#‘how do you collect vinyl casually?’

[gaytobymeres]

I’m looking up record players because I’m looking to get a smaller record player and oh my god the people on Reddit are so fucking pretentious. Some music fans are the most annoying people ever. I’m amazed they can even hear their records given how far up their own arses their heads are

[amarynthian-chronicles]

May I have this dance?

Sebastian Solace x Reader

"Surely, you must be joking."

"Quite the contrary."

He fiddled with the old gramophone, making a few final adjustments in order to get it to function properly once more. All the while he was casually holding his cigarette with his third hand, elegantly tapping the ash away when necessary.

Sebastian had amassed an impressive collection of vinyl records, arranging them according to his tastes. He had done so in a similar manner with his books and research files. You loved watching him sort out his inventory.

It was so unusually domestic, the mingling scents of coffee and cigarette smoke, the presence of warm blankets and pillows on the sofa he had hauled from an unspecified location in the vast facility. Undoubtedly from various loungers that the scientists would once find comfort in before the breach in security.

You cleared your throat, trying to get his attention once more.

"Seb, be realistic. We cannot dance together. I don't even know how to"

"I am certain the youth refers to this as a "skill issue" nowadays. Painter had discovered a whole thesaurus of modern slang, heaven help us all."

"I am not even going to comment this. My point still stands. Besides, you do not even have legs."

"What I do have is creative solutions to complex problems. We crush obstacles, do we not? Ah, there we go. Good as new."

He placed the needle on a record.

Music. Soft jazz, soothing yet playful, unpredictable in its rhythm, improvising, moving from whimsical and exciting tunes to the more melancholic melodies. In many ways, it conveyed Sebastian's own soul perfectly.

He offered his clawed hand, grinning and waiting for you to inevitably accept his offer. Reluctantly, you accepted.

His tail began to tap in a certain rhythm against the floor, as if setting the tempo you should follow along with the music. Confused, you saw his other two arms approach you, all three serving as if they were makeshift dance partners.

Before you knew it, he was making you move and sway as if you were a combination of a puppet on a string and a music box ballerina. He made you twirl, glide, turn, almost hypnotic.

At a certain point, he snapped his fingers, and suddenly the room was completely dark, save for the lone light of his esca.

"See? You do not need to know where to go or what to do, you are only to follow as I say. Trust me and you will never have to worry about anything ever again."

"Seb, I am tired."

"I am sure we can get a few more pirouettes out of you, pet."

"Well, at least I am getting free cardio training here."

You took deep breaths as your puppet master played with you, demanding yet gentle, firm yet rewarding you with tenderness when it was due. As you were about to collapse, he caught you, pulling you into his lap.

Soft kisses were placed on your head, cheeks and lips.

His body began to sway, akin to the ocean waves, his arms cradling you.

Sebastian was truly like the ocean itself, simultaneously a cooling haven that embraced you in your feverish nightmares and a cold unyielding tomb that one could not escape from. A devil is merely a fallen angel, after all.

You whispered, closing your eyes.

"What will become of us, Seb? We are playing in this illusion, knowing that all of this is ludicrous."

"We live on stolen time. Our old lives are forfeit and we can only move onward. We take, we scavenge, we defy probability itself."

"What are we to each other?"

He combed his fingers through your hair.

"Fleeting hope. The same type that a ghost feels in a house with new tenants, desperately wishing to be seen and heard once more. Even for a final time."

Hot tears ran down your cheeks.

"Hope is such a cruel thing, Seb."

He kissed each tear away, savouring your sorrow.

"We lie in the Abyss. This location defies physics itself, it rebels against every possible known law of water mechanics. So shall we. Doomed to fail, given to death, we shall rise once more, wearing the Reaper's cloak as our own."

[sarawayne0510]

ATE

pairing: Bangchan x fem!driver

summary: What if the worlds of Formula 1 and K-pop collided? Follow the story of a Red Bull rookie driver and Stray Kids' leader, Bang Chan

warnings: none?? just cute fluff basically, mention of Y/N

word count: 2.2k ish

Genre: SMAU/Fluff

The golden hour in Monaco was always breathtaking, casting a warm, soft glow over the city. I wandered into a small album store, tucked away from the bustling streets, hoping to find some new music to add to my collection. The scent of vinyl and freshly printed album covers filled the air, instantly putting me at ease.

As I scanned the shelves, a particular album caught my eye-Stray Kids' latest, ATE. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't resist; my hand instinctively reached out, and I grabbed it. The cover was stunning, the colors vibrant, and I could already hear the tracks playing in my mind. It was impossible not to smile as I held it, admiring the print.

I was completely absorbed in the moment when a voice broke through the silence. "Stray Kids, huh?" The words were familiar, yet they startled me. I was sure I was alone when I walked in.

I turned slowly, my heart pounding, and there he was-Bang Chan, standing right in front of me. He looked just as casual and cool as ever, a cap pulled low over his forehead, but there was no mistaking who he was. My breath caught in my throat as I realized that Stray Kids have been on their European tour and decided to take a little break but In Monaco!?

For a moment, I just stared at him, too shocked to say anything, clutching the ATE album as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

Hi, by any chance, are you (Y/N)?" Chan asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

"Yeah," I said, trying to keep my cool. "And you're Bang Chan, right?"

He chuckled softly, nodding. "I didn't expect you to recognize me. These days, I'm just trying to get into F1, and when I saw you, I couldn't help but ask."

"Oh, really? Well, how could I not recognize my favorite band member?" I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and disbelief. "This is definitely the best day of my life."

Just as I was soaking in the moment, my phone buzzed with a message from my manager, calling me in for an urgent meeting. I sighed internally-of all the times, it had to be now. "Oh lord, I've never wanted to kill someone as much as I do right now," I muttered under my breath, feeling a pang of frustration.

I quickly excused myself, offering an apologetic smile to Chan. "I'm really sorry, but I have to go."

"Of course, no worries," he said with an understanding nod. "It was great meeting you."

With a heavy heart, I left the store, heading back home as quickly as I could. Once I got there, I opened my laptop, ready to join the meeting. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about him the entire time. Bang Chan-THE Bang Chan had recognized me, talked to me, and now, I couldn't get him out of my head.

The last thing I wanted was to attend another F1 party. After a long day, the idea of socializing felt more exhausting than exhilarating. But George had other plans, practically dragging me along despite my protests.

As soon as I stepped into the venue, I felt the familiar wave of reluctance wash over me. The music was loud, the lights were dim, and the room was packed with people -just the kind of setting I wasn't in the mood for. Before I could slip away to a quiet corner, Christian called me over, waving me toward a group of team principals. To my dismay, Christian was standing right beside Toto.

Oh lord, please don't tell me they're at it again, I thought, bracing myself for another one of their infamous spats that somehow always seemed to drag me into the middle of it. But to my surprise, everything was calm. They just wanted me to listen to their old man talk, reminiscing about races and strategies from before I was even born.

After what felt like an eternity, I managed to excuse myself. I needed a break, and the bar seemed like the perfect escape. As I approached, I noticed someone sitting there, casually sipping a drink. My heart skipped a beat when I realized who it was.

Bang Chan.

Of all the people, in all the places, here he was again. I couldn't help but grin. Maybe I was God's favorite after all.

I slid onto the barstool beside him, feeling a rush of excitement. "Fancy seeing you here," I started, trying to keep my voice casual but failing to hide my enthusiasm.

Chan turned to me, a smile spreading across his face. "Seems like fate, doesn't it?"

And just like that, the conversation flowed naturally, as if we'd known each other for years.

As Bang Chan and I continued our conversation at the bar, I could feel a few pairs of eyes on us. When I glanced around, I spotted a small group of drivers-Max, Lando, Carlos, and George-hovering nearby. They were clearly trying (and failing) to be discreet, whispering and exchanging wide-eyed looks.

I caught Lando nudging George, who nearly spilled his drink as he tried to keep his excitement in check. Max, usually so composed, was grinning like a kid who'd just uncovered the world's biggest secret, while Carlos had a look of utter disbelief on his face.

I couldn't help but laugh softly. "I think we've got an audience," I whispered to Chan, nodding subtly in their direction.

He turned to see what I was talking about and chuckled, shaking his head. "They look like they're about to explode," he said, amused.

Just then, George gave Lando a not-so-subtle shove, and the group erupted into barely contained laughter, causing Chan and me to exchange amused glances.

"Should we give them something to really talk about?" I joked, raising an eyebrow.

Chan grinned, clearly enjoying the idea. "Why not?"

We leaned in closer, pretending to be deep in conversation, which only made the drivers freak out even more. They were practically bouncing on their heels, trying to contain their excitement, and it took everything in me not to burst out laughing.

Chan pulled out his phone. “You know, we should definitely stay in touch,” he said, a playful glint in his eyes. “Let’s exchange numbers.”

I smiled, pulling out my own phone. “I’d like that.”

We quickly exchanged numbers, and I saved his contact under “Bang Chan <3". As we finished, I noticed the drivers watching us intently, their faces lighting up with barely contained glee.

“Looks like they’re pretty excited for us,” Chan said with a chuckle.

“Seems that way,” I agreed, trying to keep my composure. “I think we might have just given them a story for the ages.”

With our numbers exchanged and the excitement of the evening bubbling around us, it was clear that this was one night neither of us would soon forget.

The tweet was accompanied by a photo from the party where Bang Chan and I were chatting, and the reactions were immediate. Fans were abuzz, speculating and shipping us together. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sudden attention.

Deciding to lean into the fun, I posted a photo on Instagram

Playing Stray Kids-JJAM

"On repeat 🎧"

And posted a reel of me and Lily dancing to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.”

@(username)

"💃💖"

@lilymhe

Liked by gnabnansc,lilymhe,alex_albon,georgerussell63 and others

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@Lilymhe: “@(Y/N) my wife 💖✨️

↳@(your_username) MY WAG!!

↳@user our fav couple

↳@alex_stop GIRLS STOP! ITS CONSERNING AT THIS POINT GO TO YOUR AUSTRALIAN MAN!!

↳ user127 alex don't be shy spill

@LandoNorris nurse she is out again!!

@gnabnahc 💖

↳@lilymhe back off

@maxverstappen1 So THIS is what was happening in the hotel hallway last night?

@CarlosSainz55 I left you alone for 2 minutes!!!

The Monza GP had been a nightmare. The car was in its worst state, and there was a moment when I almost lost control entirely. It was a close call—too close. My heart was still racing from the near-accident, and the disappointment of not finishing not even in top 5 weighed heavily on me. All I wanted was to forget about the day, but the memories kept playing on a loop in my mind.

Just as I was about to curl up and try to sleep, my phone buzzed with a message from Chan:

Chan: “I heard about the race. Are you okay? Big hugs from afar 💛”

I sighed, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.

Y/N: “It was a disaster… I was so close to crashing, and the car was a mess. I could really use a hug right now.”

Moments later, there was a soft knock on my driver's room . Confused, I got up and opened it to find a figure standing there, in all black and in a facemask and sunglasses. It took me a second to realize who it was, but the familiar warmth in his eyes gave him away immediately.

“Chan?” I whispered, my voice cracking slightly.

He nodded, pulling down the mask to reveal his face. Without a word, he stepped forward and wrapped me in the tightest, warmest hug. I buried my face in his chest, the tears I’d been holding back finally spilling over.

“I’m so sorry,” I mumbled against his shirt, my voice shaky. “I almost crashed, Chan. It was so close…”

“Hey, hey,” he murmured, his hand gently rubbing my back. “But you didn’t. You’re okay, and that’s what matters. I’m here now, okay? Big hugs, just like I promised.”

We stood there in the doorway for a long moment, neither of us saying anything, just holding each other. His presence was calming, like a warm blanket on a cold day, and slowly, the tension in my body began to melt away.

“How did you even get here?” I finally asked, pulling back just enough to look up at him.

Chan grinned, a little sheepishly. “I was already in monza for promotion, so I thought I’d come see you. Had to go incognito, though���don’t want to cause a scene.” He gestured to the mask and glasses with a small laugh.

I couldn’t help but smile, despite everything. “You really didn’t have to do that, you know. But… I’m so glad you did.”

“Of course I did. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.” His voice was soft, sincere, and it made my heart skip a beat.

“Thank you, Chan,” I whispered, leaning into his embrace once more. “You always know how to make things better.”

“Anytime, (Y/N). I’ll always be here for you.”

And in that moment, wrapped in his arms, I realized just how much he meant to me. The world outside didn’t matter—just the two of us, here, together.

With two weeks until the next race in Baku, I finally had some time to relax. Chan and I decided to escape the spotlight and spend our break in Capri, Italy—a perfect getaway where we could just be ourselves, away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.

Capri was everything I needed—crystal-clear waters, picturesque views, and a peaceful atmosphere. We spent our days exploring the island, walking hand-in-hand through narrow streets lined with colorful buildings, and taking boat rides around the stunning coastline. It was like a dream, and being with Chan made it even more special.

One afternoon, we found a quaint little café tucked away from the more crowded areas. The sun was shining through the vines that draped over the outdoor seating, casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone path. We settled into a cozy corner table, laughing over the silly adventures we’d had that day.

As we waited for our drinks, Chan suddenly grew quiet, a thoughtful expression on his face. I raised an eyebrow, curious about what was going through his mind.

“What’s up?” I asked, nudging him playfully.

“Just… thinking,” he replied, a small smile playing on his lips.

Before I could ask him what he was thinking about, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. Carefully, he started folding it, his fingers moving with surprising precision. I watched in fascination as the paper slowly took shape, until it became a small, delicate ring.

He looked up at me, a bit of nervousness in his eyes, and gently took my hand. “I know this isn’t much, but… I wanted to make something for you. Something to remind you that I’m always here, no matter where we are.” He slipped the paper ring onto my finger, his touch sending a warmth through me that I couldn’t quite describe.

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at the simple yet meaningful ring, and then back at Chan. “It’s perfect,” I whispered, touched by the gesture.

He took a deep breath, as if gathering his courage, and then met my eyes with a sincerity that made my heart melt. “(Y/N), I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a while now… Spending these days with you, away from everything, has made me realize just how much you mean to me. I don’t want to hide how I feel anymore. I love you.”

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. My heart swelled with emotion, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Chan… I love you too. I’ve felt this way for so long, but I didn’t know how to say it.”

His face lit up, and before I knew it, he was pulling me into a tight hug. We stayed like that for a while, holding each other close, both of us smiling like lovestruck fools.

When we finally pulled back, Chan brushed a strand of hair from my face, his eyes full of warmth and love. “This is just the beginning, you know,” he said softly. “I want to be with you, no matter what.”

I nodded, my heart full. “I want that too, Chan. Wherever this journey takes us, I’m just glad we’re in it together.”

And as we sat there in that little café in Capri, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us, wrapped in the warmth of our newfound love.

@gnabnahc

Liked by @(your_username),alex_albon,_doolsetnet,miniverse.__,georgerussell63

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@gnabnansc In the end

@(your_username)

@(your_username) it's him and I

Liked by @gnabnahc,miniversr.___, lilymhe,alexandrasaintmleux, alex_albon

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@lilymhe welcome home cheater

@alex_albon finally!😮‍💨

@user119 rue when was this!?

@user143 MOTHER IS THAT A MEN WITH YOU!!!!

@gnabnahc love is patient. Love is kind. Love is slowly losing your mind.

↳@lilymhe alex when I catch you alex... Why can’t you be like him?!

↳@alex_albon Not everyone can be Bang Chan. But I’m trying!

@CarlosSainz55 I LEFT YOU ALONE FOR 2 WEEKS!!

@alexandrasaintmleux pick up the phone RIGHT NOW!

@(your_username)

"I need a big boy😮‍💨"

@gnabnahc

Posted a story!

"Sometimes big boys also need passengers princess treatment"

______________________________________________________________________

Thanks for reading my fanfiction! It’s my first time writing, and I really appreciate your support. If you’re interested in a part 2 or want to be tagged, just let me know. Thanks again! :3

@charizznorizz

[callsign-joyride]

Down Bad | Hughie Campbell

Summary: Your first date with Hughie goes way better than expected.

Content warnings: SMUT (MDNI), unprotected p in v, fake marriage, fluff

Lyric: "I might just not get up, I might stay down bad."

Buy me a coffee

There was something so endearing about Hughie Campbell. The two of you had met at a coffee shop. You were running late for work and had to use the bathroom, and the coffee shop was the nearest option. The issue was that you had to buy something in order to get the key to the bathroom, and the line was almost out of the door. You weren’t going to be able to wait that long, and Hughie could see from where he was that you were stressed out. He pretended that he was your husband meeting you there and ordered you a latte before handing you the bathroom key.

“Ugh, thank you so much. You’re a lifesaver,” you said as the two of you walked out of the small building.

“Any time. I’m Hughie, by the way.”

Both of you talked and introduced yourselves on your walk to work, and you almost didn’t want to end the conversation when you got outside of the doors of the building. Hughie could tell, so he asked you for your number and texted you his name. It was like you were consumed simply by the idea of him, as your coworkers started to tease you at lunch about how often you were checking your phone.

You both hated Vought, something that was hard to find in common with anyone in the city these days. He didn’t exactly tell you why he hated Vought, but he mentioned something about a Supe killing someone that he loved. You just hated Vought because you could see right through most of The Seven, but you were too scared to expose anyone because you didn’t want to lose your job or get killed. 

By the end of you workday, you had exchanged countless texts with Hughie and the two of you had planned to see a movie together. There was a new horror movie that both of you were interested in, so he bought the tickets and sent you information about the theater. You changed out of your business casual work clothes into something more laid back and got to the movie theater about fifteen minutes before the movie was scheduled to start. Hughie met you by the ticket booth and gave you your ticket.

“I figured you wouldn’t want to be sitting next to the weirdos in our row, so I got you the aisle seat.”

“Thank you, that was very thoughtful,” you said. It kind of surprised you that Hughie was willing to pay for everything, even the draft beer that you had ordered, but you weren’t going to complain. 

You both enjoyed the movie, and you were laughing and chatting about it on the way out of the theater. As you walked back to your car, you could tell that Hughie was nervous about something.

“Hey, do you feel okay to drive? You had a few beers and I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said. You smiled and unlocked your car.

“Yeah, I feel fine. Do you want to meet me at my place?”

“Um, sure, yeah. Send me the address.”

That was the first thing that you did when you started the car. He wasn’t too far behind you, as you were sitting in the driveway on your phone when he tapped on your window. You let out a laugh and got out of the car, leading Hughie to the front door.

“Wow, your place is beautiful. It’s like a witchy cabin in the woods. I love it,” he said as he looked at the woodsy decor and photos of Stevie Nicks on the wall.

“Thanks, it took a while to get it to this point. I bought almost everything secondhand, except for the couch and chairs.”

You showed him around the house and walked him in to your home office. It was slightly amusing when he ran straight for the vinyl records that you had, but you had quite the collection, and your friends always looked at them when they were over. 

“I have some Billy Joel records, by the way. They’re sorted by artist, so you can take your pick. The speakers play it all through the house.”

“Oh, hell yeah.”

You were surprised that he picked one of your Fleetwood Mac vinyls, even though he had the option to play Billy Joel. The surprise quickly wore off as he walked over to you and cupped your cheek with one hand and moved closer to you to kiss you. Things really picked up after that, and you were sitting on your desk with your hand in his pants before you knew it.

“Let’s take this to the bedroom, yeah?” You asked, breathless from the way that Hughie was kissing you. He nodded and closely followed you to your bedroom before closing the door behind him and taking his shirt and shoes off. You were close behind, and it wasn’t long before he was on top of you, grinding his length against your core. 

“Can I take these off?” Hughie asked, gesturing to your jeans.

“Yeah. Actually, let me. They’re skinny jeans, so I don’t know how far you’ll be able to get taking them off by yourself.”

He chuckled and you stood up to take off your jeans and underwear, and he did the same. He was bigger than you thought as you straddled him and started to rub his cock between your wet folds. You leaned forward to kiss him and he pumped his cock before easing it in. Moaning from the pleasure, you said that it slid right in. 

���I know. Fuck it feels so good. Can I-?” He grabbed your hips and started to take control, and all you did was moan about how good everything felt.

“I’m so close, Hughie! Fuck, I’m gonna cum. Oh, I want you to cum inside of me so bad. Oh my God, it feels so good.”

“Yeah? You want me to cum inside of you?’

You moaned out a “yes” and he asked for you to roll over so that he could be on top. You came at the same time, and he rolled over and grabbed a nearby box of tissues to clean both of you up.

“God, that felt good,” he said after catching his breath.

“I know. Honestly, it’s probably the best sex I’ve had in a while.”

“Honestly, me too,” he said. You chuckled and stretched before cuddling with him for a few minutes. Neither of you had realized how late it was until you reached over and glanced at your phone. With the clock nearing midnight, you decided to let Hughie stay the night. Tomorrow was one of your work from home days, so you didn’t have to kick him out. In fact, you made breakfast together and he stayed until a few minutes before you had to log in for work. 

“I had a really good time, and I’d do this again,” he said as you walked him to his car. 

“Good. How does Friday night sound?”

Taglist:

@idontcare-11

Taglist form (Google form, email is not asked)

[maxs-deactivated]

Old vinyls.

Pairing: Joel Miller x reader.

Summary: Joel's feelings bloomed even before the outbreak. 20 years, a lot of losses and survival later, he finally finds one of his missing pieces. A Joel Miller one shot.

A/N: bro I have NO IDEA of when I actually wrote this, I just remember it taking me a few days to finish, and I never posted it bc I tought it was bad, but now I reread this and OH MY FUCKING GOD THIS IS WONDERFUL?! Hope you guys like it as much as I did :)

Warnings: hurt/comfort, crying, soft Joel, drinking, swearing, lil bit of angst, happy ending, this thing is long af, it's been a long while since I watched the show/saw anything about the game so it might be a little out of character or just "off" in general, there's not really any mentions of gender for reader so here you go my fellow non binaries :D

Anyways, let's get to the fic.

You knew Joel.

Before the outbreak he was a single father, a very caring and loving one. Being his neighbor meant seeing him every now and then, being that type of colleague you see once in a while and say hi.

At least for the other neighbors.

You, in the other hand, was much more close than that.

To start with the fact that Tommy was your best friend, you two met at high school and became inseparable, so naturally you would know his brother, Joel, and his niece, Sarah. You always lived there, nearby, so it was normal for you to hang out with both brothers whenever you could and even take care of Sarah when Joel would come home late from work. You knew her since she was born and, hell, she was almost part of your family too.

Not that you would admit it out loud though. But you really cared for her, and for her father.

As you grew closer to Tommy, you grew inevitably closer to Joel as well. Since you met him you knew he was a cool guy, respectful but yet playful, not like the guys you met before that only talked about hooking up and making out, no, Joel was gentle and friendly and, when you know him, talkative. It always drew your attention how he looked after Tommy and, later on, Sarah. it was endearing to see.

When Sarah was 12, you moved in the house right next to Joel's, wich was the number one reason you became so close to him.

Oftenly you picked Sarah from school and had her sleep in your house because Joel would come home late, always recieving an apologizing look and a shy smile the morning after when he would come to take her home and, oh! How you loved that smile.

To "pay his debt" (as he liked to say) he'd take you out to some bar or a restaurant whenever Sarah went on a sleepover at a friend's house, and you two always ended up sitting on the corner just sipping on your drinks and talking about life, giving each other advice, sharing life experiences, and above all having a good time. He'd also not drink any alcohol just to drive you home safe, and refuse to listen to any of your protests.

One night you were at a restaurant, on the other side of the city, talking like always and Joel laughed at something you said, genuinely laughed. And that was when you realized you had fell in love with the man, you were always giving him those looks and scarlet cheeks without even noticing, until this night came and changed everything, you were now aware of every little glance, casual touch, any smile and laugh he gives you, you were drunk i this feeling.

But Joel? Oh, he already knew that for so long.

The moment for him was when you came to lunch with him and Sarah at his house, something around a year before. You helped him cook the meal, wich made him notice how much better that dish tasted with your touch to it whether it being just your presence or the ingredients you put, he wasn't quite sure yet.

After you all ate, you sat on the couch and Sarah suggested to put on some music, and right after that start looking through Joel's vinil collection. Let's say she knew what she was doing, first she put on some rock, Gun's and Roses, just in the ambience as you both talked and she washed the dishes. After that she found the vinil Joel had bought only and exclusively because you recommended from a band you really like, you say it reminds you of home, as your father used to play those songs all the time.

He watched as your eyes went wide with a look of excitement when realization washed over you, the melody forcing you to your feet and pulling Sarah. You rocked back and forth, dancing with the teenage girl, as you sang with the most wonderful voice you ever had.

The sparkle in your eyes mixed with Sarah's laughs and the vibe of the song made him realize how much of a wonderful person you are. Always kind to other and wiling to go out of your way to help someone, your charming personality and your unique style, oh! How much he loved that.

Joel not only saw your gorgeous features but also you, the real you. That is scared of thunders, that loves music, that cooks like a chef and have those little quirks and mannerisms he picked up unconsciously, all of that drove him out of his mind and he loved the feeling of loving you, it made him feel alive. Of course seeing how much Sarah likes you too and the way you're so caring towards her just makes it clear: you're the one for him.

Joel's drunk into it since that day. Every time you wave at him from your yard, every time he takes you to these restaurants and bars, when he sees you in his passanger seat, and the fact you just grow more and more admirable to him... It only makes him want you even more, it makes him want to be the one to treat you right after seeing so many partners destroy you. He'd glue pice by piece if needed.

Talking of bars... In one of those times you two went out, you decided to leave the bar you were at and go back to Joel's place. The food at the bar was absurdly expensive and your stomachs were grumbling way too loud for you to just spend the rest of the night there.

Once you got to his house, he made two sandwiches for the both of you and you ate slowly, never losing the topic you were talking about. When you two finished, Joel went to wash the dishes and once again you decided to put on some music.

Looking through his vinils you saw one you also had, a very very old one, dated in the 40's/50's. It started to spin and a few songs into it, it started playing one you really liked: 'Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong'. By that time Joel had already finished, he walked into the living room still wiping his hands with a towel when you started swaying around to the calm yet enthusiastic beat.

Moving your hips, you felt the melody entering your body and giving you the best feeling of peace. For Joel you looked ethereal in such form, unworried and calm.

A tought crossed his mind and he acted on it before the opportunity scaped. Joel approached you behind your back as you still had your eyes shut closed, feeling yourself through the song, he then placed his right hang on your waist testing the waters. First he had to know if you were okay with that, little did he know you were melting inside, unable to come up with something to do or say in that moment, so you just kept going, like nothing was happening.

As you didn't show any sign of discomfort or didn't flinch from his touch, he placed the left hand on the assigned place on your waist like it was supposed to be there for so long. Now becoming more comfortable, he swayed with you and came even closer, with that your hands automatically went to his, guiding them lower to your hips.

It felt like a dream for the both of you, and of course you wouldn't ruin it with any obvious comment, so you just accepted each other's presences and enjoyed it.

By the middle of the song you kept your hands in his as you turned to face him, still dancing lightly.

Joel looked into your beautifully colored irises and saw the contentment, making him bloom a smile of his own. As you also stared at his honey eyes you placed your arms on both sides of his head, lightly and gently wrapping your fingers around the back of his neck.

Ever so slowly you approached each other unconsciously, ending up doing exactly what the music says, dancing cheek to cheek.

In a few moments you pulled back, just to look at him in the eyes again, now you saw the desire and all the unspoken words and your eyes dropped to his mouth, slightly open and awaiting for what comes next. Yet you decided to speak up before things got confusing.

"I, uhm..." You start, looking down "I really like you Joel, and I don't mean just as a friend or in a way to get this situation to increase... I really do like you, and I have for a time now" now you look into his eyes again.

Joel seems surprised, probably much more because you had the courage to say it first than with the actual statemente, he already suspected your feelings. He opened his mouth a few times, looking for the best words to not fuck this up.

Before starting he let out a relieved breath "when I'm with you I feel alive" he let's out "You make my days a little bit brighter and you bring the colors of love back into my life" Joel laughs "gosh, I'm not even good with words but for you I have practiced this speech for so long... Waiting for the day I would be able to call you mine".

His gaze soft yet eager for you, analyzing every reaction of yours, he's been waiting for so long, poor man. While you're still processing what he just said.

"then do it, I've been your's for so long already" you breath out, coming closer again, but thus time your lips finally touch.

After that, what I can say is that your relationship is solid as rock, you love each other so much and absolutely no one can get into it, you are inseparable.

... Well, at least you thought.

A few days before the outbreak it was your father's birthday and you couldn't just not see him like the past two years, you decided to visit him, perfect timing for disaster.

As the snow falls outside the window of your house in Jackson, you remember it all like it was yesterday...

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" - you ask Joel as you hold onto his jacket. He just returns with a chuckle.

"C'mon! There's still time! You go home, pack your's and Sarah's things and I buy you two tickets, what do you think?" - you try again.

"You know I can't just leave everything behind, love. Sarah has school and I'm about to take that project" - Joel plants a kiss to your temple.

You're disappointed but not surprised, you alredy knew he couldn't come with you, but something within told you to push him and Sarah into that bus with you. Maybe it was just the idea of being three weeks away from your boyfriend, but there was still a bad feeling in you that you can't seem to get rid of.

He locks eyes with you, his honey eyes always seemed the things to calm you down don't matter what happened, and he opened his mouth to say something but the words never came out, you decide to talk then.

"I know love, I just... Have a bad feeling, you know?" - you sigh, looking to the ground then back at him.

"I'll miss you a lot" - you confess.

His gaze softens, with his hands wrapped around your face he leans to a kiss, that is interrupted by an announcement on the speakers, saying your bus was waiting.

Joel gives you one last peck on the lips before pulling you into his embrace. The man is not very good with words, you know that, so this is his way of saying 'I'll miss you too'.

When you pull back, his big brown eyes are filled with unshed tears, sight that make your own set water up. Painfully you break free from his grip, slowly walking away as the tears rolled down both of your cheeks.

...

When you first came to Jackson and you saw Tommy again after 20 years, you had talked to him about... Well, over all everything that happened but mostly what happened to Joel.

But Tommy isn't dumb, he knows who you are even after 20 years apart, he knows if he ever tells you where Joel is you would go flying to him in the same instant, but with all those ridlers and infected around he couldn't handle the idea of letting you go, even more after just reuniting with his biggest friend. He won't risk it.

When you two sat and talked, you asked him if he knew where Joel was, but Tommy shrugged, said in a breath that he just didn't talk to him for a long time and, as Joel is, he probably didn't stay in the same place for too long.

He also tol you about Sarah... With a painful voice he told you how he just watched as he lost his niece and his brother on the same night, because Joel just... Wasn't the same anymore, he changed, he did things (but Tommy never told what things)... Joel isn't the same man you met 20 years ago.

"Well, I didn't expect him to be the same" - that's what you told him, gaining a pitiful gaze from your friend.

Tommy feels pity for you, he thinks you're so lost in the world, and that you need for a purpose so bad, you will chase down any opportunity to go back to that old life of yours. You told him it wasn't about it but of couse he never listened, he just wished for you to wake up to reality, wich in his mind was, that you are now safe, in a place you can live the rest of your life in peace.

But it didn't erase your deep sadness.

It's been five months since you came to Jackson, it haven't been half as bad as you tought it would be, actually people here are neighbourly, everyone helps everyone. Gosh, you like this place. But you can't forget how lonely you feel now.

Of course, there's Tommy and his wife, but now you live alone in this enormous house he got you. Such a huge place and nothing to fill it with if not solitude. But the worst part of it is how seeing Tommy again resurfaced the feelings for Joel you so long burried away, as the only way you found of copig with the fact you would never see him again.

The problem is that now there is hope.

And suddently the urge to know more, to find him, hits you. You can find him, you just need the right clues.

You came back to your house, unlocking the door and shutting it behind you, you saw the map spread over the dining table and for a brief moment the possibility of staying and just... Leaving Joel be, crossed your mind. For a moment it doesn't seem so bad after all... If he didn't come to you before, why would he want you now? The person who took people's lives, who learned how to use a gun on their own, who can't sleep at night with the ghosts of the people they killed... You're not yourself anymore, why would he want you back?

But before you could think further into it, a knock behind you brings you back into reality. Turning the knob again to open it, you saw Tommy, in an euphoric state.

"You need to come with me, right now" - The man says with a wide smile across his face.

You're still clueless - "What happened?".

Before answering he pulled our of the door, dragging you by your arm across the street, right to the construction he was helping with.

You see the horses and recognize some of the people standing with them, but there's one little girl, around 13 or 14 years old, you can't record.

Abruptly Tommy stops to turn to you, with tears on his eyes - "someone heard your prayers, my friend".

He then placed a hand on your shoulder, leading you into the crowd of people, as you got further into it, your eyes catch Maria talking to a man, his salt and pepper hair falling over his eyebrows and then you saw it.

His big brown eyes.

Staring into your own.

Your heart drops and your knees turn weak. How are you even still standing?

"Joel?" - you call his name, but he is still unsure if it's a dream or not.

His heart beats loud on his ears with the realization, you are alive.

Tommy lets go of your shoulder and you waste no time in running to Joel, straight to the safety of his arms, safety you longed during 20 years. But yet he stays froze in place, maybe his mind was tricking him? Could it be an hallucination? He's tired and haven't slept in at least three days, he can't just trust his eyes right away.

But it is not necessary.

You finally get to him and he don't hesitate, his hands reaching for both sides of your face as he examinates it. Your gaze never leaving his as well.

Desperate arms pull you into his embrace. He smells like wet grass and wood, not the expensive cologne he used to wear when going out with you, but it isn't a problem. After all you found him, or better saying, he found you.

Joel tuck his fingers around the back of your neck and under your hair as he wishes to get closer to you, if it's possible. And he cries.

You hear his snifles on your ear and feel his tears leaving a wet spot on you jacket.

Joel's not good with words, you know that, but this is him saying "I missed you". This is him telling you about Sarah, Tess and how he lost himself the night of the outbreak, and it doesn't need one word to make you understand. He lost everything. But for what it seems, he just found everything again.

[orions-choker]

Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Serial Killers, Murder, Obsessions, Yandere tendencies, more to be added.

Chapter Three

Eerie was the only word that could describe stepping into Kirk’s house. Uncanny in the way that it was completely unremarkable. A little crowded, but cozy. There was an assortment of slightly mismatched furniture in the living room, family photos resting on the walls and side tables.

It was just a glimpse as she followed her companion up the stairs. She could faintly make out the figure of Kirk’s mother resting in the living room, the distant sounds of the television made the house feel less empty. She could accurately guess which door led to Kirk’s room based on how it mirrored her own.

His room was smaller than initially believed. Perhaps it just seemed that way as the wall’s seemed to close in on her. Painted a dark color and covered head to toe in posters, flags and magazine cutouts. She could make out some of the band’s and movies displayed but the majority of it was lost on her.

The bed was pushed to the far side of the wall, sheets tossed about messily. In the corner rested the same guitar she had seen him with that night, she wouldn’t admit to that. “When did you start playing?” She asked eager to break the silence. She perched herself just on the edge of his bed, unsure of where else would be appropriate to sit.

Kirk had moved to a shelf on the far wall that held not only an old worn record player, but a pretty extensive collection of vinyl. In his hands the album he had purchased with her earlier. She watched as he slid it from its sleeve, the black color shining new in the light completely unblemished. “Hmm, five or six years ago now that I think about it.” He hummed thoughtfully as placed the record on the player. Carefully moving the needle over and allowing it to drop.

In an instant the room shook from the force of the music. It was hard to describe beside incoherent yelling, but beneath it was a rhythm that Y/N could enjoy. She smiled tightly at him, bopping her head along a bit. “It's different,” she commented albeit awkwardly. “I don’t hate it.” He laughed at her, moving to turn the volume down until it was a pleasant hum in the background. “You’ll enjoy it more, the more you listen to it.” Kirk assured her. He sat across from her in his swivel chair. There was a rising heat in the room and he moved to push up the sleeves of his denim jacket. Y/N watched the movement with curious eyes, drinking in the sight of more exposed skin.

There was a collection of pretty veins trailing from his slender fingers up his lean forearm. Oddly enough the few scrapes she had noticed on his knuckles ran up the length of his arm, something akin to nails being drug across his skin were healing into faint white scars. She peered at the wounds. “Do you fight a lot?” She asked him softly.

Kirk’s lips turned down at the corner, he followed her gaze to his hands and arms. The realization settled onto his face. “Oh, no I was cat-sitting for a friend.” He explained casually. He moved to roll the sleeves back down quickly. ‘I’m not the fighting type, trust me.”

Y/N could believe it. His aesthetics may have changed into something darker. But he seemed too gentle, still soft spoken and made up of mostly lanky limbs. A silence settled over them aside from the record still spinning. “I would love to see you play guitar sometime.” Finally she broke the silence. Her body leaned forward from where she sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes drifted across the sleek but simple guitar that rested in the corner. “Or even see your band live.”

“We play every Metal Monday down at the bar.” Kirk's voice raised in pitch slightly, an infectious enthusiasm taking hold as he grabbed the guitar from its stand. “I can always pick you up and bring you down.” He offered. His fingers danced across the strings as he attempted to play the riff from the song based purely off of hearing it. He did a surprisingly good job keeping up.

It was mesmerizing, watching his hands move fluidly down the neck of the instrument, his fingers gripping tightly at the pick that hit each string. “Really?” She asked, finally forcing her eyes back up to meet Kirk’s. He was watching her with a lazy smile that made her stomach do flips. “I would really like that actually.”

The tension between the two seemed to ease, settling into something manageable. “Yeah, this Monday then?” Kirk asked hopefully. The song came to a close, his hands stilled their movements. His big brown eyes shone with an excitement that reminded her of an eager animal.

Y/N crossed her legs underneath herself, getting slightly more comfortably in his bed. Still hardly able to process the fact she was sitting in his room with him. “Sound’s good to me, how late does it typically run to?” She asked him. Seeing the confusion in his eyes she quickly explained. “It sounds stupid but uh, with what's been happening in town lately my parents kind of imposed a curfew, dumb I know.” Embarrassment burned through her veins, she was acutely aware just how stupid it sounded to be telling someone she had a strict bedtime as a fully grown adult. “No, that makes perfect sense, your parents are right.” Kirk nodded understandingly. “We play pretty early, if you can’t stay for the other bands I can drive you home early, it’s no worries.” His shoulders shifted with an easy shrug. Y/N’s chest slumped forward as she breathed out a sigh of relief.

She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the way his hands rested on the guitar, it was such a casual gesture like a natural extension of his body. “I feel like such a loser saying that.” She chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Speaking of curfew, I should be getting home pretty soon.” her gaze shifted past Kirk, gazing out the window where the late morning sun shifted to a hazy pink afternoon sky.

Kirk pouted playfully. “You gotta at least finish the record with me.” He said as he got up, resting the guitar on the bed beside her. He moved to flip over the vinyl, allowing the b-side to play. She had hardly noticed the music cutting out, it had become nothing more than a pleasant soundtrack to their conversation. Much better when it wasn't assaulting her senses.

Carefully her fingers came to rest on the neck of the guitar. She was surprised by how rough the strings were against her skin. She absentmindedly realized she had never held a guitar before. “Okay, okay I’ll finish it with you…it's not like I'm far away from home anyways.” She joked, able to see the faint light from her own bedroom window where she sat on his bed.

It was now she realized just how good of a view Kirk would have into her room if her blinds were left open. She could see practically everything from here, including the majority of her bed. It was a good reminder to keep her curtains drawn when she was sleeping. She shivered at the thought of anyone being able to see her so clearly.

“So what's the deal with this band?” She asked him with a curious tilt of her head. “You seemed pretty excited to find this album earlier,” she pointed out. She watched a grin spread across his face, his slightly crooked teeth on display. They glinted in the dim lighting of his room, almost looking like the sharp canines of a predator.

Unknowingly she had opened a floodgate for Kirk to spill everything he knew about the band. She was quick to learn it was one of his favorites, rather the singer was one of his favorites and he simply loved whatever band he happened to be a part of. He talked about it with a fervor that could only be described as incredibly dorky. This reminded her far more of the neighbor she remembered.

She watched him intently, drinking in every word that spilled past his lips like a never ending flood of knowledge. “I didn’t know you were so passionate about music.” She filled the silence that followed. “I don’t mind it actually, maybe you can show me some other bands next time.” She offered as she got up from the bed.

The sky continued to dim and she knew she was pushing it. It was hard to miss the frown on Kirk’s face. “Yeah, next time.” He nodded. He followed suit, striding across the room quickly. It took her by surprise as his hand came to rest delicately on her hip, the other snaking around her to open his bedroom door. “Let me walk you downstairs.” His voice hovered just above her ear. It was gone just as soon as it had appeared. Leaving Y/N’s heart in her throat.

Her brain short circuited at the sudden contact. Nodding dumbly she followed him down through his living room once more. “Thanks for today Kirk, I’ll see you on monday yeah?” She was able to choke out some sort of farewell to him. Her head tilted up to look at him with wide eyes.Her hands gripped the strap of her purse like a lifeline.

“You will.” He confirmed with an easy chuckle. The front door creaked open slowly as he held it for her once more. The act would seem gentlemanly had he not been looming over her. “Have a goodnight Y/N.”

With the speed of a frightened mouse she ducked her head, sliding past him. She cut across his lawn into her own, acutely aware of his eyes on her until she dipped into her own empty house. She was grateful for the lack of her parents as she locked the door behind her quickly. Explaining her flustered state to her mother was the last thing she wanted to do.

Being around Kirk left her with a blizzard of mixed emotions. There was objectively nothing wrong with him, quite the opposite. His voice was soft, words were sweet. His smile was bright and comforting. Yet there was something about the way his eyes lingered on her that had her feeling like she was being laid bare before him.

Worse that her insides were on display, each erratic beat of her heart and twist of her guts showcased, as her flesh and fat was peeled away by a single gaze. Like a cadaver to be examined and studied. She wondered if she had ever truly had a crush if this is what it felt like.

The house was dark, barely illuminated by the setting sun. She slipped off her shoes easily, leaning against the wall for support as her knees felt weak. The implications of the day spent with her attractive neighbor finally settled in. She shook her head as she stumbled to the kitchen, haphazardly hitting the lights on her way.

A shiver ran up her spine as the cool air of the fridge blasted her skin. Her hands rummaged amongst the shelves as she searched for something to satiate the growing hunger she felt. Absent-mindedly she realized she hadn’t eaten at all today. The choice was a slice of cold pizza. The fridge rattled with the force in which she slammed the door closed.

She winced slightly. “Sorry,” She apologized as if her action had actually hurt the appliance. She shuffled across the cold tile floor to the kitchen table. Leaning on the table, she rested her weight on her arms as she took a bite of her food. A frown pulled at her lips, it was stale. With a defeated sigh she finished it off, the ache of exhaustion under her skin outweighed her want for real food.

It had turned dark outside faster than she thought, heavy clouds moving in and casting an early night upon the town. She squinted as she looked outside the large sliding glass door, the glare from the kitchen lights making it hard to see anything. Her eyes landed on the latch, realizing it had been left unlocked.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she noticed the mistake. She was quick to get up from the table, her chair screeching across the tile as it launched back. As much as she wished to believe she was above scary stories, the very real threat plaguing her childhood town had her more than a little on edge. Her fingers quickly grasped the lock, pulling it into place with a relieved sigh.

Being closer to the window now she could see her back yard a little clearer now. It was clear, of course it was clear. She was getting worked up for no reason. Taking a small step back, from the corner of her eye…movement. Her head snapped towards it. Unmistakably in the corner of her yard was a looming dark presence. She couldn’t see their eyes but she had a sinking feeling they were staring directly at one another.

She had acknowledged it, and it had acknowledged her. Her breath was knocked from her lungs harshly. The creeping feeling of panic took hold of her face, pulling it into a long terrified expression. The figure stood unmoving, as did she. Paralyzed by her fear she was glued to her spot. Bile rose from her stomach, burning her throat.

From behind her was the unmistakable sound of the front door creaking open, it was enough to snap her from her stupor. A blood curdling scream built deep in her stomach as she turned from the sliding glass door to behind her. She unleashed as she turned to face…her mother and father.

“Y/N sweetheart what's going on?” Her Father asked in a panic, dropping his work bag to the floor as he rushed to her side. Her mother followed suit, hands immediately patting over her body checking her for injuries. Her yell seemed to echo off the walls as her body shook.

With a shaky hand she pointed outside. Words escaped her as she stuttered out what she had seen. “O-outside, someone.” She gasped for air, leaning back against the counter for support. She saw the flash of worry in her fathers eyes as he moved to the door, throwing it open as he examined their backyard.

Her mother stayed at her side, moving her to sit down once more at the table. “Sweetheart there's no one outside.” Her father informed her cautiously as he returned inside, careful to close and lock the offending door behind him.

There was a disgruntled noise from her mother beside her. “Oh for crying out loud Y/N, were you reading too much about the murders this morning.” She ran a hand through her hair. All concern was drained from her words. “Jesus christ, you gave us a heart attack.”

Y/N shook her head wildly in protest. “No I know, there was someone out there, he looked right at me!” She exclaimed. She looked to her dad with pleading eyes, a sense of desperation in her voice. “I’m not making it up, he was right there.”

There was a deep frown on her father’s face. “Princess, you should go get some rest, you obviously haven't recuperated from the drive back.” He sighed, voice laced with irritation as he tried to calm down from the sudden excitement they had all experienced.

She blinked hard, and nodded. She wasn’t convinced, she wasn’t tired. She knew what she saw, someone was out there. Each step she took up the stairs in silence filled her with dread, flinching at the darkness that embraced her as she reached her room. Her hand was hesitant to find the light switch.

Even the sight of her room, her safe space, brought her little comfort. Her eyes drifted to her open curtains. Approaching the open window left her hands shaking. She could see the warm glow of the light in Kirk’s bedroom window, it brought her some solace. Her eyes carefully scanned the yard below, nothing.

She peaked into Kirk’s room. It seemed empty, his bedroom door left wide open. A small pang of worry wormed its way into her heart. What if the freak had moved on to Kirk’s house instead. She shook the thought from her head, relief flooding her as she watched his body enter the room, a beer in hand.

Quickly before she could be caught staring once more she drew the blinds, double checking the latch on her window was locked once more.Her body slumped against her mattress, her hands shook as her gaze fell to the floor. There had been someone outside she was sure of it. Thinking rationally it could have easily been someone lost, a drunk person cutting through backyards, a million more reasonable explanations than the possible serial killer plaguing the town.

But she could feel those eyes on her, even through the thick separation of a glass window pane. Something hungry, devouring just the sight of her. A deep feeling of regret curdled in her stomach. She really should have stayed at school for the summer.

[gggreengoblin]

1.838 words, 2nd part of this, Girl!Daniel wanted to move wanted to move away from Monaco to help her move on from her feelings for Max.

CW:: WAG (kelly, only mentioned), Girl!Daniel

It would be good for Daniel's mental health to move and bring some fresh air into her life. Her therapist suggested it. She had considered it for almost a month.

She had been doing the same routine for years, just rinse and repeat. Racing since she was a toddler, traveling since she was a teenager, and moved to Monaco in her early 20s. And Daniel believed that moving to a new place would help her feel better. And maybe living in one place permanently, with less traveling, would give her some sense of stability. Something that she lacked.

She had already told her family about her plan. She had told them about her little apartment-hunting adventure, how she found her lovely one-bedroom flat in northwest London, how she fell in love with it because of its open-bricked accent wall, electric fireplace and tall windows. She also told them about her plan to set a chair and a table in front of one of the windows.

All that remained was to announce the news of her moving to her friends. She wanted to tell Max first. He was one of her closest friends, someone who she hung out with at least twice a month and texted her daily.

Daniel had baked some chocolate cookies. She was letting the cookies cool down on her marble kitchen island. The whole apartment smelled delicious, chocolate-sweet, just like her cookies.

Her cell phone rang. Max was outside of her apartment,  waiting for her to buzz him in.

She opened her door for Max. He was in his casual clothes, with no Redbull logo in sight.

"Smell good, Daniel," Max's first words to Daniel.

"Yeah. Just finished baking."

Max passed the shopping bag he was carrying to Daniel. Inside is a box of chocolates. It was the expensive one from Daniel's favorite brand.

Max went straight to the kitchen, eyeing two baking trays full of chocolate cookies. He took a cookie and blew on it. He took a giant bite of it. "Very delicious."

"Is P staying with you and Kelly?" Daniel asked.

"Yes, she is. She wants to go karting tomorrow."

"Cool. Can I pack some cookies for her? Is that okay?"

Max nodded so Daniel took a small lunchbox and put some cookies for the little girl.

"Thank you. She loves your cookies."

Max took more cookies for himself. Humming while chewing.

Daniel took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "Max I need to tell you something, yeah?"

"I will move to London in two weeks."

Max stopped chewing. He put the cookie he had bitten onto the kitchen counter.

He glanced at Daniel.

"I'm moving to London. It will be easier for me if I live closer to the factory. No more unnecessary plane rides. Good for the environment, you know."

Max turned his back on Daniel.

"Max?"

Daniel saw how Max's ears and neck turned red. Of course, that man noticed how some of Daniel's belongings disappeared from their usual placement. She had packed some of her worldly possessions. Her decorations, trophies, and her vinyl collection had been packed into cardboard boxes that piled up in the corner of the room, leaving her pristine white walls bare.

Daniel did not expect this kind of reaction at all. She knew Max would ask a lot of questions but she never imagined he would be mad.

He took a deep breath and turned around. "Why? What happened? I don't get it, Daniel."

"Yeah, I feel like- I don't feel Monaco is the right place for me anymore."

"But I thought you like Monaco."

"I have liked Monaco, for years, but not now. I want- I need something new."

Max walked out onto the balcony, leaving Daniel standing alone in the kitchen. Too stunned to say something.

She followed Max to the balcony. Max was just standing there. Staring into the dark sea in the distance.  His hands were clenching the railing. 

"I'll be my closet, packing my old clothes, yeah? Find me when you're done staring at nothing," Daniel mumbled.

She sighed when she sat on her closet floor. A huge pile of clothes waiting to be sorted. She took two cardboard boxes, one for things she wanted to keep, and one for old clothes she wanted to throw away.

Her closet was years' worth of clutter she never bothered to sort. Maybe moving to London was a blessing, an opportunity to put her life back together. It forced her to sort things out, take her future to London, and leave her junk in Monaco.

She folded that pile. She folded her old, faded t-shirt. Her dresses that she only wore once. Her old hoodies. She did not want to keep them, so she put them in the put-away box.

She heard sounds from her bathroom. Door closing, water faucet running. She let Max be.

A few minutes later, Max joined her. His face was still blotchy and his hair was a little wet. His face was blank from any emotion. Just like the Max Daniel would find on the track after a horrible race.

"I am sorry," Max said as he sat down among Daniel's colorful mess, "of course, you can move to anywhere you want." He didn't even look at Daniel's face. Eyes focused on the wall behind her.

"Why are you so upset?" Daniel put down the half-folded shirt to focus on Max.

"You are moving to England, Daniel. Of course, I am shocked."

Daniel couldn't believe what she heard.

"We will be seeing each other less and less," Max muttered under his breath.

And it hurt Daniel when Max said it out loud. It is true, they would be seeing each other a lot less than usual, but isn't it the point? Also, she was sure Max would still hunt her down during his stay in England.

"Would you not feel the same way if I move?" The emotionless mask slipped from his voice. That crack showed a sliver of Max's emotion but Daniel was too scared to name it.

"To be honest, I don't think you will ever leave Monaco, Mate. You love the Mediterranean too much."

"Well, there are few places I like better than Monaco."

"You mean a place like a secluded mansion in the south of France?"

"No, l like Australia too, you know."

"Australia is too different from Monaco. The sun is hotter, the waves are stronger because of the ocean. I don't think you would like that."

The thought of Max and Kelly moving to Australia was a nightmare. For a second Daniel imagined Max and Kelly moving to a beach house in Perth with their beautiful blond-haired children. Daniel would rather pack her bags and move to Greenland than share the same city with them again.

"You have no idea, Daniel."

"Would you not feel sad if I move to another country?" Max asked again. His fingers were fidgeting with Daniel's peach and creme-colored cardigan.

"Of course, I'll be sad we won't see each other much. But if moving would be better for you, make you feel happier, then I'll support you."

"This is why you are so much better than me," he whispered.

"Let me help," Max took the cardboard box that had been halfway full. He put the pile of clothes that Daniel was going to throw away into the box. Then he moved on to another stack of folded garments.

"No, not that one."

Max stopped and put the pile back down.

"I don't know what to do with this," Daniel looked at that pile. Her old race suit, fireproof, and balaclava.

"You should keep them," Max traced his finger through them, one by one, lingering on Daniel's name.

"I can't. I don't have enough space. The place I rent is way smaller than this apartment."

"Why did you choose that place then?"

"It is gorgeous." She ran to her bedroom and took her phone. She showed him the pictures of her new apartment. Max just nodded, not impressed.

Max took a new box and wrote "Daniel's racing gear" on the side of the box. He put the pile in that box.

"Just send the things you want to keep to my place. I have enough space. And maybe, if you change your mind, you can just fly back here because you already have some of your stuff at my house."

"I will not come back."

"How can you be so sure?"

Daniel didn't answer. She knew Max was still upset and unconsciously acting like a prick.

"I don't understand why you have to do all of this, Daniel. Why do you have to change your life because of him?"

"It's not because of him."

"Of course it is because of him. Don't lie to me."

"Maybe some of this change happened because of him. But like, It would be easier for me if I didn't see him as much. It would be easier for me to move on."

Max looked down and said, "I wish you never met and fell in love with him."

"No, Max. I will never regret meeting him."

"Fuck, Daniel," He groaned. Jaws already clenching.

"Tell me who he is."

"No."

"Please, just tell me already."

"Why are you forcing me? What will you do if you know who it is?"

"I want to punch him. I want to hurt him for hurting you like this."

He stood up. They were at the same height, maybe Max was a little taller than her by one or two centimeters, but standing face to face with upset Max was too much for Daniel. She knew he would never hurt her, but the intensity of his gaze made her shiver. 

"Tell me something about him. What makes him so special? What does he have that makes you love him like this?"

"Max, what are you talking about? You know how unhappy I am. I complain to you, like, all the time. But is this your reaction when I finally tell you what I need to do to fix my situation?" she snapped "I thought you cared and want me to be happy."

"I need a minute." He walked out of the room.

"No, Max. You need to go home."

He just stood there, in the hallway. Anger slowly disappeared from his eyes. His mouth was open but he said nothing. Max didn't even protest when Daniel led him to the front door.

"I will be back to help you with the packing tomorrow," he said.

"Nope. You'll go karting with Penelope and Kelly tomorrow."

She almost forgot about P. She hurriedly took the lunchbox from her kitchen island and shoved it into Max's hand.

"We will talk again when we've calmed down, yeah." She patted his arm before closing the door.

.....

The very next day, at 10.08 a.m., Max called her. He said he was waiting outside her building with his big car, the one with big enough trunk to take Daniel's boxes.

[momentspassd]

❝ there's a person that you must be, just trust me ❞

Age: 31

Gender & Pronouns: cis female & she/her

Neighborhood: Deer Park

Occupation: chef and owner of Tres Amigos

Positive traits: passionate, selfless, & dedicated

Negative traits: indecisive, hot-tempered, & cynical 

Length of time in Blue Harbor: local

Faceclaim: Prscilla Quintana

smirking eyes that hold one too many secrets, a history of survival shining from dark eyes, postcards pinned to the wall from far away places, a record player spinning an extensive vinyl collection, empty wine bottles by the bathtub

death tw, parkinson's disease tw

Born and raised in Blue Harbor, Illinois meant that Antonella Ibarra was far removed from the places she wanted to be and the person she dreamed of being one day. The small town just wasn't where big life happened, at least in her opinion, no matter how short the drive may have been to bigger, thriving cities. So, Nell grew up a dreamer and little by little the older she got the more she saw each dream die off.

When she was 11 years old her mother passed away suddenly, the death was a mystery of what caused it but at least she went peacefully in her sleep, and that left Nell and her father all on their lonesome. He'd been out of work for some time by then, a back injury from a hard labor job, and tough times got even tougher when the family of two tried to live on a singular income. Nell's father received disability but it barely covered the bills. There was some help from family here and there when they could give a little but her father never liked being a burden and pride often got in the way of asking for assistance. For some time he tried to go back to work, taking on whatever jobs he could that wouldn’t completely destroy his weak back, in the end it was up to the young Nell to take care of them. The worry of keeping a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs, Nell had to take up a job at 13 years of age. She worked in a kitchen, just doing dishes and cleaning up after customers at the end of the day. It was tough but the tips the waitresses made were often shared with her. Which helped when it came to her father needing a home nurse to visit a few times a week.

As a teenager her distractions were boys and girls. Dating was fun and she felt carefree, it was an escape from the troubles of her day to day life. Especially when her father's health took an even further decline as Parkinson's began to set in. Oftentimes she would pretend to be someone else, lie to those she was seeing about her life and where she came from, it was the ultimate escape. Especially when being that poor meant Nell either had to bring leftovers home from the diner she worked at or make magic happen with the little groceries she could afford to buy. Thankfully the cooks at the diner showed her tricks and gave her tips over the years that propelled her into the career she possesses now as an adult.

It was a selfish move but for a couple of years Nell put her father into a nursing home and rented out their house so that she could attend culinary school. The promise was that she would come back and make everything right again. It was obvious to her that a big risk could eventually offer up great rewards, so with a heavy heart and shoulders heavily weighed with guilt she went to Los Angeles for culinary school. There were even two trips abroad, one to Italy and another to Spain, but Nell kept her word even if it was heartbreaking to leave Los Angeles and the thrill of those two years behind. With culinary school and experience under her belt she took the position of chef at a popular downtown restaurant. Years of success and good reviews took her career even further and just a few of years ago Nell accepted the position of head chef at one of Chicago’s finest establishments.

With some money saved and a loan from the bank Nell bought out the owners of Tres Amigos with a promise to keep it authentic while taking the casual restaurant to new heights. The big dreams she’d had as a child still waved somewhere in the back of her mind begging for attention, and with her father living back in his home and under her care, she’s pushing through the struggle to make those aspirations as much of a reality as possible. The hardest thing was leaving behind the top job at one of Chicago’s finest to make something of her own, but Nell wanted nothing more than to work with traditional Mexican cuisine and expand upon it. A touch into her roots and the things her mother and family had taught her would finally come to light and shine. 

Nothing else in her life may go right but Nell Ibarra sure can cook.

potential connections:

ride or die — this person has been there through it all and likely from the beginning. nell and this person support and lean on each other through the highs and lows. they're platonically married and have often joked about actually marrying each other if they're both single at 40.

la friends — for 2 years nell was in los angeles for culinary school and definitely went out on the town and further south to mexico to live it up and enjoy herself. anyone that was there during this time that she could've had a good time with will always be memorable for nell.

frequent customers — maybe they just know each other from how often they come into tres amigos. or maybe they're familiar with nell's cooking from that big restaurant she used to be chef at in chicago?

the ex — for practically the last decade these two have been off and on. nell doesn't know how to do love and relationships properly, especially with so much of her life feeling out of her control. i imagine he has plenty going on in his own life as well, but they care for each other, probably really love each other, even if they come and go a lot in each other's lives. he helps out with her dad and nell doesn't really know how to live without him. i have a lot of fun headcanons!

ex-girlfriend — in my head (and heart) they were good friends in high school and maybe were flirtly never quite fully platonic with each other that entire time. when she came back from la and in the midst of life being super complicated for nell their hooking up only started off as a fun thing and a distraction, but feelings came up and that's when nell cut it off. i have lots of headcanons!

also down for the usuals! neighbors, childhood friends, friends from chicago, anyone involved in the culinary industry, one night stands, flings, bad dates, etc.

[reggiejworkshop]

"The Record Store"

These types of stores are always a neat place to visit if you happen to have any interest in music. While they're probably not as easy to find nowadays since many prefer the digital route when it comes to getting music, they're definitely worth seeking out to take a look. You can find all sorts of records here. A rare cassette bootleg from an indie band, a out of print album that's only available on vinyl,  a famous album that managed to find its way in the bargain bin, or tons upon tons of one dollar soundtrack CDs that are usually ignored. But on top of finding different kinds of records in these stores, you can find all kinds of people too. Music lovers, casual browsers, music collectors, audiophiles, and sometimes musicians. And when you bring all these types together, you get all kinds of conversations too!

Record Collector: "I'm telling you, a Japanese import of this Cars album can go up ten times as much as this used one. The sound quality is amazing compared to this!" Casual Browser: "So I'd be dropping an extra grand just to hear less cracks and pops?" Max Goof: "...oh sure, and Powerline's my older brother!" Grunkle Stan: " No really, I know these guys. Let me tell you how I once got in a slugfest with Henry Rollins at Lollapalooza!" Phillip J Fry: Weird, I thought these things died out before I went to the future. ( looks around)  I am still in the future aren't I?" Wakko Warner: "Hey, Rumplestiltkin! Can I look at that when your done?" Groundskeeper Willie: "Ay. Sure thing, laddie. Just don't call me that again." Seller: "You sure you can't take em? Only half of these skip!" Record Store Guy: "Sir, we only take non warped records here. Begone, record warper!"

This is one of the places I always try to go to whenever I get the chance. One thing I love aside from drawing is collecting and listening to music. And most of my musical tastes were forged from the various finds that caught my attention within these stores. I don't visit these places that often nowadays, one because I rarely have the time, two it gets really expensive. You'd be surprised how much money you can end up burning through just from going through the bargain bin selections week after week. 

So I wanted to do a new crossover fanart piece that's loosely based on my experiences in visiting these stores. While I tend to go for a retro look in my artwork already, I decided to do something different by using a standard comic book color sheet. One that contains only 64 colors.  While I did end up doing a lot of extra color mixing further down line, I mainly kept with colors in the pallete, one so I would have less difficulty in choosing colors, but also so it would have more of an old school look.

Here's a link below to the various comic book color palletes if anyone is interest in trying that out. http://www.madformidcentury.com/2013/10/mid-century-color-palette-in-comics.html#.ZCujJXbMKM8

See how many characters you can spot here! And for a harder challenge, see how many album covers are here as well!

[forever-fixating]

WIP Wednesday

OMG hey! It's been a while, I know. IRL can be a real energy suck, but I have recharged my batteries and have some goodies to share. Thanks to @onthewaytosomewhere for the tag! I'm doing this under a cut because I'm sharing bits from living in a new normal and Tournament for His Heart! Enjoy!

living in a new normal

“Hey, talk to me.”

Swallowing, Henry said, “It’s risky. I don’t know that I trust myself not to be able to hide how happy you make me.”

“Good thing we’ll be so busy with the kids,” Alex laughed. He moved closer and put an arm around Henry’s waist. “Baby, you’re gonna be overseas with me soon for three months. I know you’re worried about people talking, but let them talk. That doesn’t have to affect us.”

Henry turned his face toward Alex and accepted his gentle kiss, murmuring against his lips, “You’re right.”

“I know I am,” Alex said with a grin. “Besides, you think you’re the only one here finding it hard to hide how happy you are?”

“Have you been hiding?” Henry asked. “I’ve seen your Lives and Instagram stories. Nothing but sappy love songs, darling.”

“You fucking love it, don’t lie!”

Henry did. Alex’s knowledge of music and its history was impressive, to say the least. One minute, he would be talking about the history of Motown and Berry Gordy’s manipulative and predatory contracts, and the next, he would be ranting that The Chicks did nothing wrong when Natalie said what she said about Bush and he would kill to collaborate with them on a song. He promised to show Henry his vast collection of eight-tracks, vinyls, cassette tapes, and CDs. Music made him come alive. This wasn’t someone who was a casual fan of music. Alex was in a life-long love affair with it.

So, when it came to his IG Lives and Stories, Henry didn’t know what to expect. It could be a song from Taylor Swift, Billie Holiday, or Wham. When he sang a country version of the duo’s song Freedom, Henry could only respond via text with a string of lovey-dovey emojis. It was ridiculous, and Henry couldn’t get enough.

A Tournament for His Heart

“Love, remember the shadows,” Alex read aloud. “Talk to Pip.”

At the trio of confused expressions, Alex explained Henry’s final message and his belief that some kind of danger scared Henry into cutting off their correspondence. Zahra turned to Ellen again and said, “Your Majesty, I believe it would be a grave mistake to send your children to Lerasea. You must decline.”

“I will go,” Alex snapped. At Zahra’s thunderous expression, he said, “Keep June here if you must to ensure the line of succession, but Henry is in danger. I will not leave him to whatever fate Mary has in store for him.”

Ellen reached out to take his hand and squeeze it. Her voice was soft when she asked, “You still love him…don’t you?”

Alex nodded, his throat suddenly too tight to speak. Zahra, ever the pragmatist, said, “Your Highness, while you may still harbor some tenderness toward the prince, I beg you to think about this rationally.”

He glanced at the advisor and the paper in her hand. “This is the list of your fellow suitors. Twelve of them are using proxies, some of the most skilled knights across creation. Even with our very best, there is no guarantee you will be successful. Why open yourself up to the possibility of that heartbreak?”

“I will not use a proxy,” Alex stated. “I will compete myself.”

His mother’s grip on his hand tightened while Zahra snapped, “Alexander, this is not a game! Are you truly so arrogant to believe yourself capable of defeating anyone they put before you?”

“I would break every fucking bone in my body if that’s what it took to be with Henry again!” Alex shouted. His words echoed in the chambers. His body was flooded with adrenaline, but he forced himself to take a moment to calm down. Looking at his mother, with whom his fate and future happiness rested, he said, “I apologize for my tone and language. I don’t believe this will be easy. In fact, I relish the challenge. It is not arrogance that fuels me but love. I love him, Your Majesty. Then and now, that feeling has not changed or wavered. It has remained as constant as the suns, the moons, and the stars. Please let me do this.”

Author's Note: No matter the universe, Alex has zero chill when it comes to his Henry. I'm working on these stories, hopefully I'll have something for yall soon. I have a giant summer with plenty of downtime ahead of me. Later, taters!

[swanmaids]

tag memes

thank you for tagging me in both of these, @elevenelvenswords!!

no pressure tags for @meadowlarkx @imakemywings @theghostinthemargins @jouissants @welcomingdisaster. do either or both or neither!

meme #1

Favourite colour: Pink! I even have in my tinder bio that whoever matches me better be cool with my pink obsession hahaha

Last song: Walk Like This by FLO (eleven, this is like the ultimate celegorome song to me hahaha... if you listen you'll see why :'))

Last movie/TV show: I'm partway through Princess Kaguya

Next on my watch list: Azur and Asmar, it looks so pretty!

Last game: I don't play video games :(

Sweet/savoury/spicy: These questions are hard for me because I don't think you can have any without the other, a balance of all three is ideal

Relationship status: Single, online dating casually

Last online search: Chappell Roan vinyl. It was sold out :(

Current obsession: Pole is definitely taking over my life a bit atm. I really want to find the time to learn aerial hoop too.

Greatest flaw: I have a very addictive and obsessive personality. Right now I'm basically constantly tightrope walking being a workaholic and a shopaholic at the same time :')

~~~

meme #2

Are you named after anyone?

My middle name is the name of the woman who set my parents up on a blind date!

2. When was the last time you cried?

Can't remember! I'm feeling pretty good lately.

3. Do you have kids?

No, but I'd like to.

4. What sports do you play/have played?

I'm an intermediate-level pole dancer right now and I want to try out more aerial arts, it's just a matter of finding the time.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Daily.

6. What is the first thing you notice about people?

Their attitude.

7. What's your eye colour?

Brown.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

It really depends what I'm feeling at the time tbh! Though I have to be in a certain mood for totally tragic endings.

9. Any talents?

People tell me I'm a lot physically stronger than I look. Also dancing in heels.

10. Where were you born?

North of England. Related to the "use sarcasm every day" point above.

11. What are your hobbies?

Pole dancing as mentioned, flexibility, reading, writing (when I can...), vinyl collecting, cooking and baking, konmari, doing those adult therapeutic colouring books. Also certain reddit snark subs.

12. Do you have any pets?

My parents have a dog back at home. She might be the dumbest animal in the universe but we love her.

13. How tall are you?

166 cm / 5'5 ft

14. Favourite subject(s) in school?

I despised school lmao. But I liked geography and sociology.

15. Dream job?

We said dream, so professional pole performer or conflict journalist.

[thislivsnjutare]

As I read The Wolf of Wall Street, one recurring question kept flashing through my mind: what would I do if I had the same jaw-dropping wealth as Jordan Belfort? How could I possibly spend that kind of money? I imagine I’d indulge in simpler pleasures—buying more books, expanding my vinyl collection, maybe traveling to Switzerland, though for reasons far less dubious than opening a bank account for laundering. And sure, I’d probably splurge on the occasional fancy dinner, but at $20,000 a plate, I’d expect nothing less than a divine culinary experience.

It’s hard to wrap my mind around the life Belfort describes. It’s a life so absurdly excessive that it seems almost too outrageous to be true. Half of his story is wildly hilarious, filled with the kind of antics that could only come from someone with more money than sense. The other half is just pure insanity, where the boundaries of excess are stretched beyond comprehension. From lavish parties to drug-fueled escapades, his world is an unrelenting carousel of excess and absurdity.

But as entertaining as some of the chaos is, the last few chapters were a real slog for me. By the end, Belfort’s increasingly reckless behavior, driven largely by his crippling drug addiction, becomes harder to stomach. It’s not just the drugs that make his actions so frustrating—it’s the choices that led him there. The casual, conscious decisions to chase power and wealth at the expense of everything else. What becomes clear in his story is that nothing corrupts quite like money and power. They warp our sense of right and wrong, often so subtly that we don’t even notice until we’re lost in the moral abyss.

I like to think that, given the same opportunities and mountains of cash, I’d make better decisions—use the wealth to help those around me, to make the world a little brighter. But honestly, who’s to say? None of us truly knows how we’d react when faced with such intoxicating levels of power and excess. And besides, when your fortune is built on fraud and deception, it kind of negates the idea of “good intentions” anyway.

What I do respect, however, is Belfort’s willingness to tell his story with brutal honesty. It takes a certain amount of courage to lay bare your own addiction, your worst impulses, and the sheer madness of it all. His account offers an unflinching glimpse into the life of the obscenely rich, a life filled with unimaginable highs and equally devastating lows. It’s a cautionary tale, and if nothing else, it proves that wealth and power, without restraint or integrity, can lead you to the edge of your own destruction.

[girlfailxoxo]

Inspired by Snow on the beach by Blondie

One night a few moons ago

I saw flecks of what could've been lights

“ Alright, Remus?” Sirius’ face loomed over him, his brows drawn and his bottom lip between his lips.

“ How disgusted or terrified are you?” Remus croaked out and looked away. He didn’t know why he agreed to this, why he let them see the beast in its most gruesome form.

Sirius quickly took hold of his hand. Remus felt his breathing stop and did everything to not lose the contact.

“ It was amazing! You were so cool!” Sirius’ must have seen something on his face because his smile got all soft and his hold a bit tighter. “ You were magnificent, Remus. You accepted Padfoot immediately and you’re my best friend, nothing could change that, Moons.”

You wanting me tonight feels impossible

Sirius launched himself on the sofa and laid his head on Remus’ lap, looking up at him expectantly.

“Comfortable?”

“ Always.”

Remus tried hiding his smile to no avail, instead he rolled his eyes.

“ You got a date for the ball?” Remus shook his head. “ Perfect! We’ll go together. What is your color scheme going to be? I was thinking red would go well with both green and my gra- “

“ Sirius, what?” He wasn’t sure what Sirius was getting at. He was sure that every girl in their year asked Sirius to the ball. “ But all those girls who-“

“Right.” Sirius nodded. “ And I just didn't feel like it, now I do though. So yes or no, Moony?”

“Yes.” It would always be a yes with him.

My smile is like I won a contest

And to hide that would be so dishonest

Remus didn't like smiling much, it contorted the scars on his face too much. Sirius’ eyes were wide and honest and searching and Remus would give him anything and everything. Sirius lunged at him, laughing like a madman, and Remus wished he could imprint Sirius’ laugh in his soul, carve his prints into bones and simply never let him go.

I don't even dare to wish it

But your eyes are flying saucers from another planet

“ Merlin, how much did you smoke?”

“ Definitely enough.” Sirius hummed, the burnt joint in an empty flower pot. He suddenly turned and propped his head on his right hand, the other reached for Remus’ face.

“ Pads?”

“ How many stars are swimming in your eyes?”

Remus laughed and let Sirius guide his face, they were eye to eye, their noses almost touching. If Remus were a fool, if he believed in a kinder universe, he’d think he might have tilted his head and closed the gap.

“ You’re pretty.” Sirius murmured and tucked a stray hair behind Remus’ ear, making his breath hitch.

Can this be a real thing? Can it?

Sirius took a deep and frustrated breath, threw his fag on the ground and pointed his finger at Remus.

“But I’m here, am I not? Every girl who has asked me out, flirted with me, kissed me, “ Remus gulped “ is in that bloody hall and I’m out here freezing my arse off because you’re here.”

“ I didn’t ask-“

Sirius barked a bitter laugh.

“No, you didn't ask. And sometimes I wish you would, Remus. You’ve never asked but I have always answered, and I did it with adoration.” The last part came out as a whisper.

Remus couldn’t believe it, didn’t know what this meant. He was terrified but one look at Sirius and his feet made the decision for him. He couldn’t let Sirius do all the talking or the casual touches or the asking. He couldn’t hurt Sirius because he was already scared of the end.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Please.” Sirius moaned.

You wanting me tonight feels impossible

But it's coming down, no sound, it's all around

Sirius pulled his hands away and Remus opened his eyes. One wall was bright yellow, a bookcase covered the other and the third boasted the two boys' vinyl collection and Bowie posters. There were a few plants here and there. The rug certainly came from his mum. Remus couldn’t stop his tears, Sirius looped his arms around him, put his chin on his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

“How? Who? Really?” Remus choked out, failing his arms around while Sirius stood in front of him, a bemused smile on his face. He took Remus’ hands in his.

“ You and me, Remus, because I am in love with you. I have been and always will be.”

“ I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you. Every morning I wake up and remember that you're mine and I’m yours,I need to make sure it's not a dream. As long as you keep choosing me I’ll choose you back. I will love you forever and ever, Sirius Black.”

Prompt: passion @wolfstarmicrofic

...

I finally wrote a Wolfstar fic inspired by Taylor's song!!

[mistydeyes]

Hi! I saw youre doing pairings and as a new follower I have been obsessed with your writing and was wondering if I could get a mw2 pairing? (if not just ignore this!)

I'm 5'6" with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. I'm a fairly introverted person but I prefer to surround myself with more extroverted people (I low-key thrive on chaos and like noise around me almost all the time it's bad lmao). Im getting my BA in communications and plan to open my own coffee shop later down the road once I find a good place far from home to settle. I don't want kids and I plan to travel a lot once I'm done with schooling. I have a dog but I plan to adopt more from the shelter nearest me once I get settled after uni. I read and write quite a bit in my free time and I've taken up collecting old/original but still very much usable vinyls for my record collection. I've also started crocheting and sewing with the intentions of making my own clothes. I also hate cardio. it's absolutely horrible and you can most defintely find me lifting weights lol...Im considered plus size weight wise but build wise I've heard a lot of people call me mid size. I usually don't pay much attention to those labels though just because it's better for my mental health. anxiety is a big struggle when it comes to my weight so I usually just do what makes me most happy that day! thank you so much and keep up the amazing writing!<3 (sorry this is so long lol)

( @hxad-ovxr-hxart for some reason it's only letting me send anons rn :/)

John Price (a/n love you @hxad-ovxr-hxart!! ur reblogs and tags always make me smile! i hope you enjoy :))

How you met: Civilian An iddylic coffee shop set in the countryside of Herefordshire was your dream. After uni, it took you a few years but you finally achieved your small slice of heaven. You made the short commute from your cozy cottage and smiled as you saw the sage green awning of your shop. You weren't alone as you were accompanied by your loyal Border Collie. You rewarded your companion with a treat as you stocked the small glass displays with baked goods and wrote out the menu for the day. The morning was slow as a few of your regulars came in for their usual brews and to pet their favorite employee. Eventually around noon, a man entered and greeted your pleasantly. "Just a black coffee, love," he said as you grabbed a mug for him. "It'll be ready right away, sir," you started to say, "you can wait for it at the end." He smiled and nodded in response and as you brewed his coffee, you could hear him happily "chatting" with your pet. "Well aren't you a beauty," he said and you could see your pup happily wagging her tail and leaning into his hand. "She definitely likes you," you said as you handed him his mug. He thanked you and went to sit at one of the tables with pothos vines providing an overhead cabana. Your dog followed at his ankles and sat at his feet as he casually sipped. Eventually, after a few more customers, he handed the mug back to you. "Best brew I've had," he complimented and you blushed slightly, "I'll definitely be back." With that he winked with his charming blue eyes and left your shop. You had to hold your dog in your arms as she tried to run after the man.

A peek into your relationship: You and Price were hosting the members of the 141 and their families at your coffee shop for a much needed reunion. Kyle's wife gently rocked their baby in her arms as you sat with her and discussed some crocheting projects. Their little daughter, Ivy, was cooing as she toyed with her new crochet sweater, courtesy of you. John was enjoying some spiked coffee with his men and Johnny's wife was entertaining the entire group with jokes and stories about their growing family. Eventually, John joined you as you saw his team enjoying the food you both had prepared and entertaining their small army of kids. Simon's daughter was trying to climb her dad's shoulders as he stood there chatting with Johnny. "Glad we never had to go through that," you remarked as you saw how Johnny's kids were now trying to chase your dog around. "Saved a lot of money," John replied and slowly sipped on his coffee. He was right, every year you were able to travel around the world and had crossed off every continent, including Antartica, off your list. The next few weeks you would preparing for a trip to Italy where you would both enjoy the beautiful coastline and the delicacies. As you both laughed at the antics surrounding you, Simon's daughter ran up to you and asked, "Aunt Sky, can you please make me a hot chocolate?" You smiled as you got up and gently kissed John on the cheek. You walked behind your barista counter and as you were preparing her order, you laughed as you saw that your dog had replaced your seat and was now sitting on John's lap.

[guilty-pleasures-and-dead-doves]

[Free Wolf, She-Wolf] Chapter 4

Chapters post

Chapter 3: Sweet reasons, ‘stupid’ reasons

[Chapter 4] Giving Honor, Giving Away

The Emperor sat on his upholstered, reclining throne, and waited.

He played none of his vinyls, smoked none of his cigars, drank none of his booze. None of it would succeed in distracting him, and he wouldn't enjoy any of it.

He knew Croissant and Exusiai were pretending to not watch him with concern, as they puttered around and tried to look busy. Normally he would have given them some kind of tasks to distract them.

But he needed them on-hand and ready for whatever happened next. Much as he hoped for the best, he knew to prepare for the worst.

Besides, they were all waiting for the same thing.

The three of them perked up at the sound of Sora's door finally opening. While they hadn't looked forward to the possibility of waiting for hours or even until the next morning, at least that would have been a good sign.

They heard no screaming, shouting, crying, or words at all. Two sets of footsteps leisurely moved up the hall, together.

Texas and Sora emerged into the common room, holding hands, and looking surprised to see their boss and coworkers waiting for them.

Sora blushed, smiling wide enough to split her face in half, and tried to hide under Texas's arm. Texas reflexively hugged her tight to her side, but had to frown because she couldn't fake her customarily apathetic expression.

Everyone stood like that for a bit, not knowing what question to ask or what answer to give.

Exusiai spoke up first. “Spill! What’s going on?”

Texas had to think about it a moment more. “Sora and I are going Bison-hunting.”

Exusiai pumped her fist and cheered, Croissant sighed in relief, and the Emperor hid the relief in his own sigh with very real annoyance.

“Did it have to be Eurill’s brat?”

“Did you have a better suggestion?” Texas asked.

“I knew I shouldn’t have taken that kid on as a temp. Eurill planned this, and he’s never going to let me live it down.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for doing what you need to do. It’s lame.”

"I owe you a lot."

"You don't owe me anything. You're my employee; you work for your paycheck."

"Would you walk me down the aisle?"

An involuntary squawk leapt out of the Emperor's beak. The girls — including Texas — all struggled not to laugh at him as he tried to pretend that didn't happen. He turned his back on them.

"What do I look like, your father? You couldn't afford the rates for my time. But I suppose I could consider it a favor to the company's first employee."

"Thanks, Boss. It means a lot to me."

He twitched, stilled, then whirled around to face them again. "Well! If it means that much to you, then you're the one doing me a favor! So then you don't have to go on talking about how you owe me anything. We'd be Even Stevens."

"Right."

"Right!" He thought desperately of some way to change the subject. "Exusiai, Croissant! What are you doing still standing around and gawking? Can't you see we need to be throwing a party? Ex, go get a cake. Crois, go get the pizza!"

""Right away, Boss!"" the two said, saluting and running off.

The Emperor tried to retreat into his vinyl collection, looking for appropriately celebratory tunes, but Texas had more to say now that her coworkers had left.

"Boss, what would happen to Penguin Logistics if this works?"

He paused, but didn't turn around. Dismissively, he said, "Penguin Logistics may have started with you, but it doesn't have to end with you. Are you underestimating me? You think I can't continue to compete with Eurill just because you and Sora defected?"

"Exusiai might take her sister up on her offer."

"Of course she will," he said with casual certainty.

"Wait!" Sora cried out. "We can't all leave you at the same time!"

The Emperor sighed, gave up pretending to look at his collection, and pushed his ever-present shades to the top of his head. He waddled over to Sora and took the idol's hand in his wings, as he gave her an understanding look with his own eyes.

"Sora, I'm old as balls. Older than nomadic cities. Older than Yan. I saw the end of this game before I started it. I knew this was coming eventually, after we got back from Volsinii.

"I've had a lot of fun. You girls really made it great, and I'm looking forward to however much longer the game will last.

"Don't spoil my game by trying to keep it going into overtime. I can always find a new game to play. Heck, I've left a few old ones on the shelf to make time for you girls. But you don't have so much time, so worry about yourselves!"

Sora dropped to her knees and threw her arms around the beast-lord. "But can you still be our Emperor?"

He chuckled warmly, patted her head, and dropped his shades back over his eyes. "Babe, you can't escape my empire that easily."

====

Chapter 5: Sex and Legacy

[lyeekha]

frank, 5, 9, 14

(character ask game)

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

Well I tried to bring something that isn't already on the Denouements playlist but if I'm to be honest it's still Ballad Of A Thin Man.... Bob Dylan version for him I think. (Ernest's is Kula Shaker. Dewey doesn't get one, this is a Frank and Ernest shared bond thing). I'm working on more playlists though and the dennys may get another go round yet

9. Could you be roommates with this character?

Yes, 100%, where do I sign. ...I know I said I couldn't with Jacques because of 'being too particular' and obviously Frank is very that, but, its different this time, it would compliment, not clash, in my mind. Like we'd have nowhere near the same domestic habits but the logistics would work and I think we would get on exceptionally well because he's a blank slate character than i'm projecting on but not without reason

14. Assign a fashion aesthetic to this character.

Setting aside the 20's JC Leyendecker aesthetic for the moment, which I'm sure he's very into as effort-ful fashion, but that isn't really new information. Or maybe is more of a professional thing. So for casual I'm picturing Frank as a habitual jumper wearing guy, not fashionable sweater but like the sort of genuinely good wool jumper thats lasted him 30 years or more. Sort of red coloured and all bobbled to hell. it's not his only one but thats the most comfy favourite. The shapelessness hides how incredibly angular and thin his frame is. And dark smartish jeans. Fashion of a guy who runs a dusty record store that used to be his out of control vinyl collection. Not the full hipster or bohemian but alternative on the quiet, y'know? I think given a holiday he would let his hair grow a little and not shave as much.