

“You are so cute when you’re flustered, Idia~”

You two were going to be the death of him!

-

It only had been half an hour and Idia has crossed out pages worth of random names. Most of them were just you messing around and coming up with the cringiest of nicknames that even made Ortho flinch with how sugary sweet some of the names were.

Seriously, how can anyone call their friend ‘Schmoopsy Poo’ and keep a straight face?

“I’m sorry, Prefect, but I can’t agree with any of these. And what’s the deal with ‘Smashy-smashy Eggman’? That doesn’t make any sense!”

“Sorry. Had a favorite movie back from my world on the brain and just couldn’t help but quote it at least once while I’m here. I’ll tell you all about it after we’re done with all of this.”

Idia sighed. “How about something simple? What kind of name would you want to go by?”

You paused mid-scribble as you pondered on what he suggested. It took about a few minutes before your face burned an alarming red.

‘Quite the reaction there, Prefect. Mind sharing with the rest of us?’

“Well…There is one that I kinda want to try…”

“Oh? What is it, big sib?”

“Idia…Do you remember that one horror game with the little girl and her black cat?”

Ortho had an idea where this was going, but let you continue much to his brother’s embarrassment.

“I…would like to be called one of those names of endearment that the cat called her. I would like to be called ‘darling’ and for you to be called ‘dearest’. Is that okay with you?”

“D-d-darling…D-d-dearest…”

…

“Idia?”

“Brother, are you okay?”

-

“Again, sorry for overheating your brother, Ortho. Didn’t mean to overdue it this time.”

“Don’t worry about it, big sib. He lasted longer than his previous record which is 10% less.”

“That’s quite an achievement. Is there anything I can do?”

“Don’t worry about it too much. I’ll just put some gamer stuff under his nose and he’ll be back up. For now, just head on back to Ramshackle.”

“Alright…thanks again Ortho, for humoring me.”

With you finally out of the room, the younger Shroud could only shake his head as he stared at how pathetic his brother was being. All of that because of a simple pet name…

“They wanted me to call them darling…and me dearest…how cringworthy can they get…how lame..”

“Idia, I can’t take you seriously with that dumb look on your face.”

Only in the Ignihyde dorm would that count as progress. Best of luck to you, Prefect.

[m-jelly]

The bunny's keeper - Chapter 7

@ladycheesington <3

Levi x fem! reader.

Modern AU, fluff, romance, falling in love, Levi has tattoos and piercings, bad boy Levi, protective Levi,

In this chapter: Erwin makes progress with the mayor and Seymore makes his appearance. While you and Levi enjoy a fun day together, you receive gifts from a new admirer.

Massive thank you to @ladycheesington for helping me flesh this story out and helping with the side plot of Erwin and how the gang started <3

Part 8

Erwin fixed his hair and suit as he gently smiled. “I’m nervous. I’m having flashbacks to the last time we did this.”

Levi hummed. “Last time we saw Mr Seymore, but this time we’re seeing the mayor who personally invited us.” Levi looked over at Erwin. “You look good, stop worrying so much otherwise you look like you can’t shit.”

“I don’t know how to get rid of that look.” He touched his chiselled face. “It’s my face.”

“Think of your girlfriend all sleepy in bed wearing your shirt.” Levi smiled. “I think about my fiancée in a shirt of mine sitting on our bed with a cuddly toy in her arms asking to cuddle.” He hummed as he thought of you. “Can we hurry up with this meeting? I want to go home now.”

Erwin let out a long sigh. “So do I. I can’t stop thinking of my cute kitten.”

Levi held the door open for his friend. “It’s your reward for today.”

“It’s a great reward.”

Levi put his hands in his pockets. “We’re lucky men.” He released a long sigh and remembered something you talked to him about. “Tch, oi Erwin?”

“Hmm?”

Levi felt himself blushing a bit. “Bunny and I are engaged.”

Erwin glanced over at his friend. “Yes. You have told me a few times and others.” He chuckled. “You’re a proud man.”

Levi nodded. “I am. Well, I want to talk to you about it.”

Erwin signed in at reception and saw the receptionist blushing hard as she gazed at the two of them. “Go ahead, I’m all ears.”

Levi walked with Erwin up the stairs to the mayor’s office. “We’re going to marry after we take over you-know-who’s ownership of businesses which will mean us being rich.”

Erwin chuckled. “Should be soon. You-know-who is very pissed and will attack soon.”

“You’re right about that. It’ll be a full-on fight probably. The detectives on our side?”

Erwin nodded and patted Levi’s back to reassure him. “They are.”

“Good.” Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “I want you to be my best man.”

Erwin paused outside the mayor’s office. He gazed at his friend and felt a little emotional, it was so touching to be asked. “I would be honoured.”

Levi smiled. “Great. I’m not sure who Bunny will pick for her maid of honour. Probably your girlfriend.”

Erwin chuckled. “That’d be really good actually. Just the four of us.” He frowned. “Wait, it’ll be a big thing knowing our gang.” He laughed. “It’ll be a whole damn party.”

“You’re right.” He couldn’t help but smile more. “I think it’ll be good. You don’t mind me taking her on a long honeymoon, do you? I don’t care much for money, but I want to spend everything on her. So, it’ll be the biggest holiday we’ve ever had.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea. Go all out, five stars and all-inclusive. We’ll have plenty.”

“Perfect. Thank you.” Levi knocked on the mayor’s door before he was instructed to open it. “Good afternoon, how are you today Mr mayor?”

The mayor hurried over with a bright smile. “Levi! Erwin! Great to see you! Thank you so much for coming over!” He shook both of their hands. “Would you like something to drink? We have so much to talk about!”

Levi gave Erwin a look. “Told you.”

Erwin relaxed. “How about we go out for a drink and food? I want to show you the spots where good people have been helped by you and us.”

The mayor’s eyes sparkled. “Yes. I would love that.”

“I will lead you. We can walk and talk.”

Levi hung behind as Erwin started chatting with the mayor. Levi’s main job was to ensure both were safe and no one was coming up from behind to hurt them. His eyes moved around as they walked through the streets to a part that was once forgotten and was now coming back to life. The city was getting better thanks to Erwin’s hard work and now with the mayor joining in, progress was getting faster. Money was flooding into the gang which allowed them to help more people and improve the group.

A chime from his phone broke his thoughts. Levi retrieved his phone to see you had texted him. He smiled softly at your sweet text asking him about dinner. He messaged you back and sent words of love to you. A strong blush spread on his cheeks when you sent him a picture, it was suggestive and teasing to him. He messaged you back countless words of praise. It made him smile how you went from cute, to teasing horny, to concerned and worried. Levi let you know that the meeting was going perfectly and to shop for wedding dresses.

He sat at the bar in the family-owned restaurant. He ordered what he wanted and made sure to buy a little treat for you. He felt eyes on him, so he turned to see the mayor and Erwin looking at him. “What?”

The mayor chuckled. “Erwin was just saying how your fiancée was the brains behind a lot of this.”

Levi blushed hard. “Yes, she’s the best. She’s so smart and pretty.” He smiled a little. “I can’t wait to marry her.”

“I can imagine. A woman like that you have to keep with you for eternity and make sure she knows how precious she is.”

“I let her know every day.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I do a lot of this for her. Before her, I was just helping Erwin when I could and kept to myself. When she came into my life, she made me see how incredible friendship and community can be. I have made countless friends, had a lot of laughs and so many memories that will last a lifetime.”

The mayor pointed. “Now that, that right there is true love and why I trust you both so much.” He hummed a laugh. “The day you worked on that park together and I saw how you were with your partners, along with the people it made me see that I could trust you both.”

“We appreciate the trust.”

He pointed to a little takeaway container. “This for your Mrs?”

Levi nodded. “Yes. Wherever I go, I get something for her. She tells me I don’t need to, but I can’t help myself. I can’t stop thinking about her.”

“You two going to have kids?”

Levi smiled softly as he thought about having kids with you. “Yes. When things are better for us though. Priority for us is safety and being financially happy. Mr Seymore is making this city too dangerous. I have to make sure my beautiful bunny is safe.”

The mayor hummed with a smile. “So perfect.”

Levi stood up. “We should get moving, we’re slowly being surrounded.”

“How do you know?”

Erwin chuckled. “Levi is one of the best in my team. He can protect anything.”

The mayor marvelled at Levi. “Impressive!”

Levi slipped out of the building first and glared at a man leaning against his car, he was one he beat up at the theme park. So, as soon as the man saw Levi he hurried back into his car. Levi clicked his tongue. “Seems like we’re okay for now. We should head back to the city hall.”

Erwin slipped past. “You’re right, we’ll head back now.”

The mayor walked to Erwin’s side and moved back through the city to the city hall. “Oh, that’s an expensive car.”

“Looks like he is facing us.”

Francis Seymore climbed out of the car and glared at Erwin. Francis was an older gentleman, stocky in build with slicked-back hair that was dyed black to hide his age. “Mayor, good to see you. I was wondering if we could have a meeting.”

The mayor looked at his watch. “Mm, I am too busy I’m afraid. Call my sec and we’ll try and arrange something.”

He moved closer to Erwin. “So, you’re the little puppy that’s been nipping at my ankles, huh?”

The mayor chuckled. “I think he’s done more than nip.”

Francis stepped up to Erwin. “If you had any sense, kid, you’d step away now before you lose the people you love.”

Erwin held his head high. “Fear looks good on you, Francis.”

Francis snarled. “That’s Mr Se…” His eyes widened when he saw a beautiful woman hurrying over. “Who is that?”

Levi lowered his guard and turned to see you hurrying over with a smile. He opened his arms to you. “Bunny.”

You jumped into Levi’s arms. “Hi, grumpy.”

Levi squeezed you. “What are you doing here?”

You dropped to your feet and gazed at him with loving eyes. “I wanted to walk you home. Plus, you said you would be home about 20 minutes ago and I started to worry.” You gasped and fiddled with your bag. “I also went to a wedding place and found a collection of pretty dresses!”

“Oh really? Well, we’ll look at them together later tonight.” He caressed your cheek. “We need to get home though.”

You hugged the magazine. “Did I come at a bad time?”

He felt his heart throb when he saw the sad look you gave him like you were getting ready to be shouted at. “It’s okay, just someone bad turned up.”

You peered around Levi to see Francis was looking at you the way Levi did when he first fell for you. “Oh…him…I understand.”

Francis moved past Erwin and over to you. “Hello.”

You gazed up at him. “Umm…hi?”

He grinned at you. “I’m Francis Seymore, but you can call me Francis.”

You pulled a face. “How can I help you, Mr Seymore? Do you have business with my fiancé?”

“I was just wanting to talk to the mayor about a few things.” He frowned. “You are linked with these two?”

You nodded and hugged Levi’s arm. “I’m marrying this handsome man.” You leaned up and kissed him. “He’s the love of my life.”

Levi tapped his forehead against yours. “And you’re mine, my darling bunny.”

Francis sneered. “You deserve better.”

You frowned and glared at him. “Says who? You don’t know me. I do know you and you make this city sick.”

He gasped in horror. “I can fix it!”

The mayor cleared his throat. “Erwin, it has been a great talk.” He shook Erwin’s hand. “Thank you for today, I will let you know about our next meeting. Levi, you too. I would shake your hand, but it seems you have your hands full. Go home and enjoy time with your fiancée.”

Levi picked you up making you giggle. “Oh, I will.”

You hummed with happiness. “You coming Erwin?”

Erwin walked over. “Yeah, I’ll walk with you both.”

Seymore hurried after you. “Wait! I want to talk to you more. Such a pretty thing.”

You stuck your tongue out at him. “Weird old man!”

He gasped. “I can show you how wonderful I am.”

“Why would I want you when I have Levi? Plus, you deal with drugs. I hate that.” You gazed at Levi. “I cooked your favourite at home.”

Levi smiled. “Favourite? Anything you make is my favourite.”

You laughed a little. “You’re cute. You will get many kisses tonight.”

“Fuck yes.”

You played with Levi’s hair as leaned against you and played Elden Ring. The two of you loved playing it and you hoped that one day you’d be able to afford another gaming system and TV so you could play together. You adored how Levi went for silly names and pure strength build, he was just a powerhouse not to be messed with.

You leaned and looked at his face. “You want a homemade pizza roll?”

Levi brightened up. “Please. You really are incredible. I can’t believe you made them.”

You fed one to Levi. “I just hope they’re good.”

“They’re delicious.” He hummed in delight. “Mm, so good.”

You gazed down at your fiancé and admired him in a tank top to combat the heat of the summer, as well as comfy jogging bottoms. You liked both because it didn’t leave much to the imagination. You kissed the top of Levi’s head and knew he was very comfy using your boobs as pillows. You felt so in love with the man lying against you.

Levi leaned his head back and looked up a little. “You okay bunny? You want my attention?”

You hummed a laugh.  “Your attention is nice, but I just enjoy watching you. You play this game so well. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you.”

You leaned and kissed him on the lips. “I love you.”

“Love you always.”

You pushed your fingers in his hair and massaged deeply. Recently, Levi had his hair cut and it was this perfect undercut that you knew he would have for the rest of his life. You loved it so much because the hair was thick on top, and then you had the buzzcut under. “So handsome.”

Levi blushed. “Thank you.”

You purred. “I just want to eat you up!”

Levi whined a bit. “You’re flustering.”

You giggled. “Sorry, are you losing focus?”

“A little.”

“Want me to move?”

He pouted. “No.”

“So, you don’t want me to move but I am distracting, hmm?”

Levi rolled over in your arms and pressed his face against your boobs. “So mean to me.”

You massaged your fingers in his hair. “I am. I enjoy making you a gooey cute little squeeze bear.”

Levi released a long sigh. “Mm, can we snuggle for a bit?”

“Of course. You sure you want to stop playing Elden ring?”

He leaned up. “You’re more fun.”

You gasped at him. “That’s a big statement. That game is supposed to be one of the best.”

Levi bit the top of your breast. “You’re better.”

“Gamers of the world would have your head for that.”

“Well, they have never had the joy of being in love with you, listening to you, talking to you, touching your boobs or being balls deep in you and filling you with cum.”

You felt your heart race. “Levi!”

“What?” He growled and nipped your neck. “It’s true.”

“You’re so naughty. I can’t believe you said that.”

He leaned up and kissed you. “If you want me to stop saying things like that, then give me something to shut me up.”

You huffed. “You wanna play it that way, huh?”

“I do.”

You tackled him to the floor with a little cute war cry. “Surprise attack!”

Levi laughed at you before rolling over and pinning you under him. “You’re not going to win!”

You wrapped your legs around him and clenched tightly causing him to moan. You rolled over onto him and locked hands with him. “I know your weaknesses!”

Levi smirked. “What are they?”

“Every inch of my body!”

“You’re right!” He pulled your arms apart making you gasp when your lips were inches from yours. “I know yours though.” He moaned your name making your heart race and arousal shoot through you. “Good girl.”

You squeaked. “No fair!”

He laughed. “I will win.”

You growled. “Not so fast!” You licked his neck making him shiver and release you. “Got you!”

Levi rubbed his neck. “You’re sneaky.” He sat up and stared at you. “I will get my revenge, little bunny.”

You giggled as you slid on the floor. “Bring it, grumpy.”

Levi tackled you this time and then playfully rolled around on the floor with you. “I’ve got you, bunny.”

You dove at him. “Secret weapon!” You lay against Levi with your boobs on his face. “Booby attack.”

Levi hummed in happiness as his hands ran up your back, his voice a little muffled. “I am happy to give up if you stay like this.”

You leaned up and looked down at him as he whined. “Wouldn’t you prefer kissing?”

He wrapped his arms around you and rolled onto you. “I would love kissing.” He purred as his lips moved against yours. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” You moaned as Levi’s tongue moved with yours and his hands massaged your body. “Levi?”

Levi kissed your neck before leaning up and looking down at you. “Yes, my little bunny?”

You pouted a bit. “Could you help me play Elden Ring? I want your wonderful guidance. I’ve always wanted to try a different class I’m not used to and I want you to guide me.”

Levi’s eyes sparkled. “Yes! I would love to!” He sat up and dragged you onto his lap so your back was against his. “Let’s get started!”

You giggled as Levi held you from behind and chatted to you about the game, you just loved how he explained it to you. He never once talked down to you or made you feel stupid, it was pure loving guidance from him. He even told you where cute outfits were and pretty weapons. When you beat characters you felt so excited. At each point you got to in the game, Levi supported you.

You paused the game when someone knocked at your flat door. “Grumpy?”

Levi kissed your cheek. “I’m not expecting anything. Give me a moment.” He grabbed his knife and moved closer. He sternly said your name. “Bathroom.”

You nodded and ran to the bathroom and hid. “Be safe.”

Levi stepped to the side just in case someone shot through the door. He unlocked it and moved the door open a little to see it was a delivery man. “Tch, we didn’t order shit.”

The delivery man looked down at the box and the flowers. “Sorry, sir.” He read your name on the box. “That’s the name on everything.”

“Who sent it?”

He gulped hard. “Mr Seymore?”

Levi snarled. “She doesn’t want it.”

The man looked scared. “You want me to give it back? But…but…”

You walked over and rubbed Levi’s back. “Levi, Mr Seymore won’t be very forgiving compared to you and Erwin. We can take it and burn it or maybe donate it.”

Levi released a long sigh. “We’ll take it. You’re lucky my fiancée is so sweet.”

You helped Levi bring in the massive bunch of flowers and box. “I’ll open it and see what’s in the box.”

Levi paced a little like a pissed-off wolf trying to protect his mate. “Tch, sure.”

You used Levi’s knife to open it up and see it was full of different gifts – chocolate, sweets, cookies and cuddly toys – all of them were expensive. “Hmm…how about we take these to like a nursing home? This stuff is room rich in flavour for kids.”

Levi gazed into the box. “Huh, yeah that’d be good. Plus, it’s always good to get old people on our side.”

You giggled. “You’re right.”

He picked everything up and sighed. “Shall we go?”

You stared at him. “You might want to change. Jogging bottoms leave little to the imagination.”

He put everything down. “You’re right.”

You hummed a laugh before joining him in changing. You made sure to wear something pretty and soft. You admired Levi’s in his summer outfit. “So handsome.”

Levi smiled at you. “Thank you. You look very cute.”

You blushed. “Thank you. You know I think lots of old ladies will be all over you today.”

Levi grabbed the gifts. “Please protect me from them.”

“I promise!”

The two of you walked out of the apartment and through the streets, it was clear you were being followed by someone hired by Mr Seymore, but they weren’t there to hurt either of you. It felt weird that someone who was supposed to be your enemy now had an infatuation with you. Mr Seymore was a much older man too, so that made you feel uncomfortable. All you wanted was to marry Levi and live a happy life with him.

Levi glanced over at you. “We should go shopping for a new place.”

You gazed at Levi. “I think so too.”

Levi smiled. “I thought you’d mention money worries, I’m glad you’re feeling more confident.”

You released a long sigh as you held the door open for Levi. “Well, we do need to move now I have an annoying pest.”

Levi hummed. “You’re right.” He walked over to the counter. “We have gifts for your residents.”

The lady gasped. “Thank you so much. This is amazing! Thank you. I know our people will be very happy! Would you like to help us hand things out?”

Levi nodded. “Sure. We’ll stay for a bit.”

[theladyofdeath]

Better or Worse {20}

Nessian. Angst. Modern AU.

@snelbz x @theladyofdeath collab

Better or Worse Masterlist

A/N: I apologize for the long wait! Life got busy and we have a few other things we've been working on. Nonetheless, here is the final chapter! We hope you enjoyed this story and thank you for reading it, each week, and giving us such sweet comments, likes, and reblogs. The epilogue will be posted soon. x

~ Cass ~

Nesta was beautiful.

I spent the entire morning getting ready, so excited that I was making myself nauseous. I’ve never been one for waiting. Patience and I are mortal enemies. It was well worth it, though, the second that I saw my wife. She walked towards me with a bouquet of lilies, smiling brightly, and I could hardly contain myself.

And her dress.

The dress that Nesta chose for this perfect day was a garment made by the gods. Made nearly entirely of lace and covered in intricate beading, parts of it are damn near painted on. It perfectly magnifies her breasts and her ass, and although it’s not gentlemanly to focus on those two things, I don’t give a fuck. I can’t stop staring at either and I know damn well that that was Nesta’s intention. 

After I got past the dress and was able to think clearly, I delivered the most heartfelt vows I could possibly come up with. I’ve spent the last month working on them and had Azriel, Rhys, and both of my sister-in-laws proofread them. Nesta is obviously a fantastic writer and I was nervous that they wouldn’t live up to her level of perfection, but by the time I was done reading them, she was crying.

She kissed me right then and there, before she had even read her vows, not caring that we were surrounded by all of our friends and family and coworkers. It was a hell of a kiss, too. Her tongue met mine and it took every ounce of self control not to sweep her into my arms and carry her into a closed space. 

Especially in that dress.

I’m watching her now, dancing with her sisters with a drink in her hand. I can’t take my eyes off of her, I haven’t been able to since the moment she came into view a few hours ago. She’s been my wife for ten years and I can’t believe it. I’m so in love with her, more in love with her every day.

My feet are moving before my mind catches up with me. I’m close enough to touch her before she turns around and jumps, apparently not expecting me to sneak up on her. Or, judging by the slight glaze of her eyes, she’s just a little tipsy.

“Hi,” I say, grabbing her by her waist and pulling her close to me. ”Can we go now?”

She throws her head back and laughs which is one of the most beautiful sights known to man. “No. We just got here. Besides, we haven’t had dessert yet, and we all know that’s the best part.” 

I cock a brow. “I think dinner is the best part, but I see the appeal.” 

“Spoken like a chef,” she says, finishing off her drink and running her arms around my neck.

I’ve never been one to make dessert. It’s not my strength, at all, but damn it, I can cook a hell of a meal. 

“I think he’s enjoying himself, don’t you?”

I follow Nesta’s line of sight and snort. Eris is standing by the bar, drink in hand, scowling at the bartender as he flirts with one of my coworkers further down the line. “To be honest, I’m surprised you wanted to invite him.” 

Nesta shrugs. “We’ve been trying to get along better lately.”

“And how’s that going?”

She rolls her eyes. “About as you’d expect it to. Come on. Dance with me.”

I can’t say no to that. We make our way to the middle of the dance floor just as a slow song begins. Without any hesitation, I pull Nesta into my arms and begin swaying to the beat. 

Suddenly, it’s just the two of us. No one else matters, no one else exists. We are in our own little world, just as we were on the dancefloor ten years ago, just like we are whenever we are alone, as one. 

As she rests her head on my chest, I take a deep breath and think about everything we’ve been through, the highs and the lows, about how far we’ve come in a year. A year ago, our marriage was in shambles. Nesta was hurting in ways I couldn’t imagine, and while my heart was broken, too, we both let ourselves fall into our own brands of darkness. I wasn’t sure we would be able to pull out of it.

But here we are.

Here we are and I have never been so in love with my wife.

Lifting her head, Nesta gazes up at me. Her eyes are filled with tears, but they have been all day, so I don’t think anything of it until she says, “So I got a phone call earlier today.”

My eyebrows raise. “About?”

Gnawing on her lip, I can see she’s about to burst with the news. Whatever it is, the fact that she’s kept it from me until now is impressive. And when she speaks, my heart stops.

“About a possible placement coming up in a couple months.”

We stop swaying. We stop moving and I stare at her. “A couple of months?”

Nodding, she’s unable to stop the tears from finally spilling over. “There’s a young mother who just entered the program. She’s six months pregnant and wants her baby to have the best life possible, but knows that isn’t possible for her right now. We’re going to meet her next week.”

I’m speechless.

I’m rarely speechless, but right now, I have no words. I can’t stop staring at Nesta, with my mouth hanging open, as tears of joy run down her cheeks. She laughs, quietly, and cups my face in her hands. 

“Next week?” I ask, at last, and it’s nothing more than a whisper.

She nods, and her smile is so pure that it makes me weak. “Wednesday, ten o’clock.” 

“Wednesday,” I repeat, and swallow hard. I have so many emotions running through my body that I can’t contain, that can’t be deciphered, so all I let out is an eloquent, “Holy fuck.”

Nesta laughs as she nods once more, and then she’s kissing me. I take her into my arms and spin her around, not caring who sees. This is our night, and I don’t give a damn that anyone is watching. 

By Wednesday, we may be on the right track to having what we’ve wanted for so long. A baby. A family. The thought alone has me feeling more joy than I ever thought imaginable. Just when I think the night can’t get any better, it does.

When I let her feet touch the floor, I pull back to look at her and the smile on her face is breathtaking. She’s so damn beautiful and for a second, I can’t believe she’s mine. I don’t realize that I’m crying until she reaches up to wipe the tears from my face. She whispers, “I love you so much.”

There’s no hesitation in my answer. “I love you more.”

With a roll of her eyes, Nesta is rising up on her toes and pressing another kiss to my lips. “I haven’t even told my sisters. I told them the phone call was a business call.”

“We can wait,” I promise her. “Wait until we see where this goes. That way we don’t get anyone’s hopes up.” What I don’t have to mention is that I don’t just mean our family’s. I also mean our own. “Now come on,” I say, stepping back after I kiss her one last time. “Let’s go smash cake onto each other’s faces.”

We do just that and the rest of the night goes on with the same joy and celebration that has been present all day. After I shove cake into Nesta’s mouth, and all up the side of her face, we eat and drink and dance the night away. By the time midnight rolls around, Rhysand and Azriel are plastered and dancing with one another in the middle of a vacant dancefloor. Our guests have begun to leave and now very few of us remain. 

I sit between Elain and Feyre, finishing what’s left in our glasses, watching the two fools sway and sing obnoxiously for all to see. 

“I can’t believe I’m in love with that man,” Feyre mutters, although her voice is full of admiration.

“I can’t believe we procreated with them,” Elain adds.

I laugh, shaking my head. If I wasn’t so damn tired, I’d probably be out there with them, but I am. It was a long day, and I’m still not completely recovered from my drinking binge last night. It was all worth it, though. Every bit of it has been worth it.

My eyes wander over to Nesta, who is saying goodbye to some of our guests. All I’ve wanted since the moment I saw her earlier today was to take her away and have her all to myself. I’m tempted to drown myself in coffee so I have enough energy to do just that, now that it’s almost time to go home. 

Before I get the chance, Nesta turns and catches me staring. With one look at her raised eyebrow, I’m on my feet, crossing the room and wrapping her up in my arms. “Ready to go?”

Chucking, she asks, “How many more times are you going to ask me that?” Rising up on her toes, she leans up to kiss me.

I meet her halfway and answer with my lips still on hers. “Until you relent and let me take you home so I can ravish you.”

The way her eyes roll tells me that was exactly the answer she was expecting, but she says, “Let me say goodbye to my sisters and grab my stuff.”

“I’ll do the same.” She steps back, but I’ve got a hold of her hand. Bringing it to my lips, I press a kiss to the new band sitting alongside her original wedding set. “I love you.”

Her eyes soften and she pulls back into my body. “I love you more.”

I kiss her again, slowly, and she sinks into it. Before I can get too carried away, though, I break it off and step back with a groan. “Grab your shit. Quickly.”

She grins and her eyes light up, even as she rolls them. I force my own feet to go back to the dressing room and start throwing my stuff into my duffel bag. The door opens and closes behind me and I know it’s my brothers before I even turn to see them, practically carrying one another into the room.

“Cassssssss,” Rhysand grins, and throws himself into my arms, followed by Azriel. For a moment, we just stand there, drunkenly embracing, but then they pull back and Rhysand claps me on the shoulder. “We love you. We’re happy for you. We’re proud of you.”

He hiccups halfway through the word proud and there’s a good chance neither of them will remember this in the morning, but I have no doubt that he means every word.

And it means everything to me.

I drag them back into the reception hall with me, thinking they’d lose their way if I didn’t, and once they’re safely delivered to their wives, I find mine.

We didn’t announce that we were leaving. There were no sentimental parents waiting to see us off. Hell, we aren’t even taking a honeymoon, just taking two days off to fuck like animals at home and then get back to real life. So we don’t tell anyone as we meet in the front room and I take her bag, carrying it to the truck as we walk hand in hand. I chuck our bags in the back then make a dramatic show of opening the passenger door, before scooping her up and setting her in seat. She’s laughing by the end of it, so no matter how stupid I may look, it’s worth it. I hop in the front seat, the engine roars to life, and we’re out of there.

We’re passing through the main square when Nesta gasps. “You know what sounds so good, Cass? Fried pickles, we should stop at the diner and pick some up.”

It’s a damn good thing I know this town like the back of my hand because I’m staring at my wife, despite needing to have my eyes on the road. Blinking, I look forward. “We’re on the way home from our renewal—”

“And I want some fried pickles,” she interrupts, turning in her seat to face me. Her dress is a cloud of fabric on the floorboard, more dress than there is room at her feet.

“You know, I can make you—”

“No, no,” she begins, fully knowing that she has me wrapped around her finger and I’m going to do whatever she asks, despite my protests. “Fried pickles from the diner.”

I blink. “It’s almost one—”

“The diner is open twenty four hours, lucky us.”

With a reluctant sigh, and a laugh I can’t help, I turn right at the next set of lights and less than five minutes later, we’re walking into the diner. Every person in here — and there’s not many — looks at us in surprise and I suddenly feel on full display.

And I also don’t love how the guy behind the counter is staring at my wife.

We’re seated instead of getting takeout, although Nesta orders one basket of fried pickles for now and the other to go. Seeing how I’m apparently going to be up all night, I order a coffee and a breakfast special that consists of pancakes, bacon, and eggs, and we eat our strange middle of the night meal, sitting on the same side of the booth. 

By the time I’m full, all of my plates cleaned, Nesta is still munching on her fried pickles. She’s asked for more ranch twice, and completely drained them all, licking her fingers absentmindedly like she’s not wearing a stunning, expensive wedding gown. 

They give us our meal for free, as a wedding present. 

By the time we’re home, it’s three-thirty and her eyelids are heavy in the passenger seat, where she holds my hand while I pull into the driveway. I, however, am wide awake, thanks to my coffee refills while I waited for her to finish her basket of grease. 

After cutting the engine, I round the truck and open her door. Her head lulls in my direction and she smiles at me, sleepily. “Is there when you carry me across the threshold?”

I do. I lift her up, cradle her in my arms and carry her through the garage door, into the kitchen where Greg is sprawled out on the table, snoring softly. 

After kicking the door shut, I keep carrying her upstairs, through the dark, silent house. Our house, our home that’s full of love and will hopefully, one day, be filled with children. 

Maybe even one day soon. 

In our bedroom, I set her down and start unbuttoning the back of her dress. 

There are a lot of fucking buttons. 

She chuckles quietly as I work and when the band of her ivory lace thong she’s adorned starts to show, my fingers are nearly sore and I stop, muttering, “Surely you can get out of it without me doing the rest, damn.” 

“You weren’t having fun?” she asks, humored, as she lets the dress fall down to a pool around her feet.

“Who puts that many buttons on a dress? How long did it take you to get into that damn thing?”

She turns to me slowly and my eyes drift to her full breasts, bare and on display for me, nipples peaked. “I thought you liked the dress.”

“I loved the dress,” I say, and I did, even if I spent most the night dreaming of getting her out of it.

She stifles a yawn as she steps toward me and lays her hands against my chest. “There was a promise of you ravishing me once we got home, if I remember correctly.”

I huff a laugh and pull her waist closer towards me. “It can wait until tomorrow. You’re tired.”

She groans and runs her hands up my shoulders, her fingers into my hair. “I don’t think so.”

My grin barely has time to widen before her mouth is on mine, hungrily, and I’m carrying her to bed. My clothes end up in a heap by her dress and we make love, slowly, then we fuck like animals like we’ve done a million times before. It’s full of passion, longing, lust and love, wholly reverent. It’s two souls connecting, reminding each other of our past and promising each other our futures.

We have risen from the ashes. We’ve taken what was ruined, shattered, and made it whole once again. We fixed what was broken and made it stronger than it was before.

We lay awake, staring at one another in the quiet of the early morning, tangled in bare limbs. Her hair is a mess, her makeup is smudged, but I made true on my promise to ravish. She’s beautiful. She’s perfect, my wife, who is a mess of a woman. She feels more than anyone else feels, loves more powerfully because she gives that love away so rarely, keeps that love for so few. She is full of grief and trauma, and some days, self-loathing. But she is healing, has healed, has helped me heal, both alone and alongside her. Some days she makes me so angry that I want to rip off my face and throw it at her, but then she makes me so enraptured by love and adoration that I can’t even think straight. 

There is no other woman for me. She is it, my one and only, the other half of my very being, this woman that I married at nineteen. 

My soulmate.

My wife.

The mother of any children we may be blessed to have, biologically or not. 

And I am really fucking lucky. 

[mandiemon3]

The Best Revenge is Living Well- Chapter 1

It had been a few days since the Revenge had been invaded by the leather-clad pirates who were feared across the Caribbean. The initial fear and uncertainty that came with being taken over, let alone by someone as eccentric and unpredictable as Blackbeard, had begun to fade as the crew adapted to their new captors. Things had for the most part fallen back into their usual routine, with Black Pete boasting of talents he clearly lacked, Lucius flirting with anyone who would hold still long enough, and Frenchie strumming loose melodies on his lute. Aside from their pale and sickly captain, still recovering from being stabbed and tipping over his own barrel at his hanging, and their semi-erratic guest of Blackbeard, the only thing that stood out was the small, angry man who spent his days pacing around the ship, criticizing the crew on their less than halfhearted pirating efforts and barking orders. Most of the crew brushed him off, either disregarding everything he said as him being a belligerent asshole, or simply not caring what someone not responsible for paying them thought about their job performance.

“What do you think his deal is?” Frenchie asked, nodding in Izzy’s direction, pausing the stitches he was slowly adding to his edge of his trousers.

“What do you mean?” Mo responded, pausing their own crocheting to look over as Izzy paced across the deck, muttering under his breath.

“I dunno,” he said with a shrug. “What do you think he’s after with all this?” Frenchie squinted in the sun, twisting to face their friend. “Like, why is he so uptight about everything? Why care, as long as he’s safe and all?”

Mo shrugged.

“I wish I knew, babe.” They paused, stilling their hands and furrowing their brow as they thought. “I mean, you can’t say he’s wrong with a lot of his complaints about us,” they said tentatively. “We’re not exactly thriving as pirates. I bet Buttons is the closest we have to a real pirate, and he’s still closer to just being…odd.” Frenchie shrugged, resuming his stitching.

“I’m obviously not saying he’s not a dick,” Mo continued, “but he doesn’t seem like he’s enjoying being a dick nearly as much as he wants us to think he is. Maybe he’s just stressed because he knows he’s basically on the hook for taking care of all of us until his captain gets bored of ours.” They chuckled, tipping their head to the side as they looked back at Frenchie. “I know I’d be stressed if I was responsible for this lot.”

Frenchie frowned, bobbing his head into a nod. “Yeah, I guess that’s fair. It’s pretty much a miracle that we’ve all lasted this long as is.”

Their conversation was interrupted as Lucius strode over and plopped down next to the two pirates. Mo noticed the way Izzy hissed out and averted his gaze after Lucius caught it, smirking to himself.

“Hey, what was that about?” Mo questioned, finger darting between the two men. Lucius laughed.

“What, the thing with Izzy the Spewer?” Frenchie tilted his head inquisitively and exchanged a puzzled glance with Mo, who frowned with a furrowed brow. Lucius gasped in excitement. “Wait, are you telling me you guys haven’t heard yet?” Both his friends shook their heads. “Oh, well, I just learned this morning, so I guess I can’t fully blame you.” He grinned, leaning closer conspiratorially. “Fang told me that our dear Mr. Hands has quite the sensitive stomach, especially during storms. Apparently, he once really lost control of his stomach and spewed everything, and not just from one direction, if you know what I mean.” He tilted his head at his companions knowingly, raising his eyebrows.

Mo glanced back in Izzy’s direction, accidentally making eye contact before he quickly looked away. He busied himself with the ropes, but the tension in his posture and the way he grit his teeth was apparent even from across the ship. No doubt he could tell by their huddled way of sitting and Lucius’ scandalized body language that they were being told the tale of Izzy the Spewer.

Mo couldn’t help but frown. It seemed unfair to hold it against someone for becoming violently ill when they obviously had no say in the matter. Then again, Izzy was overly harsh to their crew, and if anyone deserved a light ribbing, it was him.

As if their thoughts had summoned him, Izzy finished tying off the rope he was working with, tensed himself, and turned towards the seated trio. Mo averted their gaze, pretending they weren’t staring, while he strode confidently towards them, head held high and gait even, but Mo noticed the way his hands were balled into fists.

“Do you lot plan on sitting on your asses all day?” he spat. “Or will you ever be bothered to do your fucking jobs?”

Mo and Frenchie exchanged a nervous look, but Lucius cocked his head at Blackbeard’s first mate, and leaned back comfortable, using one arm to support himself.

“Well, I’m just the scribe,” he said casually, “and if Stede doesn’t need anything written down right now, I guess we could say I just have a day off.” He smiled as Izzy huffed, his grip growing tighter. “Aww, poor Izzy,” he cooed, his voice dripping with false sympathy, “you look like your head’s going to explode. Why don’t you sit with us before you explode all over the deck?” He drew out the last few words, making his point very clear.

Izzy turned bright red as the veins in his neck raised. “Just do your fucking jobs!” was all he was able to snap before storming away, down into the underbelly of the ship, but his tone lacked the usual venom, instead seeming embarrassed and desperate to redirect the attention from himself.

Lucius and Frenchie laughed, but Mo couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. It must be hard, having to leave your own ship to come stay with a bunch of people who, by all accounts, are bumbling idiots surviving only through extreme luck. Even worse to have your own crew turn on you and reveal your embarrassing secrets. Even an asshole like Izzy had emotions, and it was clear enough from looking at him that he was not a happy man.

“I don’t feel great about that, guys,” Mo confessed to their friends, turning to them with a nervous frown. “I mean, sick burn from Lucius, but that was a low blow.” Lucius rolled his head back and groaned.

“To be fair, mate, he was being a bit of a dick,” Frenchie said, pulling another stitch through his jacket.

“Yeah. That’s true.” Mo looked down at their hands. “It just feels different to make fun of him for something he obviously can’t control. Especially because he’s clearly insecure about it. I don’t think anyone should use this against him.” “Hon, he’d use anything against us,” Lucius said, putting his hand on Mo’s knee. “We could probably get shot and he’d scold us for making a mess on the floor.” Mo laughed as the thought, Frenchie nodding enthusiastically next to them.

“I don’t know,” Mo continued, absentmindedly spinning one of their rings on their finger. “I just don’t see what good it does for us to stoop to his level of dickhead behavior. If we’re nice, maybe he’d at least warm up to us a bit and stop being so fucking mean. If we’re mean too, then there’s no chance of improvement, just a couple cheap laughs.”

Lucius groaned again, leaning forward to rest his forehead on top of his hand on Mo’s knee.

“Firstly,” he said, “how dare you call the laughs I get cheap. Secondly, some people just suck, Mo. You can’t just will someone into being a better person.” Mo rolled their eyes. “Clearly, Luce. But there’s a difference between trying to fix someone and just trying not to actively stand in the way of improvement. I don’t think he’d ever be nice to us, based on what we’ve seen so far, but there’s no harm in not immediately choosing to be dicks back to him.” “Fiiiiiiine,” Lucius said, clearly not enthused as he slowly raised his head from their knee. “I will momentarily hold my tongue so you can work on your weird little man.” He gave them a pointed look. “I can’t make any promises for anyone else though.”

Mo clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. “Thanks, mate. You’re a peach. Now, if you will excuse me,” they handed Frenchie their crochet project and raising from their seat, giving their friend an affectionate kiss on the top of his head, “I’m off to do damage control.” They winked at their friends before opening the door leading below deck.

They slowly walked down into the ship, moving towards the galley, picking at their fingers in their efforts to ignore the nervousness in their stomach. Typically, when someone ran off to hide, they’d either go to the galley or to their own private room, if they were lucky enough to have one. Hopefully, Izzy would chose the former, and they wouldn’t have to go to his cabin to talk to them.

Mo peeked through the doorway of the galley, both relieved and anxious to see Izzy sitting at a table, his back turned to the door. His form was still tight with tension, but less rigid than it was on deck, when he knew he was being observed. His perfect posture was gone, slumping over slightly as he rubbed at his face with his non-gloved hand. He heaved a quiet sigh, the sound tugging at Mo’s heart strings. They remembered several times from their own life when they would hide away, refusing to give anyone the satisfaction or leg up of seeing them upset. Taking a deep breath, they knocked on the doorway.

Immediately, Izzy’s posture changed. His spine straightened, and he moved his hand from his face to run it through his hair as he turned. His gaze darkened when he saw who was standing in the doorway.

“What the fuck do you want?” His voice was low and measured, cautious not to show his full anger.

Mo hesitated. “Sorry,” they said uncertainly. “I don’t mean to intrude. I…I guess I just wanted to apologize for Lucius. And the rest of my crew if I’m being honest.” Izzy’s eyes changed, trading anger for suspicion.

Mo stepped into the room, trying not to show how unsettled they were around the intense first mate. “Just thought maybe you’d appreciate knowing that not all of us think it’s a bad thing that you’re here.” They leaned against a table, hoping a casual stance would help the first mate calm down. Izzy’s brow furrowed, still not taking his intense gaze off of the pirate in front of him.

“I mean, you definitely still make me feel…less than comfortable sometimes,” Mo admitted, “but we desperately need someone who knows how to live this life safely.” “Not sure I’d say we live similar lives,” he said. “What with me being a pirate and you lot being a bunch of lay arounds, reading books and sketching each other all day.” He scoffed, jutting out his jaw as he shook his head.

Mo nodded, smiling tightly. “Okay. Fair.” They paused, not sure whether to continue or not. They took a deep breath, willing their courage to continue, if only for a few moments. “Well, just so you know, Mr. Hands, some of us do want to be real pirates. We just missed most of the on the job training one would normally get.” They chuckled weakly.

“M-my point is,” they continued, holding onto the lip of the table to prevent themselves from toying with their ring again, “most of us at least would like to live to see another day, and as things were going, we wouldn’t get that wish for long. I think it’s nice that you’re here. And…I appreciate that you’re not letting any of us lay arounds die from something ridiculous, which probably would have happened by now had you and your captain not rescued us from the Spanish.”

Mo pushed themselves off the table, ready to leave when they remembered something else.

“Oh, and I’m sorry about Lucius telling everyone about the whole…spewing thing.” Izzy growled lightly, lowering his gaze. “Even if it’s completely true, I don’t think it’s fair for them to hold something like that against you.” They chuckled weakly, smiling to themselves. “Especially when no one on this boat has ever even seen a real storm at sea. I wouldn’t be surprised if half of them just toppled over the sides at the first real wave, but I know Lucius and Black Pete would definitely be pissing themselves.” They sighed, awkwardly clapping their hands. “So, yeah, that’s all I had to say. Sorry that it took so long, and was so…awkward. I, uh, I guess I’ll leave you be now, Mr. Hands.”

Mo turned, heading for the door, silently cursing themselves for going on so long, when a low voice made them stop.

“Wait.” They turned back. Izzy was frowning, a relief compared to his normal scowl. His gaze was still lowered, locked on some point in space to the right of their knees. “Why do you care?” he asked. “About them?”

Mo fumbled for words. “My crew?” they finally managed to get out. Izzy nodded. “Well…they’re my crew. My team. Aside from, y’know, fundamentally needing a certain number of people alive on the crew to survive at sea, they’re my friends. They’re like my family now.”

Izzy shook his head disapprovingly, laughing coldly. “I don’t know what that captain of yours has been teaching you all, but it certainly ain’t piracy. Real pirates don’t have friends, they don’t talk about their feelings with each other.” His eyes darted up to Mo’s, his face contorted into a crude grimace. “You want my advice for how to survive at sea? Expect the worst, and always be prepared to stab first.”

Mo swallowed down the lump in their throat, doing their best to ignore the way their feelings had turned cold. “I prefer to hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” they said with a small smile, “but I can agree to disagree for now.”

Izzy rolled his eyes, sighing with exasperation.

“Just get back to work.” “Yes, Mr. Hands.”

[awkwardgtace]

Oooo 13 please!

ok so I spent like all weekend thinking about this one and it spawned a whole new world i'm still working out the lore of (thanks @alarcomet for helping and accepting my rambles) The prompt is done and I genuinely thank you for helping me come up with a new random world i'm going to use for things once i figure more out about it!! Prompt List

I was also possessed and wrote this all in one sitting at midnight my time forgive any issues pls

Big Reunions

Melody stood staring at Kyrie on the couch. He looked uncomfortable and unnecessarily still. She frowned. He smiled at her and failed to hide a wince as he waved her closer. She sighed and shook her head.

“Ok, this is enough,” she said. Kyrie gave her the same look he always did when she was fed up. Eyes begging her to ignore it all and act like it’s fine.

“What do you mean? Aren’t we watching that movie you were excited about?” he asked. She stepped up and got in his face. She could see how nervous he was.

“Not like this. You’re taking that counteracting medicine and we’re going to watch the movie with you at your full height.”

“What? This is fine! We… we’ve been having fun right?”

“I don’t care if we’re having such a good time, nothing could ever top it. You’re in pain and I’m not ignoring this. If this… if we’re going to work then you can’t be in pain taking that medicine all the time.” She poked his arm and got a shout in return. He glared at her for a bit before letting out a heavy sigh.

“...Fine. Walk with me to the door? I can’t fit in here.”

Kyrie stood up, almost a foot taller than her already. She hadn’t seen his new height in person and all the comments from her friends were stuck in her mind. How lucky Kyrie was that she was dating him, someone who didn’t get scared of guardians. She didn’t have a reason to be afraid of them, but she was scared of something else. Something she knew would change things.

She still wrapped an arm around him and grabbed his hand to wrap around her shoulder. She did want to enjoy everything before she lost it all. Kyrie put more of his weight on her than she expected. They stumbled a bit but both wound up laughing about it. A part of her wanted to be selfish and have him stay this way. She ignored that part and dragged him to the door to the much much larger house. He hadn’t even let her see it.

At the door he stood up straight and pulled away from her. Melody wanted to stop him, but the look on his face managed to keep her mouth shut. It seemed like he was as aware this wouldn’t end how they wanted as she was. He walked up to the door and pulled it open. He wouldn’t lock it, he just trusted her to stay on the side that was her size. She walked up and tried to go in ahead. His fingers dug into her shoulder, painfully.

“Wait here, it’ll be a few minutes,” he whispered. Melody nodded despite her preference to just be there with him. She was hoping it would make it easier for both of them. Once he walked through she was left alone with just her thoughts.

The stories her friends told her before she left to come here swirled in her mind. How bad their relationships went when one of them became a guardian. It wasn’t like anyone planned for it to happen, no one could. The way they hated having to lie on their stomachs all the time, or take the medicine to be human sized constantly. Most of them preferred that height now, but it didn’t change that their partner hated a part of them.

She started to pace. The relationship she had with Kyrie wasn’t like the ones her friends had. The two of them had been together for years, all her friends had only just started their relationships before it happened. She knew Kyrie liked to relax on the floor because he did it with her all the time. He would lie down next to her while she went about her business while sitting on the floor. He never appeared bothered by it. 

Then there’s the whole being the tallest class of guardian. The few colossus class she met had fingers at least twice her height. She couldn’t imagine him wanting someone that small. That didn’t count for everything else. All the other issues she brought with her, ones he always said he’d help her face. It seemed like too much. It felt like… she wasn’t enough.

“Melody,” Kyrie’s voice echoed overhead. The door hadn’t moved, but the loud call made her shiver. She hadn’t mentioned that little awakening she had either. “I’m gonna open the door now. Just… don’t move if you’re still near it ok? It opens towards me though so you don’t have to panic.”

She laughed at that. He assumed she’d panic over everything sometimes. He was the one who panicked when things went wrong. She’d solve it and later he’d hold her close while she finally admitted how horrible it was to her too. Her heartbeat skyrocketed as the entire wall started to move. This whole time she thought that it was a wall, but now she could see it was just a small section of the door.

Melody fell to her knees as the door kept moving. It was only then she understood what Kyrie meant when he told her he was taller than she could expect. He made the other colossus class guardians look small. Her breath caught in her throat as she finally saw him through the door. She couldn’t even see past his shins. 

The moment he moved she thought she’d pass out. It was so much more intense than anything she’d felt before. He’d taken a step forward and made her bounce completely off the ground. As his knee came down and collided with the surface ahead of her she bounced again. The worry she’d be afraid made so much more sense. She flushed as she realized how much she thought his height was perfect.

“I, uh, can’t really reach in there or anything. Can you… make it over to this side?” he whispered. She sort of wished he’d spoken louder. She wanted to feel the bass of his voice when he spoke. 

She felt like the worst person in the world as the things she wanted from him like this continued to grow in her mind. His fingers wrapping around her, holding her safely and firmly away from the world. Hearing his thunderous heartbeat, the only sound around her besides his voice. The only warmth she could see herself enjoying was just being close to him. At this point this change just made her love him more.

“Melody?” his voice was even quieter, a hint of fear in it. “Are you alright?”

“Y-yes! I’m coming, sorry I’d sat on the couch to wait!” she shouted. A horrible lie, but he was awful at catching anything she did lie about. It was why this was awful, why she knew they’d part after this week.

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down before climbing to her feet. The things she did fear started to race through her mind. The same protective and kind fingers wrapping around her loosely. Pulling her off the ground, up and up and up until she met his face. It took everything in her to take the few steps over to him, to see who he’d become after more than a year apart.

From what she could see the house sized to him was the same as the one sized to her. They could spend time here easily, he’d be comfortable here. He wouldn’t be in pain trying to fit somewhere for her, trying to do things the way that suited her. She couldn’t bring herself to try and look up to his face yet.

“So… this is me now,” he muttered. She just nodded, the things swirling in her mind making it impossible to look up. The want to feel safe wrapped in his fingers mixed with the danger those same fingers posed. “Am I that hard to face?”

Eyes blown wide she snapped her head up to stare at him. He hovered over her, taking up almost everything. She could see the ceiling of the home high above him, higher above her. He was massive. She was miniscule. He couldn’t even take the medicine if he wanted to, not without pain. She couldn’t imagine him seeing her as worthwhile. Not with the things she still hid from him.

“I’m sorry, please don’t cry,” his voice cracked. She hadn’t even realized she started to cry. “I’ll take the medicine again… I’ll cover the ticket home if you need. I’m so sorry.”

He was kicking her out. She was too much and not enough all at once. She tried to stop any more tears from slipping out of her. To find something to make him realize she would try to be enough for him. 

“I should have told you, let you end it sooner. I never wanted to scare you.” She snapped out of her thoughts. He wasn’t scaring her at all. Concern for Kyrie managed to clear her mind enough to remember the one piece of advice her friends gave her. Make sure he knows what you’re thinking. Most people are scared, let him know you’re not.

“Kyrie,” her voice was quiet, she knew he hadn’t heard her. She started to take a deep breath to try again, but that huge form loomed closer. The unexpected movement made her choke on the breath she’d been taking. Huge, warm, comforting, and terrifying fingers surrounded her as soon as her cough started. He was always worrying about her.

“Shit, do you have your inhaler? I’m so sorry I didn’t think it would be this bad. I… How can I help?” She reached out, setting one of her hands on the nearest fingertip. She could feel the grooves on his skin. She coughed a bit longer before managing to get a solid breath.

“I was just surprised you moved so fast, I didn’t think you could hear me.” Ocean-like eyes stared at her for a long minute. She worried he hadn’t heard that time, but the fingers near her curled in just slightly. Just enough they were touching her, enough that she could lean into them.

“Aren’t you scared?” Melody shook her head. If he could hear her there was no way he couldn’t see her do that, especially when she was a bit dramatic about it. “You’re really not scared of me being big?”

“No, not at all.” She looked away as her cheeks grew warm. She had to tell him, it was only fair. It may freak him out anyway. “I actually kind of realized I sort of… like it. While I was working with so many guardians I sort of started to think about… what if… you were one.”

Silence. Nothing but silence. She dug her nails into his skin, she didn’t care if he could feel it. His hands would be ripped away and she’d be left alone. Time seemed infinite as they sat there. Finally sick of it she snapped her head up to stare at the huge face looming over her. She didn’t expect to find a smirk hovering there. She knew that smirk too, he was about to do something that was either awful or amazing.

All too soon that face was moving. He was coming closer, the fingers around her became walls trapping her. He moved one finger just enough that her hand was stuck between the one she held and the other. She tried to pull free, but he was keeping her there. She just watched as the massive face finally stopped, he was resting his forehead on his hands.

The ground trembled as Kyrie moved to accommodate his new position. The space in front of her was replaced with more of him. When he let his weight hit the ground she was thrown up. Her hand was let go before she could be hurt and fingers caught her as she fell back down. One finger was almost as wide as she was tall. She’d never felt more safe in her life.

“So, you like me this big?” he said. His breath washed over her and the bass of his voice made her shudder. He was louder than before, but still not so loud it would hurt her. All she managed was a nod. “Do… you still want to watch the movie?”

That was the new problem wasn’t it? Even with the house set up for cohabitation there were so many places she couldn’t handle. She still nodded, just hoping it being Kyrie would fix things. What she could see of his grin made her heart melt. No matter his size he was still like a big puppy to her. She was starting to feel stupid, thinking he’d hate her. Then he started to move.

As soon as he started off the ground she lost herself. A loud scream left her despite wanting desperately to trust the hand below her. To trust she’d be safe and he wouldn’t let her fall. The connection the two had started to make crumbled as he pulled his face away. His hand tilted and she was back on the ground. Cold and on her own. Just like she knew would happen.

“Melody,” his voice was quiet again. “You don’t have to lie to me… I won’t do anything if you’re scared of me.”

The betrayal in his voice hurt more than anything he could say. He knew she lied about things, about her feelings. The one thing he’d made her promise was not to lie about how she felt towards him. She kept that promise and he matched it. They were honest to each other and she needed that in her life. She scrambled to her feet, fully aware of the tears flooding her face this time.

“I didn’t lie to you! I’m not afraid of you,” she shouted. Standing with her feet solidly on the ground she could do this. “I’ve known you for years, I’ve loved you for years. Getting a bit taller isn’t going to change that. Nothing would make me scared of you.”

He moved quickly. Setting his hands down on the ground around her. She was trapped in a triangle of his thumbs and index fingers. If she had any urge to run it was impossible, but that didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to run away from him, he was going to tell her to go. She’d known that. If she could have kept her stupid fear in check nothing would have happened.

“Then why did you scream, please don’t lie to me,” his voice was deep and mournful. 

She wanted to be hurt that he didn't trust her, but she knew this was justified. She’d lied about a lot when they first started dating. Things he found out when Caprice made her face him. She just didn’t want him to hate her. She had so much baggage, things he didn’t deserve to carry with him too. He’d basically proposed then, promising to help her carry it for the rest of their lives. Swearing to wait until she was ready to tell him. 

“It wasn’t because of you,” she started, “I’m… I’m scared of heights.”

“What?” The disbelief in his voice made her start to sob. It was a stupid fear that she intended to hide. Both of them had wanted futures working with guardians, a fear of heights didn’t match up to that. “Melody, you’re a better liar than that. After all this time I would know that already…”

“I’m not lying! I… I hid it. We wanted to work with guardians. If I mentioned it then you might have tried to talk me into something else, you might have changed your own goals. Plus you were always so happy to point out ferris wheels and amazing views. I couldn’t tell you and risk those things going away. You do so much for me…” 

She fell to her knees. Her sobbing was making it hard to breathe. She wasn’t good enough for him. She wasn’t enough for him, period.

“Melody I-”

“Now you’re so big and I’m not even a finger length to you and I have all these other issues then a fear of heights and I just wanted to be good enough for you… I didn’t want to make you put up with more problems and have to stay on the ground or be stuck with someone who you’d never be able to hold properly or or-”

Fingers wrapped around her before she could finish talking. She pulled her arms free and just focused on wiping her eyes. One last bit of revenge for how much she put him through was fair. He’d carry her out and she’d just never come back. Two massive fingers gently pinched her arms and held them down. He pressed his free thumb down on her to keep her from pulling her arms free again.

“Melody, I love you,” his voice was louder again. She shivered. He was lying now. “I don’t know what brought you back to thinking I’m putting up with you. If it’s really just a fear of heights I don’t care. I already lie on the ground with you all the time don’t I? This is nothing new.”

“Now who’s lying? How could you want someone like me when… when you’re a guardian and could find someone who is closer to your size. At least bigger than your fingers…”

Kyrie brought his face close, each breath he took washed over her. She looked away, staring at the thumb holding her down. That gave her a clear look as he used his pinky nail to force her to stare up at him. The huge face was bright red, but his eyes were serious.

“Maybe… I thought about how I kind of like the idea of being this big… with you this small,” his voice was pushing the edge of what she could handle. “Why don’t we try this a bit? I have an idea so we can still watch the movie.”

“Do you promise to tell me if you change your mind… I won’t blame you,” she asked. The calm smile from above her reminded her of the first time she told him her worries. The things she wouldn’t tell anyone besides her brother. A face that promised he wouldn’t abandon her like so many others did.

“Knowing it will never happen I will, but only if you promise to do the same, ok?” She nodded.

This time when Kyrie moved he had her slide down to his palm. The anxiety of him standing built up in her chest, but his hand stayed on the ground. She could still feel the rumbles of his movement in his hand, but she didn’t leave the ground once. She started laughing as he crawled over to wherever he was planning to take her. He laughed with her.

The deep booming laugh almost hurt her ears, but she didn’t care. She’d been so ready for this to be gone. She thought she’d never get to hear it after this week. That if she did it would be without her involved. She laughed more when he started to make stupid faces down at her. She laughed so hard she went silent when he bumped his head on a wall as he made his way to his destination.

His fingers folded over, covering her completely. She couldn’t see anything, but knew the hand stayed firmly planted on the ground. The grunts only made her laugh more, imagining him desperate to keep her in his hand despite needing to stand. He made a noise she knew was victory and Kyrie was moving again. 

“I’m going to lift you up a little, do you think you can handle it?” he asked. The fingers around her moved. She stared up at him, taking a minute to just accept that this was real. He still wanted to be with her.

“Will you stop if I need you to?” she asked. He nodded and she nodded back.

Slowly he lifted his hand up. She dug her nails into his skin, this time getting a look at the worry it caused. He stopped maybe two feet away from the ground. Then brought his hand closer. He lowered it again, settling on a pillow she hadn’t noticed. He left his hand flat and got comfortable on the pillow before pulling the hand holding her close to his face. He slid her off leaning her against his arm. Then he set his hand palm down in front of her.

Melody looked around, finding a laptop dead ahead. That was all she needed to relax, the pillow beneath her more than enough to help her stay calm. She was  safe and near the ground. A two foot drop wouldn’t be that bad. The hand he left in front of her moved with unbelievable speed pulling up the movie. 

As soon as he hit play she smiled, the hand he’d been using was set back on her legs. Eventually his thumb wrapped behind her back. She didn’t feel like enough still, but she had hope. It wasn’t easy for her to hope, but Kyrie seemed to draw it out of her. They might even be able to work on her fear of heights.

[felassan]

BioWare Blog Post: N7 Day 2022

"Greetings from across the stars!

Today marks our annual celebration of you—the Commanders and Pathfinders who’ve made such a celebration possible. Happy N7 Day!

Since we last spoke about the next Mass Effect™ game, pre-production development has been proceeding very well. The team, comprised of Mass Effect franchise veterans as well as some amazing new additions to BioWare™, has grown steadily! They’ve been hard at work crafting new characters and locations that you’ll love, as well as revisiting many that you’ll remember.

This year, we wanted you to meet some of the people leading that work, so we’re putting a spotlight on four of the team’s leads for you to get to know a little better. With every game we make, pairing new talent with veteran developers has provided us with fresh perspectives and ideas, not to mention skills and experiences built from across the industry. Allow us to introduce to you Mike, Danielle, Mary, and Parrish!

One day, when we’re ready, we’ll have more to share on the next Mass Effect, so thank you for being a part of this journey with us. It’s exceptionally exciting for the team and we’d love to continue sharing glimpses of what we’re working on with you in the future. And, on today of all days, we also want to honor the legacy that got us here. Millions of you have now experienced Mass Effect Legendary Edition, as returning players or for the first time. It means the world to us to see you enjoy our games and become part of this story.

Whether you’ve donned the N7 since the beginning, are planning to someday soon, or anything in between, it’s a privilege to see you wear it.

A few folks at BioWare and Maxis came together with their mutual love for Mass Effect and The Sims 4™ to make a little something they wanted to give to fans of both franchises. We’re excited to share that we’ll be releasing N7 Day-themed wearable items in The Sims 4 on the 17th of November. These items are free to anyone with The Sims 4. Don’t have it yet, but want these exclusive crossover items? The Sims 4 is now free to play across all platforms! 

We can’t wait to see you all rocking your Mass Effect fandom while doing incredible things in The Sims 4. Be sure to show us your Sims after the update goes live!

Sul sul!

Our friends beyond our studios have been busy, too! From the BioWare Gear store to Dark Horse and more, we’ve got some cool stuff coming your way for fans who want to add something new to their collections or wardrobes. Full details and lineups can be found on each retailer’s website, so be sure to check out what they have in store for this N7 Day!

BioWare Gear Store

Sanshee

Dark Horse

Volante Design

And for those of you looking to jump into Mass Effect Legendary Edition on PC, we’re also having a sale on the remaster on the EA App and Steam! Be sure to check it out if you’re interested.

Every N7 Day is special to us—every single one. It’s a day made for all of you and exists because of your passion. As our team on the next Mass Effect game celebrates today with you, they wanted to leave you with one final message from the Project Director of the next Mass Effect game, Mike Gamble.

In the nearly 15 years since the release of the first Mass Effect, the biggest reason we still love working on it is the warmth, dedication, and passion of this community. There are some of you who have been with us through everything. We’ve grown together, sacrificed Ashley together, (Editor’s Note: Or Kaidan, Mike! We all make different choices.) faced difficulties together…and laughed until our Faces Were Tired…together! And for those of you who are new to Mass Effect (thanks, Legendary Edition!), welcome! I can promise that many years of fun, adventures, and characters you’ll fall in love with are still ahead.

Regardless of when you joined us, through four games and more expansions, I can say with certainty that we’re in this because of you, and every N7 Day is a wonderful reminder of that. As we look forward, each week is a fun and exciting challenge for the team. We love bringing this universe to life, and although there’s much more we want to share with you, that’ll have to be for another time.

For now, there is something we want you to have a look at. We’ve intercepted some strange footage from one of the monitoring stations in known space. It could be nothing, but…

Download Video

Happy N7 Day, everyone!

—The Mass Effect team"

[source]

[catfuyus]

What if I asked to hear more Abt your racer mikey self ship 🥺🫰

noooo ! if you ask about my mikey selfship I’ll never be able to shut up about it ! 😂😂 but okay fine only because u asked 😏💕😂

꒰ MOTORCYCLIST MIKEY ꒱

The fun part about Mikey’s job is that it doesn’t actually keep him super busy ! He practices on the track a few times a week and is expected to keep himself physically fit for the other half. That means when he’s not hanging around the boys at work, he’s usually being a menace and bothering me at our shared apartment 😂 he gets weekends off and is usually home before I am. This completely changes during racing season tho !

& he technically has his own place ! a much nicer apartment in downtown roppongi that he still rents despite spending all his time in my crappy studio. I think he keeps it just in case anyone else needs it, emma & draken will borrow it from time to time, and it’s nice to have a place to crash when we go out drinking

despite him having his own place, he refers to my apartment as his, and the other one he refers to as the “spare” >_> sometimes when I joke about him paying for half since it’s our apartment he agrees too quickly and I’m like wait !! I was joking !! 😂

꒰ FAMILY & FRIENDS ꒱

we spend most of our weekends with emma & draken and babysit whenever they ask ! which isn’t too often & we’ve gotten pretty good at it x3 we don’t see takemichi as often as we see Kenchin, but when we do mikey loses it 😂 he is so clingy !! literally like a puppy jumping all over him and dragging him around ! sometimes they go off and do their own thing and that leaves me with hina to complain about him 😂

there have been a few several occasions where mikey’s asked if takemichi can move in 😂 and I’m like “when did you move in ??” but he asks again and I have to remind him that takemichi is married and we have to share custody with hina ! 😂

꒰ APPEARANCE ꒱

he definitely gets way more tattoos as a professional after dating me than he did before ! I’m tryna get all tatted so whenever I go in for one he ends up getting one too x3 we don’t have any matching ones yet but he somehow managed to jump ahead of me and got a full sleeve finished. he also has a neck tat, knuckle tats, and song lyrics script in my handwriting under his collar bones.

still no jewelry ! though his ears are pierced. he has a silver ring he sometimes wears on his right middle finger (with my name engraved on the inside) but he only wears it on non-racing days (‘cause the metal hurts his hand the harder he grips the handles when he’s serious !) when he can’t wear it it hangs from a chain around his neck x3

he doesn’t dress any better as an adult ! loves baggy, comfortable clothing and even steals my oversized shirts sometimes ! he’s always in sweatpants at home and if we go out he’ll prob still be in something he wore to the gym earlier.

we both dye our hair black & it’s always messy ! he lets me play with it whenever and sometimes he lets it go blonde when I tell him I miss it that way 🥺 dying our hair together is a bit of a bonding experience though and he always just ends up dying it again anyway 😂

꒰ DATING STYLE ꒱

mikey is generally pretty laid back and nonchalant, I think being in a relationship really stabilizes him in a way he didn’t expect. like yea he’s clingy sometimes and sometimes won’t get out of bed, but it’s a very relaxed relationship that feels very secure & safe 🥺 we hold hands when we go out, or sometimes he’ll have an arm around my waist. steals food off my plate and leans his chin on my shoulder when he gets tired. everything is very natural & supportive & I think it gives him a sense of belonging that he doesn’t usually feel outside of his friend and family group. like he used to wonder who he’d be without them, and now he’s like more secure in who he is as an individual. like he’s capable of building his own life without the worry that he might be too destructive

And yea !! I’ve been talking about this for WAYYYY too long !! 😂😂 thank you for letting me ramble on endlessly ! I just have so many thoughts about my baby in this little selfship 🥺💕 I have EVEN MORE thoughts about him but I think I’ve been rambling for long enough 😂😂

I WANNA HEAR ABOUT U & HANMA THO !! Tell me about your selfship too !! 😂

[lyon-amore]

At first sight /AU!Duskwood Chapter 1

*Stephan*

 He was in the back room, sorting out the new boxes that had arrived. Stephan checked that all the records were in perfect condition, he did not want any box to be broken. Yes, he could order another employee to do it, since he was the boss, but he preferred to do it himself. And not because he didn't trust his employees, but because he always loved to see newly brought records. He imagined the happy faces of his clients when he saw that his favorite singer, group or simply a record with just music, whether it was a soundtrack, orchestra, relaxation... made him happy with his work. See that music brought people together.

 His phone started ringing, a message notification. Normally he would wait, but he had been waiting for a confirmation since a few days. And it is when he read it, that his happiness caused him to stop what he was doing. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phil Hey! I've made it, there's a free spot for a performance at our Bar Aurora If you're still interested, the old man accepts, we've listened to your songs and we think it's perfect So if you can this weekend, perfect :)

 Stephan Sure! I checked that we could all have a day off just this weekend 😁

 Phil Oh! You had confidence, I like that ;) So, this Saturday, around eight Is there a problem with transportation? Do you need something?

 Stephan Haha, no, we have everything ready when we perform 😄 We'll be on Saturday then

 Phil Let us know in advance if you can't come, to make way for another performance then

 Stephan I promise that won't happen 🤞🤞 Goodbye Phil 👋👋

 Phil                                         Have a good day, Stephan -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephan carefully put down the records, then ran out of the back room to find his friend Klaus. Member of his band.    "Dude, dude, dude!" He ran to the instrument area, where his friend was with a client "I've done it! A concert at Duskwood!    "DON'T FUCK?!" The golden-haired boy yelled "Excuse me for a moment, business, but continue to look at which guitar you like best." he excused himself, following Stephan.     The two of them met at the counter to talk.    "Just as I wanted, it will be this Saturday" Stephan began to say ". the guy told me that both the owner and he liked our songs."    "What’s up?" The young employee at the counter looked at them "Did you get it?"    "I've done it, Angie!" Stephan yelled.    "I knew it!" The girl she left her post, going to hug her two bosses "I knew you were going to get it!"     Stephan infected another person with his joy. They had been wanting to get a performance at Duskwood for a while, they had been told that it was one of the many places that people liked to go to have a good night with friends and music. Just what he liked.    "Come on Angie, we know you're glad you won't be working that day." Klaus ruffled the teen's hair.    "Hey, like you're the only ones with plans" the girl joked ". It's a pity that I can't go to see you, I wish my parents could take me."    "Have us booked for your birthday then." Stephan told her, with a laugh.    "Like they'd like to have a rock band in our backyard."     The boys laughed. They welcomed all music lovers into they store, all those who had a dream and his parents didn't trust then. They only had one rule: No drugs. They were pretty strict on that issue and didn't want any trouble.    "And well? Have you told Ashley?" Klaus asked, leaning against the counter.    "Now I'm going to send a message to her and also to Macie, I want to drag her around so she can have a little fun" Stephan took out his cell phone and then looked at Klaus ". If it's okay."    "No, it's not a problem, you know we're friends."    "Oh, an ex-girlfriend who broke your heart?" Angie laughed.    "No, no, it was mutual" Klaus replied with a dismissive gesture ". We didn't want the same thing, that's all."    "He cried for a week." Stephan replied, as he typed the message.    "Dude! Don't tell!"     Angie laughed, returning behind the counter. Klaus glared at Stephan. It was great, now it was going to be the comedy for teenagers.    "And are you going to tell Sophia?" Klaus changed the subject, nodding to the phone.    “When I get home, I want to be able to tell her in person."     A wide smile appeared on his face. He was sure his girlfriend would be glad that he finally got that one night stand. He was really looking forward to Saturday.

He returned home and heard his girlfriend's voice upstairs, talking. She was probably making a video for her YouTube channel. Sky, his Golden Retriever dog, came up to him, wearing some sort of ridiculous outfit, a jacket with shoulder pads. He stretched out at Stephan's feet, looking sad.    "What is this?" The young man asked, bending down to him "Did Sophia put this on you?"     He began to remove the garment. When he released him, Sky wagged his tail, licking his face in thanks. Stephan laughed, stop. To then hear a sharp voice.    "Stephan! Please! I'm recording!” Sophia yelled angrily.    "Sorry!" He got up, taking the collar and harness "Come on, boy, we take a walk so as not to disturb Sophia."     The dog began to circle, happy in the spot until he sat down, waiting for me to put the harness on. The sound of heels going down the stairs was heard before opening the door.    "You make a lot of noise!" the brunette complained, crossing her arms "Can't you make less noise?"    "I'm sorry Sophia, we were just going for a walk" Stephan told her, making an apologetic gesture ". Then I'll tell you something incredible. You're going to hallucinate!"    "Okay, but notify me by phone before coming, at least to stop recording" the young woman approached, kissing him in a hurry ", this video is important, it's a collaboration!"     <<Another?>>    Stephan was hardly surprised anymore. His girlfriend had reached the top with her style and her charisma. They had even given her a little fashion interview. And he was always there to support her and feel happy that her dreams came true. He hoped he could also tell her about his and that they share theirs.

Just as he told her, he sent a message to Sophia before the two of them went back home. When he arrived, she was already collecting all the clothes she had been borrowed and putting them back in the boxes.    "What are you doing?" Stephan asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.    "I'm going to return the clothes" answered the girl, with a gesture of disgust "it's so ugly that I don't want it in my closet, I expected something better. I hope that with the video people will see that they should not buy from this brand."    "I don't know, it seems fine to me." he said when he saw the yellow dress she was putting away.    "But don't you see it?" She made a sound of annoyance "This is not pretty at all, on top of that the brand is poor, I mean, have you seen? It's for classless people. And yellow? Oh really? It's the worst color ever."     Stephan looked at the dress again. Well, it was a bright color, not a soft shade, but the frills added a nice touch. Although it's not like he was a fashion expert either. Music was his thing.    "I have good news" Stephan approached Sophia, who was still pouting "I'll be performing with the group this weekend at Duskwood!"     Sophia stopped whatever she was doing and pouted sadly.    "But Stephan, I have a photo shoot this weekend. Have you forgotten?" the young woman she hugged him, blinking as she rolled her eyes.    "I know, but I'm always with you in those sessions" Stephan returned the hug, with a pleading look ", besides, it's okay because for once I didn't go, we're always together, even when you come to my concerts. Maybe it's okay for once not to be together and do our job without worrying about each other."    "Stephan, are you ask me for space?" Sophia asked, starting to get annoyed.    "What? I didn't say that!" Stephen laughed.    "Thank goodness" Sophia sighed with relief    ". Well... I guess for once..." she frowned, annoyed "And who's going?"    "Well, the group and Macie and Susy are going too."    "And that girl from your work?" She asked, starting to look at him doubtfully.    "What girl?"    "How many do you have working there?"     Stephan began to think. Also, was is that important?    "There's Aria, Petra, and Angie."    "That one! Angie!" Sophia exclaimed "I know the other two are married with children."    "Sophia" he chuckled ", Angie is sixteen. How is she going to come with us?"    "Well, at sixteen you can do a lot of things and I don't trust her, I think she likes you."     Stephan shook his head. How could she say that? Angie even had a boyfriend and she was like a little sister to him. Someone to also teach music. And he wasn't one of those guys. He couldn't see that teenager except what she was, a teenager.    "Sophia, I think you exaggerate sometimes…"    "I'm not exaggerating, you're very handsome and attract people a lot" she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him ", especially girls, I don't like it sometimes when they look at you."    "Um... yeah..." he felt a little uncomfortable with the way she talked about him. It was as if she were talking to a little child. The same way that sometimes his family spoke to him, as if he didn't understand anything "But you shouldn't worry, we'll go among friends."    "You better..." Sophia kissed him, quickly.     Many times, he wondered at what point her attitude had changed. Was it her when she became famous? When she met his family? Or had she just always been this way but he never noticed until now?

He tried to relax, playing the guitar a little while Sky slept beside him, as if what Stephan was playing was a lullaby. It was then that he received a message from his father. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Audo Sophia has told me that you are going to do a concert in Duskwood When will you stop acting and focus on business? That's why I invested part of my money in it, so that you could focus on having a decent job. Stop acting, the music does not feed Remember that you still have a position at my law firm, and so you leave the business to your friend. I only want the best for you, remember that there are better things for the future. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 He put the phone aside, bringing his hands to his face, raising them to his head, starting to feel pain. Sky immediately stood up, resting his head on his legs.    "I'm fine boy" he caressed hisr head, and the dog opened his mouth, as if he smiled ", don't worry."     <<I can't wait for Saturday to arrive. >>

*Jessy POV*

 She had seen him again. Hand in hand with a girl She wondered if she was the one he cheated on with. If she was the one who made them break up both. She shook her head, turning away from him. It was enough that he was in a town where everyone knew everything, but unfortunately, no one knew this. Although she didn't want problems either, she just wanted to forget about him.

 She made it to her work, walking into the office to hang her bag and jacket on the coat rack before standing at the counter.    "Hi Arnold, Violet, Loki, and Sam." She greeted the fish, though not even those were they name.   Every day they put new ones on them, a ritual of her friend and her since she started working.

A wave of rage ran through her entire body. What a face he had to put himself in front of her with another woman.    "Good morning, employee fav- Okay, from your face, it doesn't look like a good morning." A young man approached the counter, wearing a cap with the logo of his business. Seeing her, he stopped worried, leaning on the counter "And that face?"    "I've seen him with another girl..." the redhead said, crossing her arms over the counter.    "Jessy, it's been three years now" the young man sighed, looking at her with pity ". You better forget it, thinking about who it was will only hurt you."    "I guess you're right, Richy" Jessy gave him a smile. In truth, she didn't even like feeling bad "Fuck her!"    "Amen to that, sister!" Richy exclaimed, raising his hand to give her a high five.     Jessy laughed and high-fived her friend, like in the movies when colleagues greet each other.    "Have you seen the group chat?" Richy asked her while he was waiting for a customer.    "Are you talking about this Saturday?" Jessy began to turn on the computer, getting ready for work "Yeah, I have no plans, I can go to the Aurora."    "It's been a long time since we all got together, as we are always sooooo busy." Richy said exaggeratedly, as he looked around, the emptiness of the place.    "At least, more than we sure are."    "Ooh! It hurts." He placed a hand on her chest, as if he had been hit by a bullet.     Richy loved to exaggerate when he was joking, and if he could make her friend forget about her jerk ex-boyfriend, so much the better.    "And do you think… Will he be there?" Jessy asked, sheepishly.    "He who?"    "Oh Richy! Don't make me say his name."    " ‘Oh Jake! Your name sounds like an orchestra of angels singing your name!’ "    "I don't talk like that!" She laughed, pushing him but without much force "And I don't like him, I'm just asking out of curiosity."    "A little yes." Richy gestured with his fingers.    "Well, I admit that he is handsome-"    "And he calls you Jessica."    "Anyone has a flaw."     The blond rolled his eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh.    "Jessy, I think that guy would rather hook up with a computer program than a real person." He began to move away from the counter, slowly ". Just give fate time and you'll see that the right prince for you will appear” he continued with a joking tone, which made Jessy throw a chocolate bar at him "Hey! No assaulting your boss."    "Well, Mr. Boss, a little more respect for his employee."    "Okay, okay" He held up his hands in surrender ". Well, I'll finish one of the cars, I'm supposed to have it by one."    "And you're here talking?"    "Because I was coming to get something from the back store." He moved away a little more. "Let me know if anyone comes."    "Ok."     Richy walked away, leaving her alone.

The truth is, after her boyfriend cheated on her, she didn't have much hope of finding someone. That cheating of hers made her feel bad about herself, as if she might not be good enough for anyone. Why would he cheat on her in the first place?

While she waited for a customer to arrive, she watched a video of her favorite influencer, Sophia. She had made a video of a collaboration that week, with colorful dresses. It was good for her to buy one to get out of it, maybe some cheerful item of clothing could raise her mood a bit. She noticed the yellow dress, with a few frills at the bottom. Yellow was her favorite color and her dress was pleasing to the eye. Before the weekend she had to go into town so she could go to the store to buy it. She had made up her mind.

She looked at her phone, wondering whether or not to ask the question. She was curious to know who was going on Saturday. She had found out from Phil that it would be going to a new band to play. She expected them to be much better than the last one they were. Or at least, it didn't seem so good to her.

In the end, she went to the chat she had with the girls. So at least he seemed less suspicious. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Jessy Girls!!! Do you have your galas for tomorrow yet? 💅

 Cleo Ugh! I don't know whether to go I don't feel like going to the bar on the weekends

 Hannah Because you know that's when Phil takes over the bar and you can't stand him 😝

 Cleo Exactly 🙄

 Lilly Sometimes it's like you really like me          

 Cleo Before that, I prefer that the man without a face be real and take me 🙃

 Jessy And you Amy??

 Amy I have to deliver an urgent painting that was requested, so I guess I won't go 😔 Still, that site annoys me a bit sometimes though, by Phil

 Hannah Oh no… I already told you, don't let him flirt with you 😩 I know he can be charming, but believe me, he's not…

 Jessy Calm down a bit, you are talking about my brother

 Cleo That brother that treats you bad? 😑

 Jessy Well…

 Lilly Change of subject

 Jessy Yeah Who else will go then?

 Hannah Dan we know that he will be working there So I guess we'll all be Thomas is coming too 🥰

 Jessy Everybody?

 Lilly Well, we're trying to convince Jake to come over 🤭

 Jessy Is he capable of resisting his sisters? 🤔

 Hannah Impossible 😁

 Jessy 😂 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Jessy let out a 'Great' under her breath. Surely there would be a chance that if they talked to him, maybe he would stop by Duskwood.

 She spent all day trying to figure out how to put on her hair, put on her makeup, and choose the perfect shoes for her dress. She didn't want to look like she had a rough week because of her ex, no. That night she would shine, like a star. She was clear about it. And maybe, she could dare to ask Jake on a date. Why not? Even if it was just one.

Her friends were waiting at the entrance to Aurora bar, waiting for her. But if her gaze were to stop at the tall, black-haired young man, he stood next to his sisters with a calm air. She smiled seeing him. They had made it out. She walked over to them, adjusting her coat and smiling.    "Hello, everyone." She ran her gaze over each one of them, trying not to stare at Jake too long.    "Hi Jessy." Hannah greeted, hugging her friend.    "Wow Jake, are you here too?" Jessy now looked directly at him, interested.    "They forced me, actually." the young man complained, making a face.    "It's already a miracle we managed to get him out of front of the computer." Lilly said, patting him on the cheek to tease him.    "Is it the end of the world?" Richy teased.    "Or that they did not stop insisting, more like." Jake replied, beginning to enter the bar along with the rest of the group.    "But yes, it's strange that Jake is here, is it a thing of fate?" Thomas continued the joke.     Richy nudged Jessy in a friendly way. Her redhead blushed, knowing that his hint was directed at her. She didn't want it to show that she had a crush on him, so she nudged him back, but harder so that she would be careful not to say anything.

 They sat at the same table as always, waiting for the group to be ready to go.

The bar had changed a lot since Phil worked there, along with his boss, Michael Hanson. On the weekends, Jessy's brother ran the place, which made more young people come. And so Mr. Hanson would spend weekends with his daughter and his newborn granddaughter. For years he had trusted that Phil could run the bar in good manners and he was right. He always kept the bar full after novel ideas from him. 

Dan walked over to the table to greet them, draped the cloth over his shoulder, and leaned against the table, smiling at them.    "How are you guys?" He asked, looking at his friends "And Hackerman."     Jake sighed. He didn't know how to tell him that even though his job was programming and security, he had nothing to do with what he thought.    "Come on Dan, don't mess with him" Jessy defended him, leaning on the table ", it's enough that his sisters dragged him here."    "Okay, sweetie, I'll stop now" Dan laughed. In front of Jessy he was weak "the usual?"    "Yes please." Lilly answered.    "Marching then."

     Slowly, the bar began to fill up. Strong drinks were not yet around among the clients, the rule was: Enjoy the music first and not three glasses of alcohol before. Since, the first time there was a problem with some drunks, which caused the police to go to the Aurora. What made Alan find out and tell his father-in-law, giving a good lecture for the young man at that time.

Everyone began to gather on the dance floor. Everyone except Jake, who stayed at the table along with his phone, attending to a colleague with a problem. Jessy watched him from a distance, which made Richy laugh.    "Did you think that he would come and dancing and you invite him?"    "No" Jessy replied, exhaling ". Well…"    "Jessy, enjoy the concert and then you talk, tell him you like it-"    "I don't like him."    "Well, stop looking at him or he'll think you're a stalker."     Jessy pouted. Was that what she seemed like? Maybe that's why he wasn't interested in her.

The lights began to dim, turning on those on the stage. Three young people came out on stage: two men and a woman. Two girls in front yelled encouragement, to which they responded to their greetings with a funny sign.    "Whoa! This site is full!" the young man in the middle, a boy with medium hair and blond hair, spoke into the microphone "I'm Klaus, the singer of The Forsaken and I'm going to introduce you who's accompanying me: To my right we have the bass player with the most musical talent, although he doesn't want to admit it because he's modest. Ssssssstephan!" a 'cheer up cousin' came out of the mouth of one of the girls in the front row, the blonde "And to my left, the charming drummer, a woman who knows how to set the rhythm well, Asssssshley!" the other girl, the brunette, yelled "You can, love." Giving to know that both girls knew the group quite well. The crowd laughed. The energy they transmitted was pleasant and quite lively. "Please, don't be scared by the mood of these two young ladies here, they are just some groupies who always follow us." Klaus joked.     The two girls complained between laughs, accompanied by the public.

 Klaus's voice was just too good, even on the guitar. Stephan and Ashley played wonderfully, and depending on what song they sang, they would switch from instrument to keyboard playing. Jessy was dancing with her friends, giving up the thought of paying attention to Jake. She also didn't have to worry about him all the time, right?

When they announced that they were going to play the last song, everyone started to complain. No one wanted them to stop performing. They all saw a mischievous smile on Klaus's face, who turned to look at his friend.    "Do you know what's missing here?" The blonde began to say "A song to dance as a couple" he approached Stephan, putting his arm around his shoulders "And who better than my great friend to sing the last song?"    "What? No, no, no!" Stephan started to say, through the microphone.    "My friend Stephan is also a singer, but like I said, he's very modest and he leaves all the singing work to me" he began to lead him to the center of the stage "What do you say, Ashley?" He looked at the curly-haired girl, who also smirked.    "That seems great to me, Klaus, people don't know what awaits them."     Everyone started cheering for Stephan, even Jessy screamed along with the crowd.    Stephan pouted, then picked up his friend's guitar. Everyone applauded and he sighed into the microphone.    "What I'm going to sing is a cover of a song by a Colombian group, but don't worry, my version is translated for you" he said shyly ". It's called 'Simplemente pasan'. Eh… ‘They just pass’."     Everyone was silent, listening to Stephan's voice and the soft melody of the guitar. Although everyone was expectantly listening, Jessy was looking at him in awe. In his voice she heard a bit of sadness, as if something was wrong with him. She didn't seem to be singing to someone, his gaze was far from the stage. She didn't quite know why, but she was sad to see him.

Chapter 2

[seblaineaffairs]

Seblaine Week FAQ

Wait, when is Seblaine Week again?

SOON! Seblaine Week 2022 will be from August 15-August 21. Themes have already been picked and dates have been assigned and they can be found here. 

Who can participate?

Everyone. All it takes is an appreciation of Seblaine.

How can I participate?

You can contribute by writing, creating art work/manips, making gifsets/playlists/ videos, really whatever you can think of to fit the themes. And if that’s not your thing that you can spread the word, cheer on your friends who are contributing, bask in the beauty of everything produced, and reblog and share all the Seblaine Week goodies.

Can days be combined?

Absolutely! You can combine any days you want. And if you do combine days you can post on whichever day you prefer.

If I want to contribute something do I have to do something for every day?

Definitely not. You can do something for just one day, a few days, or all of the days. Or, in tried and true Seblaine Week fashion you can plan to do every day, realize the week before Seblaine Week starts that you were kidding yourself, and settle for just a couple of the days. You don’t have to tell us ahead of time, so there’s absolutely 0 commitment.

Can I post a WIP or something that I started working on before that fits a Seblaine Week Theme?

Yes to both. If you start writing something and it ends up getting out of hand and there’s just no way you’ll finish it you can post it as a WIP and finish it outside of Seblaine Week. (It will not get reblogged on Seblaine Affairs after the week though.)

There are also no qualification that everything has to be new for the week or a need for a certain percentage of the work to be made just for the week. If you have something in your WIP that has been 98% finished for almost a year that’s more than fine.

I’m going to be busy/out of town during Seblaine Week. Can I post early?

No. Sorry. :-( But luckily tumblr does let you schedule posts so you can schedule the post for the right day, even if you won’t be around that day. This gets a little trickier if you’re also posting to another site like Ao3, so if this might be a problem let us know and we can work something out.

Can I post late?

Within the week, yes. There will be another post about tagging and the importance of it. But as long as everything is tagged the right way you can post your day 2 piece on day 6 and that will be fine.

What does free day mean?

The free day is a themeless day where you can post anything you want. It could be based off one of the submitted themes that didn’t make it but you really wanted to win. It could be a random WIP you’ve been working on and finally finished or just something you’ve always wanted to do. It’s just a day for anyone to post anything, really.

What does x theme mean?

Your guess is literally as good as ours. Seblaineaffairs doesn’t pick the themes, themes were submitted by other Seblainers and then voted on by the community. We have our own interpretations of what they mean but that doesn’t mean they can’t mean something else.

If Blaine and Sebastian are involved and there’s some connection somehow to the theme then we say go for it.

What is this I hear about this being the last ever Seblaine Week?

You have heard somewhat correctly, in that this will be Seblaine Affairs’ final event and, therefore final Seblaine Week. We’ve had a wonderful run for the last... many years but we are old and tired and not able to keep running this blog the same way we had in our younger years. Will someone be taking up the mantle and starting their own place for Seblaine Week/other challenges? We’ve heard rumors that it might be happening but more than that, we cannot say. 

What if I have a question that wasn’t answered here?

The askbox is always open.

[siconetribal]

The Science of Worth (Part 3)

Tags: @vbecker10

Pairing: Loki x Y/N

Warning: Fluff and humor

Author Note: I hope you enjoy this next part!

“You must be Y/N, we’ve been expecting you.” The red haired woman kindly smiled at her. There, standing in all her professional and confident glory, was none other than the Pepper Potts. The CEO of Stark Industries and wife to Tony Stark, the Iron Man. Any doubt of being given this address was long gone. She was given this address for a reason.

And that reason has someone as important as Pepper Potts waiting for me and knowing my name! Oh boy, this can’t be good. How could it be good? I’m not some super athletic sports star or an alien or someone with superhuman gifts, and I doubt they have the time to make random invitations to an average plain Jane like me. Something must’ve happened, either to Thor or Loki, maybe even both-oh no, what if it’s both?! Her mind raced with all the possibilities, round and round the worries and anxiety spun inside her head, leaving her dizzy. No, get a grip! “Ms…Potts?” She carefully tested the title, hoping not to offend her. Seeing no negative response, she went with it. “Uhm, Ms. Potts, I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I’m sure you’re very busy with Stark industries, so maybe we should just get started?”

“It’s not a problem at all. I made sure to have time in my schedule for you, but I’m sure you do want to get things going, so let’s begin.” Pepper smiled once more and gracefully turned in her high heels. “Follow me, I’ll give you a quick tour.”

Quick tour, is there really time for a tour? Then again, perhaps some new information came up? But wouldn’t it be wiser to just say it out front? What if they’re trying to see if I’m a safe person? This is the Avengers compound. They aren’t just going to let anyone in. Ok, ok, I can do this! Y/N, you got this! Act natural-well, normal. She quickly ran to catch up with Pepper and smiled. “Thank you for the taking the time, I really appreciate it.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Pepper gave another friendly smile before delving into the details of the compound. The first floor was fairly simple, a front reception area and some conference rooms for public press events, meetings, and other social functions. There was a bridge that connected this main building to another that held the workshops for controlled conditions for scientific and technological research, experiments, and measurements. Next to these workshops was a common that held a large round table, a sitting area, and bookshelves. Connected to that was a small fully equipped kitchen, followed by a few more conference rooms and next to these was a lounge like area with leather couches and tables with some activities to pass the time.

All of this was very exciting to see and Y/N’s head was on a constant swivel, taking in everything that was pointed out to her, but none of it eased the anxiety that was bubbling inside her. How is any of this relevant to why I’m here? She chewed at her lower lip, glancing at the time on any clock she saw while trying to act as calm and collected as possible. Ok, is this because nothing back happened and they wanna make up for it or did something terrible happen and they’re buttering me up? She forced herself to muster up the courage to finally speak up. “Ms. Potts,” she started off.

“Just Pepper is fine, you don’t need to be so formal with me.”

“Oh, ok, Pepper then, uhm…how is this…is it ok to be giving a tour right now?”

“Is there something wrong with a tour?” She raised a well manicured brow in question.

“I mean, nothing particularly “wrong”, but uhh…is it really necessary to be done now ? I’m sure there’s something we could be doing instead. I’m not a pro, but I’d imagine there’s a lot to go over or do?” Y/N tried to lightly tread the topic, not wanting to step out of line. Pepper stood there silently and stared at her for a few moments.

“Are you worried? There’s nothing you need to worry about, everything is taken care of. I promise, it’s all locked up where no one can reach.” She assured the younger woman.

Locked up where no one can reach?! Why would they lock him up and keep him somewhere out of reach?! “Uh, is that all…necessary? It seems a bit much.”

“Not at all, it’s only appropriate we handle what’s yours with the utmost care.”

What’s mine?! He’s not something I own! He’s not human, but he’s not some possession! Her lips curled downwards into a frown. “Don’t you think that’s a bit uncalled-for? You all asked for the help, why would you treat someone like that after trying to get what you need?”

Uncalled-for, help? Wait, what is she talking about?! Pepper once again silently stared at Y/N, this time her perfectly manicured eyebrows scrunched together and wrinkles formed in her skin. There has to some misunderstanding here. Tony says she should know all about this, so why is she so defensive. Don’t tell me he forgot to tell her! Ugh, seriously?! She mentally groaned as she lightly hit her forehead. “I think there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding, Y/N. You’re moving into the compound as of today.”

Oh , that’s all? She mouthed a small “oh” and nodded her head when the weight of the words finally hit her and she nearly fell to the floor as she stumbled over her feet while stepping backwards. “ I’m what?! ” She shouted at the top of her lungs, her eyes wide and jaw hung open. “No, no, no, no, haha, there must be some mistake! I have an apartment, a tiny one, but an apartment. I’m not someone special in any way ! Not only that, but I’m just an everyday citizen, punching the time clock to get paid and live a measly check to check lifestyle. There’s nothing I could offer or have to offer the Avengers of S.H.E.I.L.D.! Honest, I’m just me!”

Silence fell between the two women as something became painfully clear; Y/N had no idea why she was here. The awkward tension was quickly broken by laughter. Not just any laughter, a very specific laugh from a very specific person that Y/N knew all too well. Her eyes narrowed and her jaw snapped shut as she clenched it tight. Taking a few deep breaths through her nose, she turned to see one overly entertained Asgardian prince.

The other Avengers stood around the new member, barely even noticed by her. Hydra could come storming through the halls while aliens invaded all over the world, Y/N would not have noticed. Right now, all that mattered was the raven haired royal that decided it would be fun to watch her make an utter fool of herself. This was not the first time. And it sure as hell isn’t the last. Mark my words, I’ll get my revenge! You won’t even see it coming! Her mind instantly got to work on what she would do but she pushed that to the back for now as the rest of the team came into focus as big blue thing walked up to her.

“It looks like there’s been a bit of confusion…Y/N, was it?”

Holy bald eagles, it’s the Captain America! And he’s saying my name?! I’m actually here, this is the Avengers Compound! I’m here -here, she internally panicked as she blanked stared at his hand, her mouth hung open once more.

“Did I get your name wrong?” He spoke again.

“Nope, he’s definitely not a Madame Tussauds’ wax figure thing.” She thought aloud and Loki snorted loudly in response, coughing into his fist to cover his smile. None of it hid the twinkle of utter joy in his eyes. “ Sorry about that ,” she sent an accusatory glare at the culprit once again as she finally took the extended hand. “You got my name right, I wasn’t expecting to suddenly meet the Avengers.”

“Yeah, looks like we’re all a little surprised since somebody told us that you’re the one in control.” Tony pointedly looked at Thor.

“I was not lying when I said she was capable, Stark. My brother will always be one for tricks, that is not something that can be stopped.” He assured, though it was clear that there was less confidence in his voice this time around.

“Well, we’re not here to play his little reindeer games. If she doesn’t fit the role, you know the deal.” He bluntly reminded him, this catching the other Asgardian’s attention.

“Pray tell, what are you implying?” He raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms, the mirth from moments ago vanished at the vague threats directed at Y/N. The only person allowed to toy with her is me, and no one can tell me otherwise. She’ll be a little cross with me, but she secretly enjoys it. It’s part of our dynamic and I love seeing all the cute little expressions she makes. If they think they can simply tell me how to be with her, they are sorely mistaken.

“You heard me, I said if you keep playing your little games you lose pet privileges.” Tony turned to face Loki, not at all intimidated by him.

“That’s quite a lot of bravado for a tiny man who buzzes around in a tin can that had my brother begging me to come join.” He looked down his nose at the short Midgardian.

“You trying to cause a fight, princess? I’m more than ready-,”

“Tony,” Pepper cut him off.

“Loki,” Y/N’s voice called out the same time as Pepper’s and the God of Mischief turned his head towards her. “If you keep this up, I’m not going to do that anymore.” She warned him.

“You wouldn’t,” he narrowed his eyes as he visibly bristled at the threat.

“Try me,” she calmly responded and he scowled. The others watched in shock as he stepped back beside Thor, arms crossed and silent.

“Tony, we need him on our team, there’s no denying that.” Steve chimed in at the momentary pause, not really sure how to process what just happened.

“I’m sorry, are we just going to ignore what she just said?” Nat pointed at Y/N, stopping Steve’s attempt to gloss over the situation. “There’s no way we can pretend she didn’t say that.”

“I’m pretty sure we all know what she means, Nat. I don’t think any of us want to talk about it.” Clint tried to move the discussion along, not particularly interested in the private affairs of any. He was especially not interested in the secret goings-on of the brother of his teammate that tried to take over New York City at one point.

“You never said anything about her having that sort of control on him,” Tony turned to Thor at this point. “We did not approve of this.” He insisted, Thor utterly lost for words on how to clear up the confusion, since he was not entirely sure what was going on himself.

“I can assure you, I have no idea what they are referring to. I have been over there countless times and at random as well, I have not once seen or heard anything unbecoming of unexpected company. She is a good person and he only agreed if she was allowed to stay here.”

“Time out,” Y/N formed a T with her hands, stepping forward as Thor brought the initial point of all this back into focus. “Can someone please explain to me why I’m being told to stay here when I have a perfectly good apartment already?”

“The ceiling leaks from of the kitchen sink of the apartment above, mice and rats are always around thanks to the lazy cat that doesn’t do its job to catch them, the windows don’t close, and the heating and cooling does not work when it is needed,” Loki listed a few of the things wrong with said current residence.

“A…residence to live at already,” she corrected herself.

“Because he refused to say yes until we agreed to that one demand and Goldilocks pointed out that we may have made an error in judgement.” Tony reluctantly admitted. “So, you’re welcome, you’re now living rent-free here at the compound. Now, can we move along? We have work to do, Pepper?”

“Thank you,” she cleared her throat and motioned for Y/N to follow. “Now, let me show you your quarters here.”

“Oh that won’t be necessary, she’ll be staying with me.” Loki cut in, Y/N whipping her head around at this comment.

“I’m sorry, I’m what ?” The heat slowly rose up in her face, her cheeks turning a nice shade of pinkish-red at his words.

“Listen, we agreed she stays here. We didn’t agree to you two living together. This isn’t some college dorm room hanky-panky situation, she gets her own room.” Tony cut in again.

“I know you aren’t that naive, Stark.” Loki calmly responded. “It’s not hard to conclude what the living situation is like for a man and a woman in a tiny one-bedroom apartment here in this city. Are you also saying it’s perfectly fine for her to stay in a room, alone , surrounded by other men who are easily much stronger than her? Now, I don’t mean to imply they will do anything to her, but a man is still a man when you get down to it.” He deliberately painted a picture without denying or verifying anything, Y/N’s face now bright red and her brain unable to function well enough for her to speak thanks to how overheated it was.

“He’s got a point,” Bruce finally spoke after silently observing everything. “It’s not hard to imagine. Plus, if that’s how they live, that’s how they live.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think anyone wants to see them sneaking around. Also, if it gets him to cooperate, you may as well give it to them.”

“A man of great understanding, I see. So, what will it be, Stark? Giving into the simple request or us arguing further and wasting time on trivial matters when we could be working on the next assignment you wanted to debrief me on?” The second Asgardian prince quickly jumped on the coattails of the scientist, pressing Tony to acquiesce.

“ Fine , but I see any funny business that I don’t like, and I mean any funny business ; that screw up our work you’re in separate rooms. Am I clear?”

“Of course, it’s only fair.” Loki grinned, once again getting his way. “With that settled,” he turned on his heel to face Pepper. “I will take the responsibility of guiding her to our room off your hands, as I’m sure you are very busy with more pressing matter.” She hesitated at first, looking between Loki and Y/N, trying to see if this was something Y/N wanted but her lack of response was not a rejection. From the looks of it, she was simply shy and when she spoke earlier she simply forgot she was around others.

“Alright,” she finally agreed. “I’ll check in on you later, ok Y/N?”

What do you mean “alright”?! How is any of this “alright”?! But there’s nothing I can do now, I mean they have missions or whatever and I’m just eating up their time! You know what, it’s fine! We can make it work! We did before, we can do it again! One of usually slept on the couch, so I’ll just sleep on the couch this time! She concluded, mostly trying to make it easier to swallow for herself. “Yeah, sounds like a plan.” She finally nodded, her face no longer a tomato and her brain properly functioning. This will be totally fine , right?

[nancypullen]

Where Was I?

It’s been a busy few days, where did I leave you? I think we were stuffing our faces with Valentine food.  I’ve been on a celery and salad kick since then - my arteries need scrubbing.  Since then we’ve made more progress on the kitchen (hardware added, sink and faucet ordered, quartz counters ordered) and I love it more every day.   Here’s the hardware -

They’re a warm, oil-rubbed bronze finish and Mickey made short work of attaching them to 28 cupboards and drawers.  My hero.  That’s why you see a glimpse of his shop vac in the second photo - he even sucked up sawdust from his drill as he worked.  His mama trained him right.   We finally chose and ordered our countertops. I spent a long time shuffling and staring at samples.

I thought I’d be more of a fan of the sort of soapstone sample - the rectangular, dark tile that’s middle left.  Maybe I should have waited until we had the hardware on and viewed hem that way. Nah, I knew that I was getting the right vibe from some of the beige pieces.  I zeroed in on one that is a few shades darker than the cabinets, but in the same family. Not too cool, not too warm, has a soft, creamy feel, that sort of thing.  

I didn’t like the really busy samples at all.  The darker options seemed too harsh in the open concept (I hate that phrase) floor plan we have. Beige worked best, but some were too light, some were too gray, and the sample named Taj Royale was baby bear’s chair - just right.

Our installation date is March 10th and I can’t wait.  Hallelujah! In even better news, Matt arrived yesterday!  He came home to spend his birthday week with us and it’s already been fun. Tomorrow he’ll be 38 and there’s absolutely no way I can have a child that old. NO way. How did that happen?? Obviously, I was a child bride. When Matt and I are together something weird usually happens.  We’re both freak magnets, and we thoroughly enjoy that.  Today we went out and about on a couple of errands but it was all very ordinary. Bummer.  We’ll try again tomorrow.

One of the stops that we made today was at an auction house.  There’s a company in Denton that deals in estate sales and that sort of thing and they have an auction every week.  During the pandemic everything went online and they’ve never gone back to hosting live auctions.  They post a catalog of items every Sunday and customers have all week to scroll through it.  On Saturdays and Sundays they throw open the doors so you can inspect the goods, and bidding ends on Monday, with auctions closing every few seconds.  We have lost our ever-loving minds over this stuff.  Last week we picked up two Cracker Barrel rocking chairs for less than the price of one.  Score!  I bought a gorgeous large mirror to start a makeover of the downstairs powder room...and only paid four dollars for it. The cheapskate in me is quivering with delight.

Here’s the mirror, stashed in the garage.  You can see the rockers too!

Don’t judge that corner of the garage. It’s a work in progress.

I’ve picked up batches of gorgeous picture frames for a few dollars. Mickey won the bid for a beautiful Longaberger storage basket with a wooden lid that is currently storing vinyl and paper in my craft room. It’s so nice. We turned Tyler and Jamie on to the auction sit and they’ve made a couple of fabulous purchases.  Yesterday’s auction had some wonderful patio furniture that I wish I had a need for - and it went cheap.  We did get these great wicker trunks for the master closet, perfect for keeping things tidy.

They’re in excellent condition and you know I love pretty storage.  I couldn’t resist this adorable baby doll cradle.

It rocks perfectly.  I’ll clean it up and make it sweet for the grandgirl to tuck her baby into. You know there will be rosebuds and lace involved. One of the items that Jamie purchased was an exceptionally nice faux plant. She’d been shopping for one for their home office, and as you know they’re ridiculously pricey.  I sent her pics from the auction house of three different plants and this was the winner.

She won it at just over the five dollar mark.  She’ll fluff it up and put it in a pretty pot and she’s saved herself about a hundred bucks. I’m giddy over the bargains.

Mickey purchased this thing.

He says it’s a saw, and that giant rolling case has some saw-related paraphernalia in it.   He’s looking toward retirement and thinking of making frames (for his millions of photos) and doing a bit of woodworking like his dad did.  I’ve shared a few of the purchases the Pullen family made, and left out a bunch of odds and ends that were smaller. A wooden desk organizer, vintage bowls, etc.  Mickey was working today and the Edgewaters are over the bridge doing the same, so I told everyone that I’d be happy to pick up all of the winnings.  I love doing it and it makes me look like a big spender.  BUT...I forgot that our SUV is in the shop (that’s another story) and we have a rental.  A little sedan with a trunk just about the size of that doll cradle.  Matt said he’d come with me to help load up and I warned him that I might have to make three trips.  Those big wicker trunks, that enormous saw and case, the large plant, the cradle, the odds and ends...oh dear.  Luckily, I raised kids in the generation that played countless video games and Matt’s Tetris skills kicked in.  We filled every nook and cranny of that little car and got it all home.

It wasn’t purty but we got ‘er done. Now I’ve got to wrap this up and get dinner on the table.  I started a pork loin in the crockpot about 11am and I’ve got taters and green beans to roast. I’ll add a balsamic glaze to the pork loin and serve it all to these hungry boys.  Later I’ll sneak upstairs and wrap the last couple of gifts for the birthday boy and tomorrow we will celebrate him. Sounds like a recipe for a wonderful day. I hope you’ve got something on the calendar to look forward to - anticipation is half the fun.  If not, put something on the calendar - “treat myself to a facial” or “picnic in the park”.  Oh gosh, stretching out on a blanket with a good book after a picnic lunch sounds like something I need to schedule.  Choose something you’d enjoy and make it happen.  Life is short, might as well make it sweet. Sending out love, grab some if you need it. Stay safe, stay well.

Nancy P.S. I typed this super fast, I’m sure I’ll look at it later and cringe over the typos. Have mercy.