#“have a good day” “just put me through to your marketing department” | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

staytheword · 2 years ago

Text

kind regards

kind regards — one shot [general masterlist]

this series (and this blog) are 18+ !! minors, please do not interact!!

• changbin x female reader; lee know is briefly featured.

• non idol au. workplace au. rivals to lovers (workplace rivalry). some physical description of mc, drinking, explicit language, explicit smut.

• smut warnings (spoilers ahead) — dom!changbin, switch! reader, unprotected sex, sex in an empty public space, angry sex, elevator sex, use of pet names, lingerie, praising kink, dirty talk, slight degradation kink, dumbification, throatfucking, creampie.

• word count: 10.5k

Seo Changbin. Every time you get an email from me, you feel your blood boil. What a conceited, terrible human being. You have to work together, but it doesn't mean you have to like him. In fact, you only feel hate towards him. So what if you have no idea what he looks like, so what if you have never met him? Nothing could change your mind about him. Right?

• author’s note: Just a silly little one shot to take our mind off things. I wrote this completely for fun so I hope you can have fun reading it as well! Thank you for being here, sending lots of love your way. ♡

You stare at your computer screen, hoping that if you do it long and hard enough, it will magically conjure up the word you’re looking for. It starts with a g, that much you’re sure of, and it’s an adverb. It’s not gradually. It’s not gaudily. You have right there, on the tip of your tongue, but frustratingly out of reach.

You close your eyes and take a deep breath. You’ll find it. You’ll find it.

“Y/N?”

Your eyes flutter open on your coworker, Gahyeon, who gives you an apologetic smile.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” you sigh. “Just can’t find my words today.”

“Hm,” she nods knowingly. “I hate days like that.”

You slide a hand through your hair and sit up in your chair.

“What’s up, Gahyeon?”

“I just wanted your advice on something…”

She circles your desk and puts a document on it, asking about the revision of a tricky sentence, offering you a welcome distraction. You discuss it for a few minutes before she heads back to her desk, long hair flowing down her back. You turn back to your screen, ready to get a good amount of work done before you head to lunch. Your fingers dance on your keyboard for a few minutes when you get an email notification.

Immediately, your blood grows hot and you stop typing. The notification shows you who the email is from: Seo Changbin, from marketing.

You haven’t even opened the email yet but you’re already angry. You know his email will be dripping with his usual passive aggressive tone, blaming you for this and that, asking you to make corrections to something that has already been done and approved. You just know it. The guy is never happy with anything, especially not your work. He’s the only one, though. You work well with your colleagues, and your team manager likes you. You always hand in your work on time. You’re always meticulous. You care about what you do, and you make sure it’s well done.

But this guy.

Not long ago, one of his emails angered you so much you almost punched your computer screen. You almost took the elevator to his floor to let him hear a piece of your mind. Luckily for him you have some self-control - and you know he is still your senior in the company. You don’t want to lose your job over some loser who clearly has nothing better to do with his time than bring you down to raise himself up.

It wasn’t always this way. You’ve worked at this company for years as a translator and never had any major issues with anyone, except for some classic bickering and gossip. Then this guy integrated the marketing department as a star talent and proceeded to make your life a living hell because he, too, spoke several languages and didn’t approve of your phrasing or your choice of words.

It’s not the tone we are aiming for is the sentence you’ve read the most from him. Sometimes you hear it in your nightmares.

You really don’t want to open the email, but you have to. Then you can treat yourself to a good lunch. You had planned on just grabbing something from the cafeteria, but you will definitely head out outside. A brie and spinach panini from the cafe next door, perhaps? Maybe even some sushi.

You inhale slowly and click on your inbox.

The email starts as usual. Dear Y/LN. It also ends as usual. Looking forward to your collaboration. You clench your fists, imagining they land on his nose and break it in a thousand pieces. The guy is polite - too polite. So polite you also want to break his teeth. You can just feel the arrogance oozing from his words.

You read the content of the email and take a deep breath. It’s not too bad today, considering, but it still puts you in a bad mood. There is something I would like to suggest, he writes.

Suggest it to my fist, you arrogant fuck.

You stare at your screen, your face frozen into an expression of disgust. You hate every single word he uses. You hate that he puts his font just a half a point bigger like he has something to compensate for. You hate the little gray icon next to his name at the top that indicates the jerk still hasn’t uploaded his picture like the company requires. Maybe it’s best you don’t know what he looks like, because then your hate would know absolutely no bounds.

You work for a big company. So big it occupies multiple floors of a sky-high building, and you’ve probably only met about 5% of the totality of your coworkers. That does not include the marketing team, except for a few faces you can recall from a Christmas party. That department is a floor above you, right on top of your head even, and the thought makes you rage.

I won’t let you step on me, Seo Changbin. You can burn in hell.

You imagine he’s a sixty-something year old guy with a fancy suit and a big watch, a family he does not know how to show affection for, and probably a mistress although his dick hasn’t worked properly in years. You just know he’s the sort of man to look down on women, to never say thank you to cashiers and to play golf with his buddies on the weekend. Hell, he’s probably a part of a country club of some kind.

You’re probably taking all of this too far but you don’t care.

You need to hate the guy. You want to hate him. It makes it easier.

With a sigh, you quickly reply to him, your tone cold and expeditive as always. You sign with your usual kind regards, words you’ve decided during a lonely night in your apartment after four glasses of wine. Just regards would be too easy, best did not convey your feeling and warm was just gross. Kind - that was perfect. Just the perfect amount of passive aggressiveness that could never be read as just that.

You close your inbox, inhaling slowly. You’re not going to let the guy ruin your day. You are not.

You get some more work done and ask Gahyeon if she wants to grab lunch with you. Minho yells from his desk that he’s coming too, so the three of you set off downstairs.

In the elevator, you complain about the email. Gahyeon shakes her head, although smiling amusingly, and Minho lets out a chuckle as you spit out your murderous intents.

“What are you laughing at?” you pout.

“I was just imagining the day you’ll come face to face with the guy,” he says, eyes gleaming mischievously. “I need to witness this moment.”

“Historical moment,” Gahyeon agrees.

“It would be best for you to be there,” you reply. “I’ll need help getting rid of the body.”

Once you’re sitting down with your platter of sushi not long later, you let out a sigh and plop one in your mouth.

“So, are you guys going to the cocktail party Friday night?” Gahyeon asks you both.

“You mean the thing with free food and booze?” you reply with a chuckle. “Why the hell would I miss it?”

Minho shakes his head. “I can’t that night, I’m cat-sitting for a friend.”

You glance at your friend, but then again, for such a sentence to escape his lips is nothing out of the ordinary.

“You could bring the cat to the cocktail party,” you suggest.

“And what, put the poor thing on a leash?” Minho glares.

You let out a laugh. “No leash. Just let it roam free. Hopefully my archnemesis will be there and the cat will scratch his face off.”

You all laugh over your plates, covering your mouths with your hands so as not to be too loud. It’s a tendency you have - you’ve been warned before about making too much noise in this very restaurant. You love their sushi too much to risk being banned, so you do your best to be discreet.

“Are you going, Gahyeon?” you ask your friend.

She nods. “Probably.”

Minho raises his eyebrows at her. “Hoping Mr Finance Department will be there?”

Gahyeon blushes slightly. “Well…”

You slap your hand on her arm, gasping loudly. “Oh my God, that’s still a thing?! I thought you were over him!”

Minho leans towards you. “It was, but he broke up with Sunglass Girl.”

“He did?!”

“And he got a haircut,” Gahyeon whimpers. “I didn’t think it would be possible but he looks even more fucking hot.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” you say.

You put a hand on your friend’s shoulder and look deep inside her hazel eyes.

“Don’t worry, Gahyeon. I’ll be your wingwoman Friday night.”

“That’s okay, Y/N…”

“I promise you to get you close enough to count the beauty marks on his face.”

“He has two.”

“I thought just one,” Minho frowns.

“No, two,” Gahyeon assures him.

“After Friday you can tell us how many he has on his entire body.”

“Y/N!” Gahyeon cries out, hiding her face.

She can’t stop giggling, though, and neither can you - and as Minho starts to make soft kissing sounds, you all burst out laughing.

When you settle at your desk for the afternoon, later that day, you’ve almost forgotten about your work nemesis. Almost.

Kind regards.

Changbin lets out a scoff, scrunching his nose in front of his screen. Kind regards. He’s not an idiot. He can read between the lines. He knows exactly what that means, and it’s kindly fuck off.

He’s not annoyed by it. Changbin knows better than to let things like that get to him. No, he’s definitely not annoyed.

He just hates your guts.

Before he closes your answer to his email, he catches a glimpse of your picture, right there, next to your name. It’s so small he can barely trace your features, but in a previous moment of weakness he opened the picture so it would be bigger and saw you almost too well.

Wide doe eyes. Full lips. Smiling almost cheekily to the camera, wearing a black turtleneck. Wispy bangs grazing your forehead. Simple gold loop earrings. A faint white scar on the right side of your nose, probably from your childhood.

Yeah. He might have looked at the picture a few times.

It was just to get to know his enemy better, he swore to himself. That way, he had an advantage over you - he knew what you looked like, but you had no idea who he was. You could meet him in the elevator or the cafeteria and you would have no idea - but he would. It happened once. He saw you in the main hall of the building one morning, holding a coffee and wearing headphones. You were bobbing your head to the music, completely oblivious to the rest of the world. He tried really hard not to stare, but it was beyond him - luckily, you didn’t even notice him.

Why would you, anyway? Thousands of people work in the company, hundreds of them wearing plain black suits like he does. Once Changbin understood that, he knew one day it would come to his advantage. He’s just waiting for the right moment. It will come. He just has to be patient - which has never been his strength, but for you, he trusts it will be worth it.

He takes the last bite out of his sandwich - homemade - and leans back on his chair. If only he could deal with someone else, if only you weren’t the translator assigned to his projects 90% of the time. At one point it started to feel like a joke, so much he wondered if someone was doing it on purpose. Your pettiness, your rude tone, it all rubbed off on him in all the wrong ways. He doesn’t do well with games and smugness, so you’re really testing his patience. Getting on his last nerve isn’t even covering it. Passive aggressive emails are starting to not be enough to convey his point. The fact that you’re pretty? It makes it even worse. You’re probably just a princess that thinks everything should be handed to her. He’s going to need to make himself very clear.

He just doesn’t know how.

Of course it’s on his mind all day, and it pisses him off even more that he can’t focus on work because of you. You might be pretty but right now, for Changbin, you’re the devil incarnate and he needs to exorcize you out of his mind. Luckily, he has his gym bag with him so he can head right there after work. Small blessings.

At six o’clock, Changbin stands from his desk, gets his things and heads to the elevator. Many people have already left, which is why he likes to finish his day at six - it’s much quieter in the building and the subway. His briefcase in a hand, his gym bag on his shoulder, he gets in the elevator and sighs. A part of him just wants to get home, and another dreads the silence of his apartment.

The elevator stops on the 11th floor - your floor.

The chances for you to step in the elevator are slim, but present, so Changbin tenses a little, just in case. Good thing he does, because there you appear. Wearing a skirt and knee-high boots, your jacket around your arm, clutching your phone. His heartbeat immediately accelerates, and he has to violently remind himself that while he knows exactly who you are, you don’t.

You step inside the elevator, giving him a small nod, and push the button for the main floor.

It’s very silent. Changbin can’t help but glance at you - but you do the same at the same time, so both of you quickly look away. Leaning against the back of the elevator, you are pinching your lips, and you keep glancing at him. Changbin is more tense than he has ever been, keeping a solid frown on his face, his joints getting white at how tight he’s holding his briefcase.

You pull out your phone and start texting frenetically. He keeps his eyes in front of him, hoping that the elevator would just stop to let somebody else in, but it’s well on its way to the main floor without interruption. He glares at you when you snicker at your phone. Are you talking about him? Are you making fun of him?

He breathes out. Calm the fuck down.

You have no idea who he is.

And maybe it’s exactly why you are smiling like you are, stealing a few more glances. You’re not flirting, but he can feel it off you - if the context was different, you might have been. He’s trying very hard not to think about the fact that you smell really good. That your eyeliner is perfectly curved at the corner of your eyes, that he has a soft spot for knee-high boots.

So as to set his mind right, Changbin recalls to his mind the email you sent him today, and all the ones before. All the arrogance and rudeness, all the times he wanted to punch a wall or yell at you. That makes it easier, just a little bit.

The elevator finally pings at the main floor and he briskly gestures for you to get out first. You give him a cute smile.

“Thanks,” you say, your voice dripping like honey. “Have a good evening.”

Changbin clenches his jaw and does not answer. You don’t seem bothered though, as you walk away with a spring in your step. Fortunately, you head towards the street, not the subway, and he lets out a sigh of relief. Truly, small blessings.

You stare at your closet and let out a long sigh. It’s not that you don’t have anything to wear, of course, but there’s just nothing you want to wear. You don’t care about impressing or seducing anyone, you just want to dress up for yourself, to feel good even just for a little while.

You hesitate but eventually settle on a simple black cocktail dress you adore because it’s extremely comfortable and has pockets. You slip it on, wearing only your golden hoops as your jewelry, and let your hair down. It would do just fine.

Gahyeon is waiting for you outside your building, which is only a few minutes walk away from the office. She looks insanely good in a red dress and matching lipstick, and you shower her in compliments. You make it to the building quickly, showing your identification to the security guard. The lobby is already quite busy with people from all departments, who are sipping champagne and catching up.

You and Gahyeon get a drink from the open bar, looking for Mr Finance Department in the crowd. Luckily, your friend has a radar for him and she spots him by the windows standing with his colleagues. He has gotten a haircut, and the short hair gives him an edgier look that really suits him.

“All right,” you say, holding your friend’s shoulders. “You remember the plan?”

Gahyeon nods. “Walk up to him, say hello, be myself.”

“And, what else?”

“Be direct.”

You hold up a palm so Gahyeon can high five you, and she sets off towards her crush, nervously playing with the strip of her handbag. You look at her go, trying not to squeal as you watch the guy turn to her and give her a sincere smile. From what you can see, although you can’t hear, they seem to be hitting it off. You feel a rush of pride, like your evening’s work has already been done. Now you can just let Gahyeon enjoy herself, have a few drinks, and go home in peace.

You head towards a quieter spot, considering going out to the terrace to enjoy the evening breeze when a familiar face stops you in your tracks.

“Oh, Y/N, long time no see.”

It’s your boss - not the boss boss, but high enough on the company hierarchy so that he is not the kind of person you can’t ignore. You give him a polite smile although you’re not really in the mood for small talk.

“How are you, sir? It’s good to see you.”

“Likewise, likewise. Now I wanted to mention to you the…”

He starts talking to you about a recent project that he wants to expand, and you nod at him, listening more or less intently - and that’s when you notice the guy standing next to him.

His black hair is slightly combed back, small strands falling back on his forehead. He’s dressed all in black, his shirt without a tie, and there’s an elegant, discreet watch on his wrist. He just emanates charisma.

Sexy Elevator Guy.

That’s the unoriginal nickname Minho gave him in your group chat when you told your friends about your encounter with a mysterious, brooding stranger in the elevator.

All week you hoped to see him again, although you never really counted on it. You didn’t even know if he worked at the company - maybe he was just a visitor. But from his attire and the fact that he is standing next to your boss, you can guess he’s your colleague.

How delightful.

Your boss seems to notice he hasn’t introduced you, and so he points at the guy, who has been staring at you since you appeared.

“Oh, but you two must know each other, right?” your boss says. “Don’t you work together?”

You frown. “Hm, I’m not sure..”

“Sure, we do,” the guy answers.

You look at him in surprise and confusion. This smile - it really does look like he knows you. Is it because of the elevator? You don’t understand.

“How delightful to finally meet you, Y/LN,” he continues, and your blood gets boiling hot. “Seo Changbin, from Marketing.”

Oh.

Oh, no.

Your heart drops at the bottom of your chest as you stare at him. Does he know who you are? He has to, smiling proudly as he is. You’re too shocked to feel angry, but you know it’s coming.

“I -” you stutter. “I’m not -”

“Can you believe this, sir?” he laughs. “We’ve been exchanging emails for months but we’ve never met.”

“Yes,” your boss nods, “well, that’s what happens with such big companies.”

The two of them keep talking but you completely lose track, your eyes fixated on him. Seo Changbin. He is your nemesis? He is looking forward to your collaboration guy? You can’t believe it.

Yet you have to face it.

That’s him. Seo Changbin.

The guy you’ve been hating and insulting and plotting to murder.

He’s standing in front of you - and he is also Sexy Elevator Guy.

No fucking way.

“Excuse me,” you mutter and walk away without another look.

You don’t care that you’ll come off as rude - you need some air. A lot of it, actually. You head directly to the terrace, stare up at the dark sky and inhale deeply. You feel dizzy, the wine coming up your throat.

You can’t believe what just happened. It’s one thing to discover his identity - but you can’t get over the fact that he clearly knew who you were. He is playing with you. He’s had the upper hand this entire time. Of course he does, you realize. His picture isn’t on his profile, but yours is. How dumb you are.

Your eyes fixated on the horizon, you let out a bitter laugh. What a fucking dick. What an enormous piece of shit. You clench your fists, ready to go back in and punch him in the balls for humiliating you like that. Your physical idea of him might’ve been completely wrong, but it clearly wasn’t in terms of personality.

“Here.”

At the sound of his voice, you spin on your heels, ready to spit venom - but he’s no longer smiling. His eyes are dark, his face serious, and he’s handing you a glass of white wine.

“Noticed that’s what you were drinking earlier,” he explains.

You squint your eyes at him.

“Get the fuck away from me,” you hiss.

He sighs, looking at you as if he is disappointed.

“C’mon, now. Now that the cat’s out of the bag, maybe we can be professional adults about this?”

“Excuse me?!”

“I’m talking about the attitude,” he says, raising an eyebrow nonchalantly. “We don’t like each other, and that’s fine. I don’t care, I don’t need to like you. But I’m tired of working with you feeling like a fight.”

It’s like you sober up all at once, fixating on him a dark glare.

“I don’t think I’m the problem here,” you spit out. “You came in and started criticizing my work like I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve been working here longer than you.”

“I’m still your superior,” he replies, taking a step towards you. “Whatever I say goes.”

“You don’t have to be a dick about it.”

“I’ve always been polite.”

“Polite, my ass. You’ve been looking down at me ever since your first email. I’m not stupid, don’t talk to me as if I am.”

“If only you did what is expected -”

You bark out a laugh, shaking your head. He stops.

“You did not just say that.”

He squints his eyes and exhales deeply. “All I mean is, it doesn’t have to be that difficult. Just make the damn changes.”

“I do,” you hiss. “But you could ask for them a little bit more nicely.”

“What, do you want every single email to come with a bouquet of flowers and a serenade? I have better things to do.”

“You’re such a patronizing asshole.”

“And all you do is insult me. Why can’t you act like an adult for once?”

“You know nothing about me.”

“I know enough.”

You take a deep breath. It feels like arguing with a wall - clearly, there is nothing to be done, and really, nothing to say. You just don’t get along, and that will be the end of it. You suddenly feel tired. You take the glass of wine from his hand.

“Here’s one more insult for the road: fuck you.”

You just want to go back inside, finish your drink and get home, but Changbin grabs your upper arm as you’re starting to walk away. He doesn’t do it gently, but it’s not rough either - you look up at him with spite.

Or you try.

Because Changbin is so very terribly your type, smells wonderful, and has the kind of voice to get anyone weak in the knees.

Focus, woman.

“What?” you hiss.

“This conversation is not over.”

“Oh, I think it is,” you laugh with scorn.

“It isn’t,” he retorts, his eyes focused on you.

He’s standing a little too close for your liking - you can’t help but glance at his lips. Plump. Inviting.

“We have to figure out a way to work together. It’s not like we have a choice.”

You lift your chin slightly. “If you don’t let me go this second, I’ll scream and tell everyone you’re a pervert.”

He bites his lip, clearly holding back an insult, and you wish he would just say it. He doesn’t, though, and simply lets you go. You shake your hair out of your face.

“I’m sick of the games,” he chews. “Tell me what you want.”

You smile at him. “The games.”

He sighs and you chuckle.

“Don’t think for a second you’ll get away with this trick you just pulled. If you thought I was difficult before, you have no idea what’s coming for you now, Mr. Seo.”

He looks exhausted and slightly worried, but angry most of all. That delights you, and you finally walk away from him, finishing your glass of wine in one sip.

He can’t let you walk away like this.

This is all Changbin can think of as he watches you cross the terrace to go back inside. If it ends like this, then it will all be for the worst. You might follow up on your promise to make his life a living hell, or even worse, things might get awkward and even more tense. No, definitely, you and him need to continue this conversation and find some kind of agreement.

He licks his lips, turning away from the building in annoyance. He never signed up for this when he decided to leave his previous workplace for this one - yes, the salary was better, and so were the benefits, but it was never about that. It was about challenging himself, about growing and learning in his workplace environment, about finding his place. You couldn’t get in the way of that. Nobody could.

Changbin glances inside to make sure you haven’t left the building - he catches a glimpse of you near the bar, sulking. Good, he thinks, as he finishes his own glass. Let the both of you be miserable and angry, at least.

The world feels so quiet out on the terrace, but when he steps back inside, his ears are filled once more with the sounds of music and conversation. Since there are a lot of people around, maybe it won’t be as easy for you to start spitting venom at him - but he doesn’t really count on that. He takes a deep breath, tries to settle his anger. Just a conversation. Calm, polite, reasonable. You can do that.

However, as you lock eyes with him across the room, Changbin knows it won’t be that easy. Your eyes are full of fire, your mouth pinched in spite. It could be unattractive if only that black dress did not perfectly hug your curves and set his mind wandering against his will.

“For fuck’s sake, can’t you leave me alone?” you whine.

It would be so easy to fall back into the same energy as you, but Changbin holds on. He breathes in, leaning against the wall next to you. He’s not a difficult person. He doesn’t usually get into conflicts with people. Why he does with you is beyond him.

“Look,” he says. “I just want to be able to work in peace.”

“So do I,” you sigh. “But you never let that happen.”

“How about this,” he snaps, turning to face you. “I hold back on the passive aggressive, but so do you.”

To his despair, you only give him a smug smile.

“So you admit to the passive aggressiveness.”

“Is this what you pick up on?”

“Didn’t you hear me earlier?” you say, frowning. “You humiliated me. Made damn sure I’d feel like a fool not knowing your face. I’m not going to let you walk away from that.”

“What the hell do you want from me?”

You scoff. “You think I’m going to tell you now? No way. I want you to live in fear.”

It’s entirely against his will, but Changbin laughs. He quickly frowns afterwards, sliding a hand across his face. The look of surprise on your face quickly fades away, though, to a certain revolt.

“Are you laughing at me?” you ask.

“No,” he sighs, making sure his face no longer holds any kind of laughter. “You’re just getting on my last nerve.”

“Well you’ve been on mine for a certain time.”

“It’s useless to talk to you, isn’t it?”

“If you wanted to talk, why didn’t you just come and see me? Why did you have to do all that shit with the picture and the boss? Why did you have to mock me like you did?”

You are so full of fire, Changbin can’t believe his eyes and ears. You’re like a flame he can’t look away from - a flame he desperately wants to extinguish for his own preservation, and yet one he desperately wants to graze with his fingers, even knowing he’ll get burned.

Your conversation is going nowhere, Changbin is aware of it. Things have gone completely out of hand, so much it all feels like a fever dream. So confused between his different feelings for you, Changbin breathes out, pulling on his suit to replace it on his shoulders.

“I need another drink,” he mumbles.

Without him expecting it, tables turn - this time, it’s you grabbing his arm as he is turning away. He looks up at you in surprise.

“I have an idea,” you say.

It might be the booze, or it might just be the adrenaline, but you find yourself dragging Seo Changbin by the wrist across the lobby, all the way to the elevators. To your surprise, he doesn’t even try to shrug you off, and you don’t let him go.

You both get in the elevator and you push the button for the 12th floor. Changbin waits until the doors have closed and you stand in silence to ask.

“Where are we going?”

“Where do you think?” you sigh. “Your office.”

He turns towards you, eyes dark.

“Why?”

You do the same, turning to face him. Your index pushes against his chest.

“You’re going to do something for me,” you state. “Even if I have to endure your shit, I’ll make sure nobody else does.”

“I’m not going to - It’s not even - and how are you going to do that?”

“Simple,” you grin. “Upload a picture.”

The doors of the elevator open on this perfect timing, and you wave your hand.

“After you.”

He lets out a long sigh but he still leads you to his office. You’ve never been in this area of the building, but now is not the time for sightseeing. Besides, most floors look the same.

Changbin opens the door to his office, and you follow him inside. It’s not a very big room, but it’s still wide enough for a large desk and bookshelves. There are two large windows, and the walls facing the rest of the floor are made of glass. Not much for privacy, you think. But then again, your own desk stands in the middle of a wide room, which you share with ten other people.

You nod towards his chair. “Sit.”

He rolls his eyes, but he does. You stand next to him, arms crossed, thinking about the fact that this was probably the spot from where he sent most of his day-ruining emails to you. You bite your tongue a little.

“C’mon. Open the computer and upload the damn picture.”

“I don’t have one.”

“One what?”

“A picture,” he explains. “An official one, I mean.”

You groan. “I don’t give a shit. Find another one, it’ll have to do.”

“I was told it had to be -”

“Hey,” you snap. “You’re in no position to argue.”

He scoffs but he doesn’t answer, although he clearly disagrees. You don’t care you’re being petty, and that he’s being the bigger person - you’ve never had much of a reasonable nature. As Changbin searches through his computer, you walk around the office, staring at the window, staring at him, and then at his screen. You catch a glimpse of a group picture, of him with friends, smiling widely at the camera.

He shakes his head but reframes the picture and uploads it to his email profile. You squint your eyes.

“There. You happy?” he lets out.

“It’ll do for now,” you say.

He closes the windows on his screen, standing up. His shoulders are wide, his arms too. You remember that gym bag he was carrying.

“Let’s go, then,” he says.

You chuckle. “Oh, do you think this is over?”

He blinks at you, chuckling in disbelief. “Isn’t it?”

“Not even close.”

“All right, this is enough,” he growls, taking a step towards you. “I’ve done what you wanted, can’t you move on now?”

“No, I can’t,” you spit. “You’ve made my life difficult ever since you’ve started working here and -”

“What about my life?” Changbin hisses. “You think your fucking tone and attitude has made my days easier?”

“At least I’m not a self-righteous asshole!” you cry out.

“God, you’re fucking detestable,” he says.

He’s standing too close to you now. All you can see, all you can smell, is him, him, him. The tension is so tightly drawn between your two bodies you feel like it can only snap. You desperately hold on to your end, though, because you’re scared of what might happen if you do let go - but it’s out of your control.

Changbin breathes in, and his eyes linger for a second too long on your lips - and that makes the tightrope snap.

He doesn’t kiss you first, but neither do you - it just happens at the same time. Your lips crash halfway in a feverish dance, and you can’t understand what is happening to you. It feels like your entire body just caught on fire, like everything makes sense, like every step you’ve taken, every word you’ve uttered, has led you to this moment.

Changbin’s hand slides behind your head, holding the back of your neck, and your arms circle his waist to sprawl on his back. He kisses you deeply, breathing you in, and you can only collapse in his arms.

Your hands go against his chest, and then in his hair, as he keeps pushing your head against his lips, as if to deepen your kiss, more and more. Your back hits the desk behind you, but you barely notice. All you can feel are Changbin’s lips devouring yours, his arms holding you close. You open your mouth wider but he’s quicker, sliding his tongue inside before you can do the same.

A moan escapes your throat, vibrating against his lips, and he draws you in even closer. It seems like forever before you lean back, breathless, just in order to catch your breath. Your lips feel swollen already, but you don’t want to stop kissing him. Still, the slight distance gives you enough perspective to realize what is happening.

“What the fuck am I doing,” you whisper, shaking your head.

A part of you wants to slip away, just so you have time to put some order in your thoughts, but as you are about to do so, Changbin’s fingers, which had been resting on your waist, grab your chin tightly. You whimper.

“Is this a part of your little game?” he says in a low voice, breathing heavily.

“What?”

“Tell me the truth,” he hisses. “Are you playing with me now?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

You angrily grab his wrist, trying to pull his hand away - but he is stronger than you. You struggle against him, gritting your teeth.

“Answer me,” he insists.

“Fuck you,” you spit out.

He relaxes enough for you to push him away, squinting your eyes at him in anger.

“Way to ruin the moment, asshole.”

You do the only thing that makes sense for you in that instant - walk away. You’re ashamed and horribly angry at yourself for letting this happen. He’s attractive, yes, but he’s ruined so many of your days, made you feel miserable and worthless at your job. You have to hold on to your anger - and it has to be directed at him.

Your heels make no sound against the carpet and it’s infuriating. You don’t hear anyone behind you either, so you guess Changbin has decided not to follow you. It’s probably a good thing, although now you feel entirely at a loss as to how your workdays will go. Should you be quiet? You scoff. No - if anyone should, it’s him.

Your hand smashes the button for the elevator. It takes too long to arrive, but it does. You enter the elevator, push the button for the lobby and cross your arms.

Fuck, if only he wasn’t such a good kisser.

The doors are nearly closed when he comes in. He slides between them, stands in front of you. He’s not that much taller than you but someone in his demeanor makes you feel like he’s towering over you by several inches.

“Just leave me alone, will you?” you hiss.

He scoffs, shaking his head. There’s a wildness in his eyes, and you can’t look away from him.

“Can you really blame me for asking?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“About playing games,” he says, articulating each syllable. Each sounds angrier than the last. “You told me you’d make me regret what I did.”

You pout. “Aw, are you really that scared? It’s not my fault you made it your job to piss me off.”

“Look who’s talking.”

You stare at each other for a second. It’s like the tension has magically reappeared, unresolved. It’s clear you both want the same thing, but can’t bring yourselves to say or show it. You’re so angry at him.

He takes another step towards you. Your faces are inches from each other - just a nod and his lips would be on yours again.

“Fine. I’m sorry about the picture thing,” he says, his voice low and deep.

“Just that?” you ask, arching an eyebrow.

His smirk only curves half of his mouth, and it’s humorless. “Don’t push it.”

You are the one to tilt your head forward, just slightly.

“This does not mean I’m not angry at you,” you breathe in his mouth.

“And we still need to talk about this,” he adds.

“Later,” you nod.

He turns to slam the button to stop the elevator, and as his body comes back to face yours, you pull him in your arms and kiss him.

It’s even more desperate and angry than before, maybe because neither of you are held back by the surprise and doubt. It’s unsaid, but you hear it from his lips, it doesn’t mean anything. You’ve just both been tense and you need an outlet - what better than each other?

Changbin pushes you against the wall of the elevator, his hands discovering your body. His warmth and his weight are completely enveloping you, and you push his jacket away. He shrugs it off, and the fabric of his shirt is soft against your skin.

Changbin kisses you deep, like he’s been waiting to do it, like you’re not on top of each other inside a dark elevator outside of work hours, his tongue tasting of lemon and gin.

One of his hands traces your hips and slides on your ass, squeezing softly. In a swift move, he lifts one of your legs and wraps it around his. It elicits a moan from you, your nails scratch the back of his neck. He growls in your mouth, biting your lower lip in answer.

With his body pushed against yours, you can feel his hard cock, and he shifts you so it rubs directly against your wetness. You roll your hips, breathing heavily against his mouth.

“You like that, huh?” he tells you. “Rubbing yourself against me.”

“Easy, you’re so fucking hard already,” you retort.

“Like you aren’t all wet for my dick,” he sighs, kissing your neck.

You feel yourself clench at his words. When you don’t answer, only grab him tighter, Changbin chuckles.

“You are, aren’t you?” he whispers, his hands moving up your dress, lifting it slowly, warming your thighs.

“Shut the fuck up.”

He shakes his head, biting your earlobe hard. You let out a small whimper.

“I’m gonna fuck that tight little pussy of yours so good you won’t be able to come into work tomorrow.”

“You wish,” you answer, starting to unbutton his pants. “I’m not gonna let you go a day without getting an email from me. I’m going to fucking torture you.”

As you mutter the words, you take his cock out of his pants and start to rub your hand around it. Changbin hisses, slightly bucking his hips.

“You need a fucking lesson,” he sneers, pushing your underwear to the side to touch you. “I’m going to shut you up.”

He is right - you’re soaked, but it seems to please him. He takes a few seconds to caress you, spreading your wetness, and inserting a finger inside of you. You let out a choked moan, wrapping your arms around his neck for a better hold.

“That’s right,” he mutters. “That’s what I like to hear.”

He inserts another finger, stretching your walls, and moving his wrist in sharp motions. You breathe out erratically, grabbing onto his suit, his fingers curled inside your cunt.

“Fuck, you’re so tight. Making me lose my goddamn mind.”

You don’t want him to stop what he is doing, but you are craving the feel of his cock inside of you, so you tug at his hardness, kissing his jaw.

“Fuck me already.”

He doesn’t need you to ask twice, guiding himself against your entrance and penetrating you. You let out a choked moan, grabbing onto the wall of the elevator. He gives you time to adjust to his size, but he’s not being particularly careful either.

“Holy shit,” you mutter in his ear despite yourself.

“Fuck, I can feel my cock stretching you,” he grunts.

He thrusts his hips faster and faster, and in a matter of seconds he’s pounding into you. The elevator is silent except for the sounds of your heavy breathing and moans, and the lewd sounds of him fucking you, skin slapping against skin.

Your nails dig inside the back of his neck again, and he grips your waist so tight you’re sure it will leave a mark.

“Changbin, don’t stop,” you cry out.

“So impatient,” he sneers, but he still doesn’t stop, like he can’t, like he’s a man possessed.

He even accelerates, and you feel yourself coming. Your orgasm ripples through you like lightning. Your body shakes, your thoughts evaporate. Changbin fucks you deep, his breathing heavy in your hair.

“I can’t -” he hisses. “I’m not -”

“Come inside me,” you surprise yourself whispering.

You can feel his cock twitch at your words, and he comes inside you, hips bucking sharply, grunts escaping his throat like it’s hurting it.

You stay like that for a few minutes, panting, recovering your breath. After a few seconds he takes a step back, breathing out. You got back on both feet, feeling dizzy and already sore. You both look like a mess, hair tangled, lips raw from kissing.

You lean back against the wall, breathing slowly. He does the same on the wall next to you. You’re silent for a few seconds.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” you say softly.

Changbin nods.

“Let’s go back up. There won’t be anyone there.”

His voice is softer than you’ve ever heard - almost tender. You look at him, giving him a small nod, and he pushes the elevator button so it heads back upstairs.

He lets you go to the bathroom alone, where you clean up, but he’s waiting for you outside.

“All good?” he asks with a frown.

“Yes.”

You look down at the floor as he does, and then back at him - meeting his eyes in the process. The silence is awkward, but just like that, you find yourself smiling. Him, too.

And then you start laughing.

It’s not hysterical laughter, just chuckling. He looks almost shy, and you can’t stop giggling. You might even be blushing.

“I don’t know about you,” he says, scrunching his nose. “But I feel a lot better.”

You smirk. “Took the words right out of my mouth.”

He stretches a hand towards you. “Wanna go back to the party?”

You nod. “Hell yes. I need a drink.”

“So do I.”

You head back to the elevator, and you let it head downstairs this time. Smirking to yourselves, you feel like the whole thing is unreal.

But you do feel better. You don’t force your smile - it stretches on your face, plastered, almost annoyingly so. And Changbin. Fuck. You think he’s cute, with his cheeks still red and his neck a mess from the work of your nails.

“By the way,” you say. “You look fucking hot in that suit.”

“Right back at you. When I saw that little black dress I almost bit my fist off.”

You grin. Changbin turns to you, placing a strand of your hair behind your ear.

“Something’s not right, though,” he says.

You frown as he leans towards you, whispering in your ear.

“I didn’t get to do half of the things I want to do to you. So once we’ve had a couple of drinks, I’m taking you to my place, and I’m giving you another lesson. And this one will last.”

You bite your lip as the elevator doors open on the main hall, which is still filled with your chatting coworkers. Nothing has changed - the world has kept on spinning. Changbin gives you a smile, and extends his arm.

“Shall we?”

Changbin does not bring you to his place.

You bring him to yours.

Both of you started to get impatient after just one drink, eyefucking each other over your glasses although you had both just came hard in the elevator. It was like something finally snapped inside him, and he could let his thoughts roam free, unashamed, unbound.

The way your dress hugged your cleavage. The way your lips curled around the rim of your glass, begging to be kissed, begging to be fucked. All the things he wanted to do to you, that he had never let himself really think about, just proliferated in his mind. He could not stop thinking about how you moaned his name, how hot and humid you felt around him, how he wanted to slide his tongue on every inch of your skin. It made it difficult to focus on small talk with your colleagues. He kept feeling himself getting hard and he knew his pants were too tight for him to be able to hide it.

So he waited until you finished your drink and stole you away. Your place was just a short walk from the building. You made it there quickly, miraculously able to hold off making out and grinding against each other.

Now the front door is locked and you are alone.

Changbin stares at you in the darkness of the hallway. You look so fucking beautiful with your hair still a little dischelved from earlier, your lipstick tinting your lips a shade darker, your heels giving your legs the shape of heaven.

You take a step towards him and grab his hand, leading him to your bedroom. It’s small and cozy, most of the space occupied by a large bed - how perfect. It is unmade, the sheets tangled, a smell of lavender lingering in the air.

You aim for a kiss but Changbin shakes his head.

“Open a light,” he says. “I want to see you.”

You nod and turn on the lamp on your bedside table. It infuses the room in a soft yellow glow, and Changbin licks his lips. Perfect.

In a blur you find each other again, kissing passionately, feverishly. Changbin slides his tongue inside your mouth, toying with yours, drawing soft sighs from you. It’s a delightful sound he already likes too much. Eagerly, you remove his jacket, your hands palming his chest over the material of his shirt, and Changbin unbuttons it impatiently.

“Fuck, you look so fucking good,” you chuckle at the sight of his naked chest, immediately tracing the defined muscles with your finger tips.

His cock is already hard as a rock, pushing against his pants, but he barely thinks about it - he only sees you.

He takes a deep breath, because he wants to pace himself, because he wants to take his time with you this time. You made him impatient before, you clenched around his cock too tight, you sounded too good - but he won’t let it happen again. So he tilts your head to the left so he can kiss your neck, slowly unzipping your dress. His fingers brush the skin of your back at the same time, and he feels you shiver against him.

The dress falls on the ground, and Changbin takes a step back to admire your lingerie, simple black lace that makes the blood rush to his cock so hard he has no choice but to palm it, just to relieve it a little.

“You like?” you say cheekily.

“I’m trying to decide if I want to keep it on you or rip it off,” he answers, shaking his head.

You chuckle. “Want me to decide for you?”

Darkness flashes in Changbin’s eyes, and he closes the distance between you again, staring down at you.

“Listen, pet,” he growls. “Don’t think you have any control here. I make the decisions and you listen. If you don’t there will be consequences.”

The smile doesn’t disappear from your face, and Changbin can see that you like it when he speaks to you this way.

“A dom, huh?” you breathe. “How predictable.”

“Just as predictable that a brat like you is a sub.”

You pout. “Just for you tonight, sir.”

You slide a hand in his air and lean against his ear to whisper.

“One day you’ll find yourself handcuffed to the head of this bed and begging me to let you come. But let’s stick to tonight’s narrative.”

Changbin can’t help but chuckle at your words, feeling something swell in his chest. He likes you a little too much, and it makes no sense. Hours ago the only emotion you created in him was anger. But then again he hadn’t really met you.

“That’s right, pet,” he nods, taking a fistful of your hair. “Now you lay down on the bed like a good girl before I make you, huh?”

You nod, and Changbin follows you to the bed, when you lay down. He removes the rest of his clothes, letting his cock spring free, and catches you staring at it, licking your lips. He chuckles.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get your taste. But I’m having mine first.”

He pulls your legs so you are laying on the edge of the bed, spreading your legs so can stand between them. He bends forward to kiss you, stroking your hair, and carefully removes your bra. You sigh as he circles his thumb over your sensitive nipples, massaging the other breast in his hand. Slowly, Changbin makes his way down your neck, his tongue drinking in your skin. He leaves a few kisses on your breasts, then on your stomach, and then hovers over your panties.

“Changbin…” you sigh.

“Still all wet and full of me, are you, pet? Is this sensitive?”

He pushes his index on the lace material, sending a shiver through your body.

“Y-yes. Fuck, Changbin, stop teasing me.”

“I don’t think so.”

He kisses you above the fabric, sliding his tongue over it. Even that way he can taste you, your wetness drenching your panties, and Changbin can feel his cock twitch. Fuck, he cannot wait to be inside of you again - but he has to be patient.

“So good to me, pet. So good. Let’s remove that.”

He takes off your panties and pushes your legs apart, taking in the sight of your soaked cunt, all throbbing and waiting for him. He hums appreciatively, unable to stop himself from stroking his cock at the same time.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous. Now you don’t come without me telling you so, right, pet? You understand the rules?”

“Yes, sir,” you breathe out.

From your voice and the way you are already heavily breathing, he can sense you are desperate for contact. Changbin finds himself unable to really torture you much longer, and sinks his lips into your cunt.

You immediately let out a whimper, arching your back against his mouth. Changbin holds your legs apart, swirling his tongue around your clit, slurping you in. Your taste instantly gets him drunk, the feel of your juices coating his chin making him want to possess you right this second. But it feels too good to feel you writhing against his caresses, moaning his name. You grab his hair, pulling it, and it hurts a little but it’s the best kind of pain.

“Look at that mess, pet,” he smiles against your pussy. “Has anyone ever eaten you out properly before?”

“Fuck,” you breathe, and he stares at the way your chest moves, your nipples hard. It’s such a beautiful sight he gives your clit a few licks to reward you. “Nothing like you, Changbin. You’re - fuck - you’re making out with my pussy so well…”

“Good, pet,” he chuckles. “Keep it up with the praise and I’ll let you come.”

“Changbin, please…”

He slides his tongue inside of you, teasing your entrance, and he can feel you clenching even this way - you must be close to coming, but you’re holding on, and he’s proud of you. He could edge you like this all night, if only his cock wasn’t starting to hurt him, aching for you.

“Fuck, your tongue, Changbin - keep licking me like that, please, don’t stop…”

“You want to come, pet?”

“Yes, please, c-can I?”

As he inserts two fingers inside of you and starts pumping them, his tongue pressed against your clit, you cry out in pleasure, pulling his hair.

“Changbin, fuck, I can’t - I can’t -”

“Come, pet, come all over my mouth.”

And just like that you do, your hips bucking under his touch, your pussy throbbing in his mouth. He can feel your walls tighten, your legs trembling, and he doesn’t stop his caresses throughout your orgasm, so you can ride it as long as you can.

Once you breathe out, your body sinking into the mattress, Changbin steps back, placing a kiss on the inside of your thigh. He wipes your juices off his chin and stands up to push your hair away from your face. You already look fucked out, your skin covered in a thin layer of sweat, your eyes glassy.

“Holy fuck, that was amazing,” you say softly.

“It’s not over, pet,” he replies, kissing your pretty lips.

“Can I suck your cock, now?”

“You’re asking so nicely, pet. How can I say no?”

You grin, looking down at his erect cock. Changbin takes a deep breath, letting you smear the pre-cum on the tip and giving it a few tentative strokes.

“I like your cock a lot, y’know?” you tell him. “So pretty and thick.”

Changbin slides a hand through his hair, easing his breathing, as you take him in your mouth. You suck him well, bobbing your head up and down, taking the time to wrap your tongue around him. Your hand accompanies your movements, stroking his base, and Changbin groans at the sensation. He would close his eyes and bask in the pleasure you’re giving him if only it wasn’t so intoxicating to keep looking at you. Such a beautiful sight, seeing you suck him off like that after having eaten your sweet cunt.

“Am I doing good, sir?” you ask, slapping his cock on your tongue.

Changbin grins. “Doing fantastic, pet. I knew you would look good wrapped around my cock, but it’s even better.”

“Did you think about it a lot?” you ask.

He frowns.

“You saw my picture,” you say, arching an eyebrow. “Did you imagine me with my cock in your mouth before, or did you just hate my guts?”

Changbin laughs, holding your hair. “I think I spent most of my energy hating you so I wouldn’t think about you sucking me off.”

“Hm,” you say with a satisfied smirk. “If I’d known what you looked like I would’ve come to give you a blowjob under your desk way before.”

“Never too late,” he grins. “If you do that for me I might bend you over my desk afterwards.”

You giggle, and Changbin feels that warmth in his chest again. He’s starting to like you a little too much, and it has nothing to do with the fact that his balls deep inside your mouth right now. You’re funny. Witty. Pretty. Even worse, you’re fun.

“For now let’s focus, pet, yeah?” he says. “This is good, but I want more from that pretty mouth.”

He guides you back, gesturing you to lay down on the bed upside down. Your head placed on the edge of it, he towers over you.

“You tell me if this is too much,” he whispers to you, and you nod - but you just open your mouth wide for him.

He guides his cock back in your mouth, able to move as much as he wants. You gag a little as he goes deep in your throat, but you’re taking him well - and so, Changbin accelerates. He fucks your mouth, perhaps a little too roughly, but it feels so fucking good he can’t stop.

“Fuck, look at how you swallow my cock, pet,” he says, breathing hard.

“It’s because you fuck my mouth so good, sir,” you answer.

He grins, bucking his hips, staring at your gorgeous body as he does. You’re touching yourself at the same time, your fingers pressed against your clit. Your eyes are watering, the saliva around your lips making his thrusts easier, and he’s dangerously close to exploding in your mouth.

“Such a good little pet,” he groans. “Do you remember when I filled that cunt of yours, earlier?”

You nod around his cock.

“This time I’ll make you choke on my cum,” he smiles.

You moan, the vibration sending him on the edge, and Changbin has to pull out from your mouth.

“Don’t move,” he grunts. “I need to fuck you.”

He climbs on top of you on the bed, making sure your head is against the mattress, and pushes into you without hesitation. It’s like it brings him clarity again, as much as the feel of you around his cock is making him more insane.

“God, this fucking cunt. I’m never getting tired of it,” he chuckles.

“Yes, fuck me deep,” you moan. “Make me feel that beautiful cock of yours.”

He thrusts his hips inside of you, stretching you deeper and deeper. You pant against him, your nails digging into the skin of his back, but Changbin doesn’t care. He pounds into you, feeling sweaty and drunk on the scent and taste of you.

“C-Changbin, fuck, yes…”

“Where’s that praise, pet? I need to hear it,” he grunts.

“I - I’m trying…”

“Am I fucking you dumb, or what? Keep talking.”

But he’s fucking so fast and sharp, and it’s difficult for you to find the words. Changbin can only stare at your face, your closed eyes, your parted mouth. Your lips are a little bruised, your hair a mess, your makeup smudged. You look like a dream.

“F-fucking me so good,” you breathe. “I love your cock inside of me. Please, k-keep fucking me…”

You’re clenching around him tightly, so close to your orgasm, and so is Changbin - he’s breathing fast, trying to hold off, but it’s getting more and more difficult. Once he’s inside of you he can’t think straight, and he’s getting impatient.

“Fuck, Y/N,” he slips out, your name feeling smooth on his lips. “I’m going to come. Let’s do it together, yeah?”

“Y-yes, please…”

How he wanted to come in your mouth - but his cock does not want to listen, and he explores inside of you instead for the second time tonight. You come as well, shaking around him as he fills you up, moaning his name loudly, the sound echoing in the room.

Changbin wipes his forehead, staying inside of you for another second. He tries to catch his breath, and opens his eyes to look at you. You are already staring at him, smiling softly.

“I thought you wanted to come in my mouth?” you tease him.

He chuckles, shaking his head. “You really get on my last nerve, you know that?”

You both laugh.

It’s yet another day at work.

You twirl on your deskchair, typing your translation on a fair rhythm. You’re not particularly fast today, but you’re not slow, either.

It’s just that your thoughts are a little elsewhere.

You take a break to take a sip of coffee, and an email notification appears on your screen.

Seo Changbin.

You push your tongue against your cheek, smirking devilishly to yourself. You sent him a particularly fiery email a few minutes ago, and you can’t wait to see his answer. You click a little too fast on your inbox.

Dear Y/LN,

Your email has come to my attention but I am in a meeting and unfortunately cannot attend to your request. Please rest assured it will be my top priority once I get back to my office. I will make sure to personally attend to these matters.

Ever yours,

Seo Changbin

You bite your lip, trying to be discreet as you chuckle. You scroll down to see the email you’d sent him. Just a few meaningless words about asking for clarification about the dress code, and a picture attached. A picture you’ve taken from under your desk, displaying your blatant lack of underwear.

You’re still playing a dangerous game - it’s just of another kind.

You send him a quick reply, your eyes shining.

Looking forward to your collaboration.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. If you had fun, please consider leaving a comment below or reblogging the one shot. Don't hesitate to use the tags. Big hugs and see you next time! ♡

• permanent taglist: @ughbehavior ; @upallnight-s ; @changbinluvr ; @rosexjimin ; @nasiaisan ; @lotus-dly ; @cb97percent ; @j-0ne25 ; @hwan-g ; @jhopesucker ; @leedunno ; @septicrebel ; @imtoooyoungforthisshit ; @sikebishes ; @sai-kida134 ; @sstarryoong ; @alexis-reads-fics ; @luvsskz ; @beautifulcolorgarden

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janeyseymour · 10 months ago

Text

Fire in My Heart pt 3

for @sleep-deprived-athlete who asked for a part 3

summary: Would you do a part 3 of fire in my heart where the reader is introducing Mel to the fire station at like a department picnic or something?

Part 1 Part 2

wc: 2.5k exactly!

“Are you ready?” you ask your girlfriend softly as you gather your things for the annual barbecue at the firehouse.

“Are you?” Melissa asks you with a raised brow. She has her purse slung over her shoulder, and she already has two trays of mac and cheese and two trays of ziti in her hands. “Don’t be nervous, hun.”

��You don’t get to say that when you were a nervous wreck when your friends came over,” you huff playfully.

“I was not,” she rolls her eyes.

You hit her with a pointed look. “You absolutely were.”

“C’mon, hun. It’ll be fine, I know it. I know how to shoot the shit,” she promises you with a gentle hip check.

“Okay, okay,” you sigh. You grab your own bag, take two of trays into your own hands, and kiss the redhead sweetly. “If it becomes too much, or they become too much, you just say the word and we can leave.”

She rolls her eyes but kisses you back. When you pull away, you can’t help but nearly drool at the sight of her. She has just a plain green tank top on and a pair of jeans, but you swear she’s an angel on this earth.

“Quit drooling over me, and let’s get a move on,” Melissa rolls her eyes as she expertly balances the trays to open the door.

“I can’t help it that my girlfriend is incredibly hot,” you shrug, but you follow her lead.

The two of you walk into the firehouse where Randy already has a grill set up, and you can’t help as you roll your eyes.

“Oi,” you groan. “Who thought having a grill inside would be a good idea?”

“I don’t know, chief,” he chuckles. “I was just following orders to have a grill.”

“Take it outside,” you laugh. “We don’t need no fire in our house.”

He grumbles something under his breath, but he follows your order. You and Melissa put down the different pastas on the table that’s been set out with other sides, and one of the younger firefighters is immediately at your side.

“Is that homemade?”

“By yours truly,” Melissa smirks.

“Oh, hell yeah,” he grins and immediately reaches for the serving spoon that you had put into one of the dishes not thirty seconds ago.

“Mel, this is Jake,” you laugh. “He’s the one who asked about your ziti the day we responded to the fire at Abbott. Jake, this is my girlfriend, Melissa.”

“What the hell do you put in this stuff that makes it so damned good?” he asks through a mouthful.

“You ain’t getting the Schemmenti recipe,” Melissa quips with a laugh. “But I’m glad you like it, kid.”

“Enjoy it before it goes,” you tell him. “Because it’ll go quick.”

He grabs another mound of a serving before giving your girlfriend a thumbs up and walking away.

“You want a drink, babe?” you lean in to ask Melissa. At her nod, you take her hand and lead her to the cooler. She pulls out a Yuengling, opens it, takes a sip, and sighs. You opt for one of your preferred seltzers, and clink your can against her bottle.

“That’s the good stuff,” you sigh softly. “You ready to meet all of my coworkers?”

“I believe you mean subordinates,” she chuckles. “You are the chief.”

“Only when I’m on the clock,” you roll your otherwise. “Off the clock, I refer to myself as ‘Melissa Schemmenti’s girl’.”

“You’re a dork.”

“Melissa Schemmenti’s dork,” you quip. She bats at you playfully as you head towards where the rest of your coworkers are.

Before the burgers and dogs are served, you spend most of your time milling around and introducing Melissa to your second family.

“So,” Randy smirks at the teacher as the two of you approach the grill outside. “You’re the one who makes one hell of a ziti and has taken our chief off the market.”

“That would be me,” Melissa says back just as lowly.

“You new?”

“If three years of dating is new,” the redhead rolls her eyes playfully. “Then sure.”

“Three years?” Randy raises a brow as he glances at you.

“Three years,” you affirm.

“Chief didn’t even tell us she swung your way,” he laughs. “No wonder she turned down every guy who tried to hit on her or any guy we tried to set her up with.”

“No one asked,” you shrug. “And it don’t much matter. I love who I love, and I do my work well. That’s all that matters.”

“Damn right,” Melissa grins as she hangs off of your arm. She kisses your cheek for good measure.”

Before you know it, Randy has finished cooking all of the burgers and dogs, and you’re all sitting down to eat family style- you always have at the firehouse. Meal times were the one part of your day where everyone sat together and talked freely. Usually, that time got interrupted by the alarm going off, but it was always nice the time you did get together. The men in your crew were like brothers or uncles at this point. With your position, you sit at the head of the table, Melissa to your right. A gentle hand lays on your knee as the two of you eat, and there are choruses of praise sung to your girlfriend for her various pasta dishes.

“Damn, chief,” one of the older fighters chuckles. “If you don’t wife this one up quickly, I will just so I can have her cooking for the rest of my life.”

“Not a chance in hell,” you point your fork at Jim warningly before continuing to eat your meal. “She’s mine, and you make one move on her- your ass is out. Capiche?”

“Capiche,” he mumbles as he looks back down at his plate.

“Hun, he was joking.”

“I know. I just want everyone here to know that you’re mine,” you direct that statement towards your coworkers.

“We hear you loud and clear, chief,” Jim laughs. “Schemmenti’s yours.”

The two of you listen as the others chat about anything other than work, you filling in the blank spaces for your girlfriend so she understands what’s happening. Then all eyes are on the two of you, not that you really notice. You’re so busy filling in Melissa and laughing at the small comments that she’s making- you only have eyes for her right now.

“Oi, chief,” one of your coworkers laugh. “Stop making googly eyes at your girlfriend and tell us how the hell you two met.”

“And when you’re getting married, if those eyes tell us anything!” Luke yells. “I swear to god, if I’m not a part of this wedding!”

“Ain’t nobody said nothin’ about a wedding,” you roll your eyes, trying to keep up your facade. “At least not yet.”

“I’d put money on it, it’s happening eventually.”

“What would you even be, Luke?” you laugh. “You’re a grown ass man who can’t walk straight sober.”

“I don’t know!” he grins. “But I want to be part of the chief’s wedding!”

“You can be a beer boy,” Melissa rolls her eyes and tells the younger man. He fist pumps with a grin on his face.

“So, how did you two lovebirds meet?”

You glance to Melissa, who tells the tale. “I was just hanging around one of the bars I like to go to with some coworkers after school. They all left at this point, and a guy I was hanging around with at the time was supposed to meet me there a little later. Turns out, the jackass was too busy fucking his ex-wife to be decent enough to let me know he wasn’t coming.”

You roll your eyes. He really was a dick for that.

“So I was sitting at the bar, ready to drown my sorrows in alcohol, as one does,” she sighs. “And I notice this woman sitting at the other end of the bar by herself.”

All of your subordinates throw you a questioning glance.

“Sometimes after a hard shift, I need to blow off some steam, and I’m no tramp,” you shrug.

“She looked pissed, I looked pissed, so I head over. I says to her, I says, “Oi, you get stood up too?” and Y/N looked at me like I had three heads.”

“I couldn’t believe someone so gorgeous was standing in front of me, much less talking to me,” you sigh.

“Ooh, who knew our badass fire chief was a total softy when the right person comes around!” Another of the younger firefighter whoops from the back.

“We ended up staying at the bar until it closed, just talking. Why I was there, why she was there, and anything else we could come up with. When we were leaving, she walked me to my car, and-”

“-They don’t need to know everything else,” you cut her off quickly.

“Oh, c’mon!” Luke groans. “It was just getting good!”

Your girlfriend smirks at you before continuing. “Your boss became a flustered mess as she clumsily asked me for my number.”

“And we’ve been together since,” you finish off, cheeks bright red. “She got her firefighter, and I got my hot redheaded teacher.”

The barbecue lasts well into the night, all of you dancing and drinking now that ‘family dinner’ was over. As the crowd starts to thin out, you begin to clean up the mess that everyone has left.

“Let me help, hon,” your girlfriend says softly as she starts to take serving spoons out of various trays.

“I got it,” you say softly. “Go dance, I know that dancing is more your thing than mine.”

“Eh,” she shrugs. “It’s better when I have an audience…” she glances towards the other men who are dancing with their partners. “An audience that I would want, anyway.” She means you, and you know it.

“Do you want to dance?” you ask her gently as you finish spooning some of the desserts into a Tupperware container. At her nod, you pull her to the makeshift dance floor. She grins as she gets to do what she loves.

After a while, she pats your butt gently and kisses you. “Thank you for indulging me. You don’t have to keep dancing if you don’t want to.”

“I need a break,” you tell her honestly. “But you stay. I’ll be watching.”

As you walk away, she does a move that practically has you swooning.

“Jesus, Y/N,” Randy laughs as he comes up to the dessert table where you’re back to cleaning up. “Is there nothing your woman can’t do? She cooks, she dances, she teaches… you got yourself a good one.”

“I know I did,” you chuckle as you watch her dancing. She’s having the time of her life with your group of coworkers.

“You gonna marry this one?”

“I already got a ring hidden in my office,” you chuckle lowly.

“Good,” he claps you on the back. “Don’t let this one get away.”

“I don’t got no plans to let her go,” you tell him.

“Good. Now, I’m heading out unless you need any help cleaning up,” he says.

“Go,” you tell him. “I may be a badass fire chief, but I also know how to clean up and be domestic every once in a while. I’m just gonna put the food away, and then tomorrow someone else gets to put all of the tables away.”

“I’ll make sure Zach gets it done,” the older man tells you. “Enjoy your day off tomorrow, chief.” He heads out after that.

You finish putting everything away before you head back towards your girlfriend.

“Hey, love,” she grins as she pulls you in close, still dancing. “Are you ready to head home?”

“I have to lock up,” you tell her. “But I’ll stop the party whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m ready,” she chuckles.

You head over to the speaker, turn off the music and turn towards those that are still here. “Alright, I’m calling it a night. The woman and I have to get home and in bed if we’re going to be up for Church tomorrow.”

“You go to church?” Zach asks. “I thought you didn’t-”

“Melissa’s catholic, so we go,” you roll your eyes. “Not that it’s any of your business what I do outside of work.”

Luke makes a whipping noise, eliciting a chuckle from the small crowd that’s left- including your girlfriend.

“Okay, get out,” you turn your chief voice on. “That’s an order. I need to lock up.”

It takes about ten minutes for everyone to gather their things and head home, and then it’s just you and Melissa in your office gathering your things.

“This was nice,” your girlfriend sighs softly as she takes your hand gently. She lets out a small yawn.

“It was,” you agree as you glance at the drawer where her ring is stored.

“I have one dance left in me, if you want,” you offer softly.

“Really?” she asks quietly- hesitantly.

You give her a small smile and take her bag, putting it on your desk. You pull your phone from your back pocket and start playing your song softly. You tug her in closely. For once, you lead the small steps that you take- she usually takes the lead while you struggle to keep up. She hums the song softly, and it’s taking everything in you to not drop down to one knee right now.

“I love you,” you whisper into her ear.

“I love you too,” she mumbles into your neck as the two of you sway back and forth.

While the song is playing, you really do consider just pulling out the ring and asking her right here and now. You want Melissa to be your wife more than anything. But the song is over, and you have to quickly fumble with your phone when the next song- a real mood killer- comes on. If the moment hadn’t been ruined, you know you would’ve popped the question.

“You ready to head home, hun?” she asks you quietly. You don’t quite register her words, still consumed with your own thoughts. “Hun?”

“Huh?” you shake your head. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“You okay?”

“I’m all good,” you promise her.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“Just thinking about how well tonight went, and how lucky I am to have you by my side,” you tell her with love in your eyes. It’s the truth- just maybe not the whole truth.

“I think I’m the lucky one,” she kisses your cheek as she turns to grab her bag. You open the drawer where the ring box is and pocket it.

The two of you lock up the building together, and you sigh when you get behind the wheel. You pull out of your parking spot.

Maybe tonight wasn’t the night, but you know it’s coming soon. You thumb the box as you drive- you’ll get your chance soon enough.

#melissa schemmenti x you #melissa schemmenti x reader #melissa schemmenti fanfic #melissa schemmenti #abbott elementary fanfiction #abbott elementary fanfic

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pedriscroquettes · 1 year ago

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The thought I can NEVER get out of my head for academic rivals is when both of them end up putting their brilliant minds together to solve one thing can we get that w academic rivals gavi plsplspls 😭

here you go anon bae <3

warnings. business class mentions & suggestive content 18+

a/n. literally went through the depths of pinterest to find pictures of gavi in this specific suit. spain needs to bring these suits back idk.

lightly tapping your pen against your lips you kept analyzing the last question on your presentation. while gavi flipped through his many notes trying to find any piece of information that could back up his claim. the two of you had never been paired up for a project before so the newfound territory was not helping either of you. in retrospect the question was quite simple all the two of you had to do was pick the best business offer of the three given to you.

“it’s the third option-” gavi starts

“what? no it’s not.” you scoff. “if our business chose that offer we’d lose more than twenty percent of our ownership.”

“okay, yeah but they’re giving us over a half a million euros plus additional funding for marketing purposes. it’s a really good deal if you think about it.” he stands up from your desk making his way towards your bed.

“not when our company has already made over five million in sales in just one year. we’re fine in the marketing department. yes, we need the money but we also shouldn’t be giving up such a high stake of our company. it’s too risky.” you try to reason as he stares up at you. the red tie from your school uniform making his brown eyes pop out.

“okay fine. which option do you find more appealing then?” he grabs his pen pointing it at you. “and it better not be the first option.”

“well obviously not. it’s clearly the second option. we’re only giving up ten percent of the company and they’re giving us over three-hundred thousand euros which is more than what we need to expand our warehouses. not to mention they’ve also helped thousands of other local companies become big names around the country. it’s the smart choice.” you type down your reasoning as you explain it.

“you know…” he leans over you carefully removing your laptop from your lap. “you get ten times more attractive when you do that.”

“do what?” you look up at him and notice his smirk.

“when you take your work all seriously like that. our company isn’t even real.” he teases you. “it’s so hot.”

you barely have time to react before his lips on yours your hands making their way towards his hair like second nature. his hands trails from your cheeks to your neck before making their way to your ass. you gasp into the kiss as he gropes your ass, the brunette using it as the perfect opportunity to leave a trail of kisses from your mouth to your neck.

“well one of us has to- fuck...” you can barely speak as he places kisses on your neck. “to be the smarter one out of the two.”

“oh, so now you’re the smarter one? i recall you calling me asking me for help-” he tries to tease you.

“you know now that i remember you left your stinky uniform here the other day. maybe you should go take care of that.” you push him off you. “i don’t want my room smelling like sweaty athlete.”

you walk him towards the laundry room dropping off some of your clothes as well. he watched intently as you place his clothes in the washer and carefully pour in some detergent. the act feeling too domestic. he wondered how you could possibly take care of him while you still had your own problems going on. you were too good for him.

“have you ever done it on top of the dryer?” he sneaks up on you.

“you’re disgusting pablo.” you shove him away.

“oh, come on.” he grins.

#chat i have become attached to academic gavi #academic rival!gavi #pablo gavi x reader #gavi x reader #pablo gavi smut #gavi smut #football imagine #football smut #gabri writes #gabri answers

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rewh0re · 1 year ago

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700+ words, I was watching sex education and idk I just was itching to write this, I've not written like 20 days pls go easy on me, tbh idk what this is I wrote this in like half an hour fml. Idek if I'll put it in my masterlist we'll see

Loving Reo came easy. He was lovely in all aspects. He was caring, calm, considerate and over all he treated you like you deserved the world. You felt yourself around him. He made you feel carefree.

Reo was what people would term as the perfect boyfriend. He would be willing to give you a ride to school, invite you over to his house, and make you meet his parents. He would take you out on the best dates known to mankind, starting from a cute french cafe to the bit on the expensive side Italian restaurant downtown. Reo let you choose the movies on date nights where you stayed over, and he watched it all without a complaint. Even if the movie was one he was not quite a huge fan of.

Your parents loved Reo. They called him 'the famous Mikage Reo' because recently all you ever actually talked to them about was him. Introducing your boyfriend to your parents went way better than you expected. Did they embarrass you? Absolutely. Did Reo playfully tease you about it? Also absolutely. Did that make you unhappy though? No. Maybe a bit of faux anger yes but not unhappy. It felt so right. You had never introduced your previous partners to your parents before but introducing Reo to them felt like the correct thing to do. He was charming. An absolute charmer. Your dad could easily converse about the stock market with him and your mom somehow coaxed the fact out that he baked at times. It was a lovely night that, when it ended and your boyfriend had to depart for his own home, made you a tad bit melancholic.

You bid him farewell and he promised to call once he got home. Dear old you and your dear old habit of being concerned.

"Well did you get home safe?" You enquired through the phone, lying down on your bed.

"Yeah. Yeah I did. You know, my driver wouldn't try and kidnap me," Reo chuckled, clearly joking.

"I know that! It's just...... I am just making sure you're okay. What? Can I not worry about my boyfriend anymore," Reo couldn't see you but he felt your embarrassment through the line. He smiled softly.

"Of Course you can," he sighed. It felt good to be cared for by someone, he thought. It felt good to be cared for by you.

"I gotta go now. Need to complete my homework," you chuckled out as you put an arm over your eyes, grinning wide, cheeks a bit hued because Reo always had that effect on you.

"Bye. Sleep on time I'll see you tomorrow," he said quietly and you thought that this was the right time. You had to say it.

"Oh! Oh! Before you cut the call I wanted to say something," you felt the sudden nerves taking over your body, a mix of excitement and a bit of anxiety as you felt the purple haired boy ask you what it was you needed to say.

"Uhm, I love you Reo," you sucked in a breath, grinning wide, excited for him to say it back.

All you could hear was silence. The line went absolutely quiet and your face morphed into confusion before you checked your phone to see if he was still on call. He was.

"Reo?" Your voice turned into one of concern.

"Oh!" Your voice seemed to bring him back to life. "Well that's uhm.....that's uh.....nice to hear y/n. That's really good to hear."

His nervous chuckle dissipated all the previous excitement you felt. You breathed in as if to gather yourself together but slowly, tears started building up in your waterline. He didn't say it back. He didn't fucking say it back.

You quickly cut the call without saying anything in return. You blinked a few times to make the tears go away. So what if he didn't say it back? You thought. It doesn't have to shatter you. But it did. Somehow, somewhere a small part of you broke.

Reo was truly the perfect boyfriend, you believed that with your whole heart. However, maybe he didn't really love you back the same way you loved him.

#─storytelling🌙#reo angst #reo fluff #bllk #blue lock #bllk angst #bllk fluff #mikage reo #reo x reader #bllk x reader #blue lock x reader #mikage reo x you #reo x you #mikage reo fluff #mikage reo angst #bllk x reader fluff #bllk x reader angst

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cozage · 8 months ago

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A Journey of Two Cooks

Chapter 4: Reunited

Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Read on AO3

A/n: This sweet little fic is all finished! I hope you enjoyed it :) Word Count: 2k CW: some family trauma/manipulation done to the reader Characters: female reader x Sanji ---

You didn’t leave your room until the next morning. Luckily, you had stored snacks in your room for days when you felt on the outskirts of your family and alienated from everyone on the ship. They could all make their own food for one day.

You rose early and began breakfast, working quickly to avoid confrontation with anyone. Even though you didn’t want to speak to anyone, you still had duties you had to do on the ship. You may have been a lot of things, but a freeloader wasn’t one of them. You could hear the crew starting to rise as you finished up the biscuits, and left everything on the stove top to keep warm until the others showed up for breakfast. You could cook and still avoid everyone.

Berk knocked on your door almost an hour later. “Time to eat.”

“Eat without me,” you called back, not bothering to be pleasant.

“We eat as a family. Hurry up, we’re docking today.” There was no room in his tone for argument. You sighed and rose from your desk, treading after him down the hallway and to the dining hall.

You were the last to arrive for breakfast, and it was clear the group had been waiting for you. As you sat down at the table, Berk cleared his throat. Your stomach lurched, knowing a fight was about to come.

“We’re landing on an island today,” he said. “Should be there in ten minutes. Once we restock, I have a pretty good idea about a target we can hit.”

You clenched your teeth, but didn’t say anything. You wouldn’t make a scene two meals in a row.

He went through the details vaguely, but everyone knew the way it worked. You would be the distraction, they would be the thiefs. Even in these high-level missions, you were always the one who was alone.

When he was finished, you stood up and cleared away your plates without a word.

“I’ll get the groceries,” you said. There was no point in reigniting an old argument. You had said your piece. You wouldn't be a part of this mission. They were welcome to proceed without you, but you refused to be involved with any more honey traps.

“Be back in an hour!” Berk called. You ignored him. You would take as long as you needed. You had nothing else on the schedule for today.

You got ready quickly and departed the ship, finally breathing a breath of fresh air for the first time in days. Island air just felt so much cleaner than sea air these days. The air held possibility.

You intentionally spent a long time at the market. You searched the crowd for golden hair and refused to give up. You browsed over every fruit and vegetable, every fish and spice you could see, meticulously picking apart every specimen. Anything to delay your return to that dreadful ship.

“Y/N.” A sharp, husky voice came from behind you. For a moment you hoped it was Sanji, but that voice was familiar. It was your captain.

“You’re late,” he said.

“I told you I’m not doing it,” you hummed, trying to keep a pleasant tone in your voice as you browsed the bread selection.

“You will. That’s an order from your captain.”

You finally turned to him, glaring. He was at least a foot taller than you, but you refused to let that intimidate you. “Did you call the Navy to attack Sanji’s crew?”

He raised an eyebrow. You could see him trying to figure out how you had discovered his plan.

“So what if I did? I was doing it to protect you.”

You frowned at him, your entire body tensing at his practical confession. “You weren’t protecting me. You were trying to control me.”

“Because I know what's best for you!”

“You can’t keep controlling me like this! I said I’m not doing it, Berk!”

He grabbed your wrist, putting it into a vice grip. “And I said you will.”

“No.”

He scoffed, almost amused by your defiance. “Are you disobeying a direct order? Do you know what type of punishment that gets you?”

You could see the sinister look in your eye, and you suddenly realized you had crossed a line. You tried to pull your hand away, but he squeezed harder and twisted, causing you to cry out in pain.

“Berk stop,” you pleaded, still trying to get away from his hold. “You’re hurting me.”

“Oh-” he gave you a demented smile. “A sprained wrist will be the least of your worries when we’re finished.”

“Stop, please,” you begged. “I’m sorry-”

Out of nowhere, the pain disappeared, and Berk seemed to vanish before your eyes.

And then, sunshine gold. Crystal blue orbs, staring back at you.

“Sanji,” you whimpered. You were frozen in place, unable to move even though every muscle in your body was screaming for you to run to him.

Thankfully, he approached you. He had a look of pure concern and worry, and his eyes darted back and forth between your face and your wrist.

“My dear, are you alright?” he cooed, gingerly touching your wrist. “It looks like it hurts quite badly. Let me take you to a doctor.”

Your hand felt like it was on fire, the heat intensifying every time you tried to move it, but you did your best to hide it. “Sanji, I’m fine.”

He frowned, examining your hand closely. “I think you need to see a doctor. We have a good one back-”

“Who the hell do you think you are?!” Berk’s harsh voice made you flinch, but he wasn’t directing his anger at you this time.

Sanji gently ushered you behind him to keep you out of danger, making sure you were properly supporting your wrist.

“You shouldn’t harm a lady,” Sanji growled. “The likes of you shouldn’t even be allowed near one.”

Berk went in for a swing, which Sanji gracefully dodged. He had a playful smile on his face, as if this were a game.

If he actually was a member of the Strawhats, it probably was.

Sanji’s dodging only pissed Berk off even more. “Stay the hell out of our affairs!” your captain screamed. “This is a crew matter, you bastard!”

Sanji delivered a strong kick directly to Berk’s chest, sending him flying backwards.

“Berk!” you screamed, starting to run to him. But you could feel his rage exuding from him and you hesitated. When Berk got this angry, he usually attacked whoever was closest. And you had caused this whole mess. You stood between Berk and Sanji, unable to move forward but too headstrong to retreat.

Berk stood to his feet, breathing heavily. If looks could kill, you were fairly certain they would already be planning your funeral.

“Choose,” he snarled. “Your crew or him.”

“Choose?” you glanced back at Sanji, unsure how to proceed.

The chef was calm and relatively unbothered, opting to smoke a cigarette instead of acknowledging your captain’s words. The only hint of concern was in his eyes, which were stuck to you, watching you carefully.

Your family, or a man you barely knew? No, that wasn’t an accurate depiction of the choice you had to make. Your crew had taken you in and been kind enough to you, but despite your captain’s overuse of the word, they weren’t your family. They barely knew anything about you. You were just the person who helped them out around the ship and who made robbing other pirates easier.

Sanji, on the other hand…you weren’t sure. He knew more about you than anyone else on this planet, but you weren’t sure if he wanted you to come along with him. What if you chose him and then he left you? You would be left with nobody, forced to fend for yourself on an unfamiliar island.

“I-”

Berk spat at you. “The fact that you're hesitating proves you aren’t loyal.” He turned and began walking away. “Your belongings are now property of the Buckaneers, since it’s on our ship. Have a good-”

Sanji was next to him in a second, kicking Berk down to the ground. Sanji put his foot on your ex-captain’s chest to hold him down.

“We’ll be getting her stuff. If you have a problem with that, then we can fight like men instead.”

For a long time, Berk said nothing. He kept his eyes locked with Sanji, and you could feel a battle of wills occurring between the two.

“She has thirty minutes,” Berk finally said, cutting his eyes away.

“She has as long as she needs.” Sanji spat back, and then lifted his foot from Berk’s chest.

When Sanji looked back at you, he was a different man than the one who was staring at your ex-captain. His features instantly softened under your gaze, his warm smile returning. He held a hand out to beckon you toward him, and your body moved on its own. You walked to him and took his hand, and the two of you walked to the ship together.

When you could see your ship again, you couldn’t help but grip Sanji’s hand a little tighter. You didn’t want to have to face all of these people alone.

Sanji squeezed your hand and you were reminded that you weren’t alone. He was there to protect you and fend off anyone who gave you problems.

“I never even asked if you wanted me around,” you whispered, letting out a light laugh to ease the tension of your words.

“My darling, I always want you around.”

You gave a half-hearted smile at his words, and then lowered your voice to a whisper. “Are you really a part of the Strawhat crew?”

“How did you…” he trailed off, and then gave a bold smile. “I am. And you can be too, if you’d like. You’ll never have to cook again. You’ll never have to do anything.”

You doubted that. Surely you’d have to pull your weight, but you understood what Sanji was saying. You’d never have to do something you didn’t want to do. You gave a small nod, and the two of you started toward the ship.

It was empty. You didn’t see anybody onboard. They must’ve all gone to rob their target, whoever it was. You wondered how that was working out for them, since you hadn’t distracted the captain.

You quickly went to your room and packed up the essentials: your clothes, important memories, other small things that were easy to pack away. Your wrist still ached, so Sanji packed as you instructed him around the room, all without a single complaint.

Lastly, you popped into Berk’s captains quarters and grabbed 50,000 berries. Your payment for the free labor you had given him against your will. He probably wouldn’t miss it too much. You didn’t care if he did.

Sanji carried all of your bags and still managed to hold your hand as the two of you departed your old ship and headed for his ship. It was his home, and hopefully it could be yours too.

“This is the Sunny. Nice ship, isn’t it?”

Their ship was similar to the size of your old ship, but you could tell it was crafted by an expert. The wood alone was a hundred times better than the quality of the Buckaneers’ ship. Whoever had created this ship truly had a vision.

Sanji squeezed your hand. “A new journey awaits you, my dear.”

You smiled at him, and then looked up at the Sunny. “A better one, now that I’m with you.”

#one piece #one piece imagine #one piece scenario #one piece x reader #one piece x you #cozage #sanji #black leg sanji #sanji x reader #sanji x y/n #sanji x you #✧˚sanji✧˚

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scarlettgauthor · 8 months ago

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His Sacred Incantations NOW IN AUDIOBOOK FORM!

(Y'all I basically had to fistfight Adobe Premiere in an alley to get that preview made, please clap.)

Yes, Tumblr! It's happening! It has happened! The His Sacred Incantations audiobook is finally available, and you're hearing about it now! Fifteen hours of femdom fantasy adventure coming straight to your earholes! Bondage! Pegging! A really cool fight with a necromancer! At least one dragon! This story has everything, and now you can listen to it!

I am so, so delighted that Martin Martinez was willing to come back for the second book to complete Lucían and Glory's story. When I'm reviewing the audiobooks I no longer hear a narrator doing a voice, I just hear Lucían and Glory's voices, which is an incredible testament to Martin's performance. He had a fantastic time reading this (which I know for a fact because he reached out to me to say these were his favorite books he's never narrated) and that comes across in the audio.

Some narrators might be intimidated by a book that's 25% sex scene by volume (I did the math once) but not Martin! He put his whole ass and libido into reading the kink scenes, and then Antoine Bandele of AB Book Services took his raw reading and added musical stings and special effects that really elevate the entire auditory experience. It's truly everything I could possibly have wanted from an audiobook.

Also! In celebration of the book being available, I'm putting the His Secret Illuminations audiobook on sale on my website for 50% off! Grab both at a savings, and settle in for thirty whole hours of Martin's wonderful voice and my wild story.

Where can I buy it?

Right now? Just on my website! It's been submitted to Audible and also for wider distribution through Author's Republic, but those take time to percolate through the system and my website is almost immediate!

As with the His Secret Illuminations audiobook, I had to break it into five parts in order to get around the file size limit. Everything I sell through my website is DRM free, and I get the entire cover price instead of only 25-50%. It's the best way to directly support me, and once you have it, you own the files and no one can take them away from you.

More retailers will be coming soon, but as Patrons you get the direct link and the first announcement!

How can I help out?

Spread the word about the audio book! Y'all have the sneak peek, but I'll be sharing this on social media in the next couple of days. Like, reskeet, reblog, reshare, leave good reviews of the audio book where appropriate--all of that is a huge help to me, someone who is her own marketing department. Also, as mentioned in a previous update, I just left my day job, so writing is now my only income. Word of mouth has been my most valuable tool, so I want to thank every one of you who has ever recommended my books to a friend! You're helping keep weird art alive!

Grab the recording, and settle in for a horny weekend, Patrons!

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90stvqueen · 1 year ago

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I have been contacted by multiple multi-level marketing "job opportunities" this week.

It's starting to occur to me -- and nobody really tells you this -- that unless you are looking for something specific (and probably not entry-level), Indeed is not the place to look for jobs. I was applying for jobs pretty indiscriminately on there a few days ago, and have since been contacted by what looks to be multiple multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes.

Here are some red flags I've found in these job postings that point toward a pyramid structure:

[Company] is a [PR/marketing agency/local startup] that is looking for outgoing, motivated candidates who are just out of college or looking to make a career change!

[Company] will pay for you to be trained in business and sales, so don't worry if you don't have prior experience! This is an entry-level role with HUGE opportunities for growth!

You'll have networking and travel opportunities, such as leadership development conferences and seminars!

Sounds good, right? But if you look up these companies on Glassdoor, you'll either find nothing or you'll see a mix of reviews:

positive reviews from the current employees who are incentivized to talk up the company

negative reviews from former employees that will often flat-out tell you it's an MLM

there's a lot of repetition in the phrases you'll see across the board: "a great opportunity," high turnover/burnout, manipulative management, lack of transparency, no job security, "hard work pays off," "not for everyone"

sometimes you'll find out that the company was renamed from another company, and if you look that company up, you'll find even more bad reviews explicitly calling it a pyramid scheme/MLM

If you go to the company website, you'll see a clean interface with stock photos of people looking happy, and all of the "who we are" text on the site will be utter jargon that doesn't explicitly tell you what the company does. It will tell you, however, that they're hiring now!

If you make it to the interview portion, (which, if you apply, you almost certainly will, because these companies are preying on people who are desperate for a job) you will be rushed through an initial interview, which will look something like this:

You'll be interviewed alongside another candidate or in a group.

It's a quick 10-minute getting-to-know-you call so the company can see if it's a good fit.

They will ask you to tell them (in front of the other candidates) what you would bring that makes you stand out.

They will ask you if you have reliable transportation.

They will go over the "job description" without ever making it clear what the day-to-day looks like.

They'll tell you about how you're going to be trained in different departments. The departments will have names like "Marketing & sales," "HR & PR," "Leadership development," "Logistics, numbers, and operations," and "Client relations." This is an actual example from a Zoom interview I just did less than an hour ago. These are the "departments" of this company, according to my interviewer.

They'll emphasize that expansion is the goal. Top-level customer acquisition. Their clients are looking to open to new markets, so they're looking for go-getters to quickly fill the role.

IF YOU ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER NOT TO ANSWER IT. They'll tell you that you'll have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want if you make it to round two; they'll tell you they have another interview in 2 minutes and don't have time to answer your questions; they'll repeat that this is a preliminary getting-to-know-you call, so there's no need to get into the details just yet.

If you do manage to get a question in, they'll put as vague & positive a spin on it as they can. I asked if the company I interviewed with was a new company (because I couldn't find it on BBB or Glassdoor) and the interviewer told me yes, it's a "branch-off company" to a company that's been around for a few years. He did not tell me what that company was, and I didn't ask, because at that point I knew I wouldn't get a straightforward answer either way.

Y'all, if you find a job that raises any red flags for you, DO YOUR RESEARCH. You should be looking up any company that reaches out to you. Find their website. Read their reviews on Glassdoor and Better Business Bureau. BE SMART AND DON'T LET THESE COMPANIES PREY ON YOU.

#mlm schemes #so the job search is not going well lol #long post

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lazystar · 1 year ago

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Play Like a Gangster

Lee Felix x Fem!Reader

University AU, Bad Boy!Felix Other idols mentioned: Other SKZ members, ITZY, Lily of NMIXX, Soobin of TXT Warnings: Alcohol consumption, use of unhealthy coping skills, negative self-image on reader’s part, Felix being a slight ass, Miscommunication!!! ANGST!!! Comfort tho is there! Word Count: 5K+ (~5400?)

Obligatory Note: please show your support by giving my work a simple reblog :) this is how tumblr’s algorithm operates and is an easy way to show support to your favorite writers on this site! a “hey this is so good” comment also works :) Thanks!

Your first day of year four of university had finally arrived. The hot August air weighed you down like a blanket of humidity, your thighs chafing as they rubbed against one another at the hemline of your denim shorts. You had chosen your classic first day of fall semester fit, a logo tee from the bookstore, and a pair of shorts along with your Converse. Comfortable, easy to fish out of your still packed suitcase, and cute.

Fishing your schedule from your student portal app on your phone, you found your first lecture of the day. To your horror and dismay it was a gen ed course you had been dreading, Statistics 101 with Professor Park. You abhorred math more than anything and even more so when you threw in the Greek alphabet. You huffed and walked faster to the lecture hall to get a good seat, and when you arrived you guessed every other student had the same idea because the only seat left was one in the middle of the hall next to an intimidating looking boy with a sharp jawline, silver earrings and dusty blue hair. He looked the complete opposite of you. He was in all black, black tee shirt, long black cargo pants decorated with chains, and black converse. The shoe choice was the only identical fashion choice you both had made.

“You gonna keep analyzing my outfit like this shit is project runway or are you going to sit down?” His deep Australian accent cut you out of your thoughts.

“Oh sorry! Ummm I’m sorry — I already said that didn’t I? Anyways I’m Y/N nice to meet ya…” You stuck a hand out to him after setting out your notebook and laptop.

“You are far too cheerful for a 10 AM math lecture. Anyways the name’s Felix, before you ask I’m a senior graphic design major this is just a gen ed for me.” He seemed to notice you deflate as he answered your icebreakers before you could ask. He let out an almost placating gruff laugh after his introduction.

“I’m a senior as well, music marketing major so as much as I wish this wasn’t a required gen ed for me it sadly is. I fucking HATE math!” You sighed as the professor walked into the room. You didn’t notice Felix smile at your extroverted behavior. He knew he was about to become your friend, not by his own accord but he knew that he was now the familiar face in your Monday-Wednesday-Friday morning hour of hell. The professor droned on about the usual syllabus week materials and you began doodling some new logo ideas for your friends’ music group on your notebook paper. Your dissociation was cut off by the professor clearing his throat with an announcement.

“Okay everyone! This lecture has 100 students, and unfortunately for me the department requires us to have you all complete a semester long project going over a trend of choice through data analytics. So you all will be working with the person sitting directly to your right! No, don't go switching seats, I see you in the back row!” You laughed as your classmates groaned around you at the news of being involuntarily being partnered up. You looked to your right where Felix was already looking your way with a raised brow and a smirk gracing his freckled face.

“Please tell me you won’t be as high energy all semester” Your new statistics partner sighed almost defeatedly. “Now hand me your phone so I can put my number in it so we can work on this shit or whatever.” You laughed at his statement and handed your phone over to him.

“Felix, just for the record, I’m gonna change your contact to Grumpy Pants if you keep acting like this.” You stated as you looked at him through your peripheral vision as he texted himself from your phone.

“Okay Bubbles.” He chuckled, handing your phone back to you. He had simply texted himself a ‘Hey :) – Bubbles’ making an involuntary grin stretch across your face as you turned to look at him.

“Bubbles?”

“Powerpuff Girls? Did you grow up uncultured?” He raised a brow at your lack of knowledge of the cartoon.

“I was only allowed to watch educational stuff as a kid.”

“It shows.”

“HEY!” You playfully punched his arm and flipped him off as a deep chuckle emanated from him. This was going to be an entertaining semester for sure.

The semester rolled along, like a slow cross country train ride. Throughout it you and Felix grew closer, much to the chagrin of your friends Lia and Yeji who had said the boy was “bad news”. You didn’t understand how they could judge him without knowing him like you did, how could anyone with such a beautiful smile be “bad news”. Sure he had some bad habits like sneaking a flask into the library for your study sessions, but could you blame him? Statistics would drive anyone to drink unless they were a math wizard like Pythagoras or Einstein.

“Y/N are you texting him again?” Yeji groaned as she flitted about styling your hair for the party she insisted you attend with her and the other girls from the music group she and Lia were in. It was at the Sigma Kappa Zeta fraternity and you knew Felix was a brother of the frat, so regardless of your girls you always had an in. This though, was a secret from your dear friends as they had prejudged Felix and you didn’t want them to suddenly change their minds so they had an excuse to party.

“Yeah we have that project remember? Plus he was showing me this funny video from that one guy I like on instagram.” You fibbed. This seemed to satisfy her as you two finished getting ready for the ride to the frat house. Lia met you two in front of the dorm and your ride was outside just as you left. You were in for a good night, you could feel it in your bones.

Unfortunately for you, your bones were wrong. The stench of alcohol, weed, and body odor hit your nose like a freight train, you had lost your friends upon entering and Felix was nowhere to be found. One of his frat brothers, Hyunjin had saddled up to you as you made your way to the kitchen for a drink.

“You’re Felix’s girl right?”He asked as he poured you a vodka and cola...very heavy on the vodka. Concerningly so actually You made a mental note to never ask him to bartend for you again, lest you want a new liver by twenty-five.

“Oh no we’re just friends, we have a Stats class together, 101 with Professor Park.” You replied sipping on your drink and grimacing at the overly pungent taste of the cheap liquor in it.

“Oh duh you’re Bubbles then! He always talks about how obnoxious you can be, he asked me once how anyone can be so… I shouldn’t have said that. Don’t-don’t listen to me,disregard anything I just said! I'm wasted.” Unfortunately for the panicking dark haired boy, you were not wasted. You were far too sober for this. Obnoxious? You? You were used to being sometimes a bit too extraverted for some peoples’ tastes but obnoxious? That stung.

“Heh. No worries Hyunjin, I'll see you around.” With that the boy left. You stayed in the kitchen as your body went into autopilot, you downed your drink then snatched the vodka bottle up before wandering through the crowd to the back porch to find a corner to hide in. You didn’t know why you chose to chase the bile like feeling in your chest down with alcohol. You didn’t usually cope with your emotions in this manner. You were level headed, a marketing student, someone who dabbled with psychology courses for fun, someone who was the advice giver to her friends. Not someone who chose to use unhealthy coping mechanisms. But here you were bottle in hand walking to the porch to sip away the pain.

“Y/N? Bubbles? What are you doing?” The Aussie you had been searching for before had somehow found you. His voice was riddled with concern, laughable amounts of it in your mind. How could a friend find you obnoxious but then act so caring? Friend, the word now made you almost nauseous. Fuck friends, fuck Felix, you thought. All you wanted was to be numb and alone.

“Trying to not be obnoxious or something I don’t fucking know.” You grumbled taking a long swig of the liquor from the bottle. You didn’t even grimace this time as the taste had grown too familiar to you.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Who upset you? Why the fuck are you chugging vodka like water? Who hurt you? I’ll kick their ass!” He barraged you with questions as he tried to slip down to sit beside you and take the bottle out of your hands. You fought back and held the bottle close to you, eventually he gave up seeing that you clearly were unwilling to let go of your vice. He was worried and he just wanted to see what was wrong. An uncomfortable silence filled the space between you two for a moment, until you cleared your throat and turned toward him with an unsettlingly dark look in your eyes.

“Felix, tell me why one of your frat brothers told me not even like twenty minutes ago that you found me obnoxious. Apparently you’re always talking about it. Fuck, the girls were right I should’ve just stayed your project partner and not your friend.” You hissed out and tried to stand, but the large amount of booze in your system made you stumble and nearly fall over like an unstable desk ornament.

“You’re not about to walk away from me in your condition in the middle of this conversation Y/N.”

“Fine then I’ll— I’ll fucking crawl away just leave me alone and find my friends for me. My actual friends who like me and don’t tell their friends I’m fucking obnoxious, too much, too loud, too happy, too bubbly, too ugh whatever you told your friends I’m too much of. Just. Leave. Me. The. FUCK. Alone.” The bite in your words made Felix physically flinch. He had never seen you so angry, especially not at him. You were usually so kind and uplifting to those you met. Not so, so aggressive. It hurt him to see your Y/E/C eyes, all tearful and rage filled. The beautiful eyes he was so used to seeing filled with unbridled happiness.

“Okay, I’ll-I’ll go. Please just promise me one day you’ll allow me the chance to explain myself to you.” He pleaded, his head hung low, tears filling his own gaze. You have a noncommittal affirmation and he went off finding Yeji and Lia. While you clung to your knees with cries wracking your body, Felix was facing the wrath of the music group you knew as your best friends.

Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and the newest addition Yuna all glowered at him from the couch as he explained you had gotten mad at him over a mistaken confession he had made when you two had just met. He had not experienced such unbridled happiness from one person before you stepped into his world and he was unsure how to feel. He had chosen his usual method of brisk dismissal and annoyance when discussing you to the frat members those weeks ago. But over the course of the past month or so you had wormed your way into his heart and he had grown fond of your random animal facts, boisterous laughter, and bright sun rivaling smiles.

“Lee, you fucked up and she was correct in saying we warned her about you. Remember you broke our other friend, Heejin’s heart? You lead her on. You’re not about to do that to our Y/N. She’s our angel, and you sir are some demon for hurting her now. We’ll let you try to make it up to her but I swear to all that is holy if you don’t, you’re fucking dead.” Yeji’s voice carried over the bass that was shaking the house, her voice shook Felix to his very core. “Don’t expect any help from us, ITZY protects our friends, and Y/N is our best friend. Girls go get our baby. I know she needs you right now, I’ll call the uber. Lee Felix you go fess up to Chan and the boys that you fucked up.” She gave Felix a dismissal with her hand and collected you along with the girls in a tight hug. She had her own plan, she was going to recruit her other friend Lily and their mutual friend Soobin into a “Get Y/N over Felix” plan. She had detested the Australian for leading her friend Heejin on the previous fall. She hadn’t known though that it was honestly just an unrequited crush on Heejin’s part and that the Aussie and the other girl had made up. She was so focused on playing the role of mother to her friends she forgot sometimes to look past the details of the story as it was on the page, she didn’t read between the lines. What she witnessed had to be the truth, right?

The days after the party felt like you were in limbo, you had emailed your professors that you had a family emergency and would be out for the subsequent week. Thankfully they all were accommodating and gave you the materials to study in your absence. Felix hadn’t called or texted regarding your project which soon would be having its mid semester check on your progress. You had done your share and emailed him your part so he could work off of your work, you had practically done all you could to avoid him. But now it felt like you were doing too much, caring too much about someone who you had misjudged as someone who was more caring than their hard outer shell. You had read between the lines of who he was a bit too deeply, you had looked to find some sort of positive in someone who had portrayed himself as harsh and cold. Maybe he was just that, cold, uncaring, harsh, a liar. Yeah that’s what he was, a liar, an expert one at that.

You were lounging in your misery of stuffed animals and rewatches of Legally Blonde as Yeji, the girls, and your newer friend Lily barged into your room.

“Go away girls, leave me to my misery and Elle Woods’ slaying the courtroom!” You groaned out into your pillow.

“Bitch if you don’t get your ass up! You have a date, no don’t give me that face you need some socialization.” Yeji pulled you out of bed and shoved you into the shower before you could protest. Two hours later your hair and makeup were done, you were dressed in a nice cropped sweater, jeans, and boots and shoved out the door to your demise date.

At the campus coffee shop with your favorite iced chai latte in hand sat Soobin. He was a fellow music marketing student and student musician you’d met through the girls. He was someone you’d known in passing, an acquaintance, not someone you expected yourself on a blind date with. But here you were, laughing at his jokes, cooing over photos of his pet hedgehog Odi and enjoying yourself in his company. It felt like getting to know an old friend from years gone by, not like a first date. But you knew in your heart feelings were unlikely to develop. You felt too platonic, too friendly, not flirty, flushed, not like a swarm of butterflies resided in your stomach. You didn’t feel like you did when Felix would offer to rest his jacket across your shoulders when the cold air conditioning of the library would kick on.

As you sat on your couch talking with Yeji you came to the realization of why it hurt so bad to find out Felix has shit talked you. You liked Felix. His freckles, his smile that would take over his whole face, his blunt sarcastic sense of humor, his playful jabs, his affectionate teasing, you adored it all.

“Yeji, don’t tell the others please but… I realize why I was so messed up over what happened at Sig Kap.”

“You liked him didn’t you?” She saw your eyes well up with tears as your head fell in what you could only describe as shame.

“Not just like, I think I fell for him.” She only gave her best sullen smile as she walked across the living room to engulf you in a hug as tears fell like a torrential storm down your cheeks. She softly assured you that you would move on, like you always did when you fought the overwhelming urge to sink into your bed and not get out for days due to the weight of the world crushing your soul. You were strong, but love seemed to fight like a heavyweight champ, hitting you with blows left and right. Chaeryeong walked out of her room as the sound of a broken croak of tearful lament came from you.

“Y/N baby girl what happened? Did he say something wrong again?” The other girl sat on your left and wrapped her arms around you effectively making you the saddest sandwich ever seen.

“Yeji… I think I really love Felix. I think that’s why I’m so hurt, I owe him a chance to explain himself to me. He looked like bad news but he was the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. I’ve had time to think about it all and I can’t just shut him out, it hurts worse than it helps.” Yeji froze, her comforting hand that had been rubbing your arm ceased, her heart tightened with a sense of urgency. You loved the man that effectively shattered one of her friend’s hearts. You deserved to know what he was like. You NEEDED to know. Before you let him back in, before he broke you more.

“Y/N did I ever explain why I don’t like Felix?” You shook your head as it rested on her shoulder, her comforting hand resumed rubbing your arm in an almost motherly way. “Remember Heejin? My friend from my hip hop class? They used to talk, like last year. He was like how he was with you, romantic, kind, and sweet. But one day he just drops this bomb. He only saw her as a friend, he lead her on for like ever, they almost made out at the date party SKZ hosted last winter. She was messed up over it for a long time. I don’t want him hurting you more. Also Soobin really liked your date. Did you have a good time?” Her explanation stunned you that you didn’t even register the topic change. Felix was a player. You always picked the wrong guys. You had fallen for an act, a ploy to probably get into your pants and be left in the dust. That’s probably all it was. You shook your head from your spiral of misery and looked over at your friend as she playfully nudged you to encourage you to discuss the date she masterfully put together.

“Soobin was sweet, and really cute! But it felt more like a friendship than a potential relationship. I didn’t really see it going anywhere. On the bright side I think he’s going to make a great friend.” You sighed and sunk more into the couch. The overwhelming urge to cry came over you once again as Chaeryeong and Yeji hugged you tighter and cuddled you. They gently played with your hair and cooed comforting words to you trying to ease the stabbing pain in your chest.

Meanwhile at the SKZ house Chan was consoling a devastated Felix. Weeks had passed and the only word from you he would receive was an email with your slides from your project and some notes on the materials. You had gone from the girl he would destroy a city for to a stranger. It hurt him beyond words, your playful teasing and bubbly affirmations were ripped from his life so abruptly it was like his organs had been ripped out.

“Chan I fucking love her, I didn’t realize until I lost her. Her friends only see me as a player because of the whole Heejin thing. I wish Heejin just explained that we’re cool now so I have a chance at winning my Bubbles back.” Chan nodded solemnly.

“I know Lix, I hope she lets you explain soon I hate seeing you like this.”

Jisung overheard the conversation and had an idea, he walked over, bending down he whispered it to Chan with an expression that just screamed that he was some kind of love genius. “Han, that is so stupid it might just work.” Chan called a meeting for the five other house residents to join them at the couches. Operation Y/Nlix was in motion.

As night fell you sat in bed once again sadly watching Legally Blonde. You were about ready to recite the perm monologue as a loud thud of something hitting your window startled you. Going over to gaze out you couldn’t believe your eyes. Out on your apartment complex lawn stood all eight SKZ house residents holding up signs reading Y/N please hear Felix out! We beg! Felix held up his own sign, I know I’m an ass, just one chance please. Once they noticed you were looking at them Changbin cued up a speaker and I Want You Back by the Jackson 5 began blaring out for the whole neighborhood to hear. The girls all piled into your room and gave you the affirmative to go talk to him. You raced down the stairs to run over to the dancing and singing men.

“Fine! Five Minutes.”

“Y/N uh shit I didn’t think this would work. Okay so I had been having a rough day just after we met and I couldn’t understand how someone could have so much energy and be just so positive all of the time. Your adorable ways of finding some good in everything honestly scared me. That’s why I’d ranted about you. I’m sorry.” He clutched your hands and had tears swelling up in his brown eyes, you gave him a nod and a small sad smile.

“That doesn’t explain why you never told me about the Heejin situation. Ya know considering I have several mutual friends with her.”

“Heejin and I talked things out in the spring, she liked me more than I liked her. We discussed how it was a whole misunderstanding.” He paused at your raised brow and doubtful expression. “I’m being serious, it was really a one sided crush and her being genuinely hurt. I understand that finding out someone you liked not liking you back really sucks and how she felt led on. I apologized and we’re cool now, she and I aren’t friends but we’re not enemies either.”

“Mkay I’ll take your word for it for now, you have some work to do to earn my trust back but I’m willing to give you a second chance.” His lanky arms engulfed you and he began rocking you side to side his laugh and smile warmed your heart once again. You knew he would have you falling for him all over again, and the thought didn’t scare you like it used to. It didn’t terrify you, it filled you with hope that your happy ending may actually exist this time around.

The cool autumnal air began to make you shiver as the seasons changed, the semester’s end was closing in as the days flew by. The warmth of summer’s end was something you yearned for as you pulled your jacket closer to your body, your steps increased in speed as you made your way to the cafe you had met Soobin at previously. He had asked you on another date, one you had thought would be another friendly hang out. What you didn’t seem to realize was that your cheerful disposition had enamored the tall, bespectacled boy. He saw you as a radiant, angelic, hilarious, and of course beautiful girl. Someone whose mission it was to make those around her always happy. His analysis of you wasn’t incorrect by any means, however you were not reciprocative of his feelings.

To you Soobin was sweet and adorable. His catlike smile, cute laugh, and goofy personality made you feel like he was someone you could be comfortable around. His energy was fairly similar to yours in a way that made you feel like you’d met yourself but as a boy. This made catching feelings for him a challenge for you, so alas Soobin’s crush on you was unrequited. Today, he was going to confess, so he had asked you to join him for coffee.

“Oh Soobin you didn’t have to buy my coffee for me!” You admonished as you sat across from him at the campus coffee shop. The pastel wall decor seemed to give you an angelic glow as he shyly smiled at you.

“Of course I did angel! I invited you here after all! Now I have something I need to tell you.” You nodded and took a sip of the caramel flavored latte he had picked for you. You let out a soft sigh at the warm feeling it put in your chest after the cold air had frozen your bones during your walk. “Y/N, I-I like you um a lot. You’re beautiful, kind, funny, a wonderful listener, a genuinely wonderful person. I was wondering if I could get the chance to take you on an actual date?” His warm eyes reflected his desire for an affirmation that you reciprocated his emotions.

“Oh wow Soobin I. I don’t know what to say. You are a wonderful guy, I genuinely do like your friendship a lot! You are someone I like being around. But, I just don’t see you the same way, I’m sorry.” You hung your head down apologetically and looked over to him to make sure he was okay. He nodded and gave you a half smile showing his dimples. You reached across the table for his hands and took them in yours. “I hope we can still be friends! I really like being your friend!” He smiled and nodded at that. You two stood and the tall boy wrapped you in a warm embrace.

“I would love to still be your friend Y/Nnie you are so sweet.”

Meanwhile outside the cafe stood Felix, his dark attire reflecting the darkness that poured into his heart. He saw the way your face nuzzled into the taller male’s chest and how the pair of you seemed to clutch the other’s clothing to get closer. Who was the boy in the glasses? Why were you hugging him like that? Why did he get to hold you? Why were you smiling up at him like that? Why wasn’t it him?

Felix’s inner turmoil began to swell as he watched the exchange, he couldn’t tear his eyes away as you and the taller boy interacted so happily. As you pulled away from Soobin your eyes locked with the brooding male’s through the cafe glass. Your eyes widened in surprise as the Australian visibly sighed and began to walk away, his head held low. You quickly excused yourself and bolted after the boy calling his name.

“Felix! FELIX! WAIT!” His steps only seemed to grow faster as he marched away. Panic began to creep into your mind as you picked up the pace. You grabbed his shoulder and yanked him to a halt via his jacket. His eyes grew steely as he looked at you.

“Did you just ditch your new boyfriend for me? Not a good look Y/N.” He grumbled as he tried to peel your grip off of him.

“Boyfriend? Huh? Felix, that's Soobin. Ya know? He’s a friend of the girls?” You tilted your head in confusion and scoffed lightly at his conclusion.

“You two looked awfully close. That’s all I’m saying Y/N.” His hair shook and his eyes grew cold and harsh as he cocked his head toward you.

“You almost always never call me by my first name what’s going on with you?” Your eyes grew pleading and you began to wring your hands anxiously as you silently begged for an explanation.

“Y/N, you offered me a very public second chance, then not even a week later I am seeing you acting like another man’s girlfriend. I thought I made it clear to you-” He cut himself off, shaking his head and scuffing the toe of his black combat boot against the ground. He let out a heavy sorrow filled sigh and slowly began to walk away. “Forget it. I’m happy for you, I’ll see you in stats.” Before he could step away your hands caught his wrist and you tugged him toward you.

“Made what clear to me Felix? You’re jumping to conclusions like it’s an Olympic sport here! I’m confused.” You looked at him, your eyes swimming with hurt and confusion. With Felix everything felt one step forward, five steps back. You never seemed to move past the hurt you both felt from the party incident.

“Y/N don’t. Don’t do this.” His voice was barely a murmur.

“Do what Felix?”

“Don’t make me say it.”

“Say what Felix don’t play games with me.” Your voice grew laced with agitation and annoyance. He wasn’t like this what was going on? Who was this aggravated almost gangster like boy you knew as your friend? Why was he sad yet angry?

“Please don’t make me admit how fucking in love with you I am.” With that you grabbed his face and pulled him into a heavy tear soaked kiss. Your arms wrapped around his neck as one of his hands found its home holding your waist and the other cupped your cheek. Your lips danced against one another as soft giggles and smiles made the kiss grow more playful.

“You didn’t think I loved you too Grumpy Pants?” You teased as he sneakily tried to grope your butt with his hand. “Aye paws off the goods mister!” You laughed.

“Well I clearly wasn’t thinking correctly seeing as you basically just swept me off my feet Bubbles.” He poked your cheek and wrapped his arms around you swaying you side to side gently. The cold autumnal air made you shiver slightly.

“Y/N! Glad to see you found your person!” Soobin cut into your moment as he called from the cafe doorway. Your cheeks grew flushed as you hid your face into Felix’s neck. The boy just laughed and gave Soobin a nod as an acknowledgment. The next thing you knew your phone in your pocket began buzzing like a swarm of bees as your friends were all informed by the tall dark haired male of what happened. Felix encouraged you to check the texts. The only one that jumped out was Heejin on instagram wishing you well, she said she was happy that you as a mutual friend of hers found happiness. She also said she wanted you and Felix to find happiness together. It was sweet and you sent along your thanks.

The rest of the messages were just congratulatory ones from the SKZ boys and ITZY girls. As well as some teasing from both groups to not make them uncles and aunts any time soon. A smile graced your lips and you tilted your head as to give Felix another chaste kiss.

“My place or yours baby?” You whispered into his ear.

“For what angel?” He smirked thinking you were implying a rendezvous.

“Snuggles, video games, avoiding our project, and some snacking! What else?” You laughed as you saw a blush creep across his cheeks. “Oh you pervert! You wanted to hook up? At least ask me to be your girlfriend and buy me dinner first!” You bopped his shoulder and acted all scandalized which made Felix grow even more red faced and he sputtered out apologies mixed with deflections as to not make a scene.

“Baby! Baby! Okay let’s go get dinner and I’ll get you some flowers and ask you the right way!”

“Hmph. Fine!”

“Bubbles?”

“Yeah Grumpy Pants?”

“I love you!”

“I love you too! Now come on!!!! I want a penguin plushie and my flowers! Did you know penguins propose with rocks?”

“Your lack of good TV as a kid is showing.”

“HEY!” You both bursted into laughter, ear-to-ear grins stretched across your faces as you looked into one another’s eyes with pure adoration.

All was well, except for the fact that the two of you still had to do math work and not get distracted by your infatuation with the other. But, that’s tomorrow’s problem now isn’t it?

#stray kids x reader #lazystarwrites #skz fanfic #skz x reader #stray kids x female reader #idiots to lovers #y/n gurl he loves you #kpop x reader #please reblog

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heartfullofleeches · 2 years ago

Note

Hello hello!!

May I request some headcannons for Caroline x broke reader

Like reader enjoys admiring Caroline from afar becuase she is beauty she is grace and she’s Rich and reader is like “I’ll be up to her level one day” and proceeds to work their ass off.

Thank you if you take this :D

You first meet while you're on first shift at some small scale cafe. She strolls in, dressed head to heels designer in designer, while you're wondering how long it'll take this job to drain your soul from the Afternoon alone. She comments on how nice it is to see a new face, and makes vague conversation how she used to come here before her rise to fame. The cafe was the busiest you'd see that week due to how many people stopped by her table. You wondered what that was like.

You glance at her every now and then whenever she comes by. The tip jar is a little heavier on those days. You'd seen her in a movie you watched recently with friends. How much do those gigs even pay nowadays? You tried not to think about it much, instead focusing your time on applying for other jobs while you were on break. You probably would never get to her exact level, but you still had to try.

Caroline is quite chatty in the brief moments between her orders, moreso than she is with other employees. It's not long before you're on a first name bases - from her end at least. It's not a big deal considering it's right there on your tag, but the way she says it is almost too comfortable. She's always held her tongue around saying such things in public so it doesn't go to anyone's head, but she admires hard working people. She acknowledges she was born with a silver spoon and some people have to work harder than others. Though, it's not a crime to help someone out every now and then, is it?

With all the new jobs, you can't help but notice the oddity that follows between them, and not just for her stardom. Department stores, even run down convenience markets - Caroline made her appearance some day during your work week. An offhanded claim of her being in the neighborhood and needing a quick drink, though she grimaces when taking a sip of store brand water. Just like it mixes poorly with her tastes, you don't fix in a place like this. Poor thing will work yourself into an early grave if you keep this up. Luckily you have someone to look out for you.

One day, you get an offer in your inbox to work for some upscale hotel. Seemed legit enough and the pay was good so you couldn't say no. On your first shift, you were put on wait staff and requested to the top floor the moment you walked through the pearly doors. You head up without another thought; a surprise waiting for you behind the elevator doors

"Hello, Darling. So nice of you to join me. Can you page one of your friends to bring us some champagne? Non-alcoholic if you prefer."

#Caroline my oc #yandere oc #yandere #yandere x reader #yandere imagines #yandere scenarios #yandere x you #yandere insert #yandere headcanons #yandere blurb #female yandere #yandere female

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oldguy56-world · 4 months ago

Text

The Way We Were

The older I get the more I like when things stay the same. When I was young (oh so long ago) I could roll with the punches and adapt to whatever came my way. Now I have rolls and am very punchy with neither of those being good. Perhaps you can stand the little things I find irksome but really I can't. I tried writing a letter to the 'Why the hell are there so many changes' department of the federal government but it was returned to me with I believe a tracking device embedded somewhere in the envelope. Not to worry. I put it in the trunk of a friend's car and because he never cleans it the envelope will stay there forever (or until he gets a new car) so the government can keep tabs on him instead of me.

I like the way things were, and sometimes are, but it is the constant changes that are hard to deal with.

Here are the things that bug me, really bug me, that cause a change in my daily routine.

The Hydro goes out. No matter what time of day this happens it interrupts my TV time and forces me to do...What? I have nothing else to do except on Mondays when I write. The rest of the week is down time to give my wrists time to heal. I can barely handle the remote but I cope. And don't get me started on having to reset things like my printer that seems to want to reprint old letters for some reason.

Cable out. You might think that this is the same as above but have you noticed that when the power is out and comes back on everything is ready to go except cable. This takes much longer for some reason.

Have you ever tried to go into your email or pay a bill and randomly you are asked to identify yourself? The gods of the internet can see I am using the same laptop as always and I am sure they also can see through my camera and know it is me. I would give them the finger but I suspect I would never be able to access anything ever again.

A few months ago my favorite pen rolled under the bookcase near my desk. It is still there as I am positive I would throw out my back retrieving it. When I was young I would have lifted the bookcase with one hand and picked up the pen with the other.

The first time I visited my hometown I tried to see some friends. It is a simple place to get around or should I say was a simple place to get around. Streets had disappeared, some were now dead ends, favorite restaurants now offered tattooing, and many other magnificent changes. Because of these things I left and went back to where i live now. My friends have no idea how close they came to a visit from me.

Why are there so many phone updates? Every time there is one I lose the ability to access one of the rare apps I have on my Apple 2. I can still phone or text but that is about it. There was nothing wrong with this phone when I got it so please leave it alone.

I hate smart TV's. There I said it. I used to enjoy sitting down and watching something uninterrupted (unless the power or cable went out) but now, in the middle of a show, my 'Smart TV' believes this is the best time to reboot itself. If it was really smart it would recognize it is getting close to being tossed from our balcony.

Finally, stop discontinuing foods I like. At my age putting out things with less sugar, no msg, gluten free, or anything else supposedly healthy is just a shock to my system.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: All the data shows that the largest growing segment of the population is seniors. Someone in marketing should smarten up and start listening to us.

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istumpysk · 2 years ago

Text

Operation Stumpy Re-Read

ADWD: Daenerys V (Chapter 30)

Each morning, from her western ramparts, the queen would count the sails on Slaver's Bay.

Today she counted five-and-twenty, though some were far away and moving, so it was hard to be certain. Sometimes she missed one, or counted one twice. What does it matter? A strangler only needs ten fingers.

Not always.

"And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you." - Cersei VIII, ADWD

+.+.+

Her admiral's counsel had proved worse than useless. "Let them see your dragons," Groleo said. "Let the Yunkishmen have a taste of fire, and the trade will flow again."

"Those ships are strangling us, and all my admiral can do is talk of dragons," Dany said. "You are my admiral, are you not?"

"An admiral without ships."

"Build ships."

"Warships cannot be made from brick. The slavers burned every stand of timber within twenty leagues of here."

"Then ride out two-and-twenty leagues. I will give you wagons, workers, mules, whatever you require."

"I am a sailor, not a shipwright. I was sent to fetch Your Grace back to Pentos. Instead you brought us here and tore my Saduleon to pieces for some nails and scraps of wood. I will never see her like again. I may never see my home again, nor my old wife. It was not me who refused the ships this Daxos offered. I cannot fight the Qartheen with fishing boats."

Does this not feel like it was lifted from a Cersei chapter?

Of course Cersei would have used the dragons months ago. Cersei's just a more efficient Daenerys. Why take years to achieve self-annihilation when it can be done in months?

+.+.+

His bitterness dismayed her, so much so that Dany found herself wondering if the grizzled Pentoshi could be one of her three betrayers.

Yes, yes. Let it consume you.

+.+.+

"I will hear no more about my dragons. Leave me. Go pray to your Pentoshi gods for a storm to sink our foes."

"No sailor prays for storms, Your Grace."

Gods don't answer prayers, but Daenerys does.

A storm will sink them!

+.+.+

Ser Barristan remained. "Our stores are ample for the moment," he reminded her, "and Your Grace has planted beans and grapes and wheat. Your Dothraki have harried the slavers from the hills and struck the shackles from their slaves. They are planting too, and will be bringing their crops to Meereen to market. And you will have the friendship of Lhazar."

She's on the correct path, all she has to do is see it through. Hold the line!

+.+.+

"Your Radiance, Hizdahr was seen to enter the pyramid of Zhak last evening. He did not depart until well after dark."

"How many pyramids has he visited?" asked Dany.

"Eleven."

"And how long since the last murder?"

"Six-and-twenty days." The Shavepate's eyes brimmed with fury. It had been his notion to have the Brazen Beasts follow her betrothed and take note of all his actions.

"So far Hizdahr has made good on his promises."

Gee golly, this Shavepate is giving off bad vibes.

The peace deal is working. Hold the line!

+.+.+

"If there is a Harpy." Skahaz was convinced that somewhere in Meereen the Sons of the Harpy had a highborn overlord, a secret general commanding an army of shadows. Dany did not share his belief. The Brazen Beasts had taken dozens of the Harpy's Sons, and those who had survived their capture had yielded names when questioned sharply … too many names, it seemed to her. It would have been pleasant to think that all the deaths were the work of a single enemy who might be caught and killed, but Dany suspected that the truth was otherwise. My enemies are legion.

What do we know about Daenerys? She's always wrong.

I think there is a Harpy, but you might be able to apply her words to the Others.

+.+.+

"If he is not the Harpy, he knows him. I can find the truth of that easy enough. Give me your leave to put Hizdahr to the question, and I will bring you a confession."

"No," she said. "I do not trust these confessions. You've brought me too many of them, all of them worthless."

Barristan Selmy is standing right next to her when she says this. Do you think that will help him in the future?

+.+.+

The Shavepate's scowl turned his ugly face even uglier. "A mistake. The Great Master Hizdahr plays Your Worship for a fool. Do you want a serpent in your bed?"

I want Daario in my bed, but I sent him away for the sake of you and yours.

So yes?

+.+.+

"Every man on that list has kin within the city. Sons and brothers, wives and daughters, mothers and fathers. Let my Brazen Beasts seize them. Their lives will win you back those ships."

"If I send the Brazen Beasts into the pyramids, it will mean open war inside the city. I have to trust in Hizdahr. I have to hope for peace." Dany held the parchment above a candle and watched the names go up in flame, while Skahaz glowered at her.

+.+.+

Afterward, Ser Barristan told her that her brother Rhaegar would have been proud of her. Dany remembered the words Ser Jorah had spoken at Astapor: Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought honorably. And Rhaegar died.

We're losing her, doctor.

+.+.+

Grey Worm began the tale. "He came out of the morning mists, a rider on a pale horse, dying. His mare was staggering as she approached the city gates, her sides pink with blood and lather, her eyes rolling with terror. Her rider called out, 'She is burning, she is burning,' and fell from the saddle. This one was sent for, and gave orders that the rider be brought to the Blue Graces. When your servants carried him inside the gates, he cried out again, 'She is burning.' Under his tokar he was a skeleton, all bones and fevered flesh."

[...]

"We must pray," said the Green Grace. "The gods sent this man to us. He comes as a harbinger. He comes as a sign."

"A sign of what?" asked Dany.

"A sign of wroth and ruin."

She did not want to believe that. "He was one man. One sick man with an arrow in his leg. A horse brought him here, not a god." A pale mare.

"She is burning" means Astapor is burning. Might also be hinting at something in the future.

Anyway, nice mount you have there Daenerys.

. . . three mounts must you ride . . . - Daenerys IV, ACOK

+.+.+

Just three nights ago she had dreamed of Daario lying dead beside the road, staring sightlessly into the sky as crows quarreled above his corpse. Other nights she tossed in her bed, imagining that he'd betrayed her, as he had once betrayed his fellow captains in the Stormcrows. He brought me their heads. What if he had taken his company back to Yunkai, to sell her for a pot of gold? He would not do that. Would he?

Brown Ben Plumm betrayal is foreshadowed all over this chapter, but I'm still holding out hope for Daario.

+.+.+

Daenerys received them in the grandeur of her hall as tall candles burned amongst the marble pillars. When she saw that the Astapori were half-starved, she sent for food at once. These three were all that remained of a dozen who had set out together from the Red City: a bricklayer, a weaver, and a cobbler.

[...]

The weaver raised her head. "Every day we told each other that the dragon queen was coming back." The woman had thin lips and dull dead eyes, set in a pinched and narrow face. "Cleon had sent for you, it was said, and you were coming."

[...]

"Outside our walls, the Yunkai'i devoured our crops and slaughtered our herds," the cobbler went on. "Inside we starved. We ate cats and rats and leather. A horsehide was a feast. King Cutthroat and Queen Whore accused each other of feasting on the flesh of the slain. Men and women gathered in secret to draw lots and gorge upon the flesh of him who drew the black stone. The pyramid of Nakloz was despoiled and set aflame by those who claimed that Kraznys mo Nakloz was to blame for all our woes."

"Others blamed Daenerys," said the weaver, "but more of us still loved you. 'She is on her way,' we said to one another. 'She is coming at the head of a great host, with food for all.' "

Some saviour you turned out to be.

+.+.+

"Afterward the Green Grace was impaled upon a stake in the Plaza of Punishment and left until she died. In the pyramid of Ullhor, the survivors had a great feast that lasted half the night, and washed the last of their food down with poison wine so none need wake again come morning. Soon after came the sickness, a bloody flux that killed three men of every four, until a mob of dying men went mad and slew the guards on the main gate."

That might be a bad omen for Meereen's Green Grace, but I'm seeing a lot of Lannister in this passage.

Impaled upon a stake, and poisoned wine to avoid a worse death. Hm.

+.+.+

"Even then some said that you were coming," said the weaver. "They swore they had seen you mounted on a dragon, flying high above the camps of the Yunkai'i. Every day we looked for you."

You'd think this would stop people from buying into that promised last hero azor ahai bullshit, yet here we are.

+.+.+

"And when the city fell?" demanded Skahaz. "What then?"

"The butchery began. The Temple of the Graces was full of the sick who had come to ask the gods to heal them. The legions sealed the doors and set the temple ablaze with torches. Within the hour fires were burning in every corner of the city. As they spread they joined with one another. The streets were full of mobs, running this way and that to escape the flames, but there was no way out. The Yunkai'i held the gates."

"Yet you escaped," the Shavepate said. "How is that?"

The old man answered. "I am by trade a brickmaker, as my father and his father were before me. My grandfather built our house up against the city walls. It was an easy thing to work loose a few bricks every night. When I told my friends, they helped me shore up the tunnel so it would not collapse. We all agreed that it might be good to have our own way out."

Did you catch that? Did you? Did you catch it?

A fallen city consumed by fire, no way out, but someone knew of a secret tunnel.

She is burning!

+.+.+

I left you with a council to rule over you, Dany thought, a healer, a scholar, and a priest. She could still recall the Red City as she had first seen it, dry and dusty behind its red brick walls, dreaming cruel dreams, yet full of life.

If I look back I am lost.

+.+.+

"You will be safe in Meereen."

The cobbler thanked her for that, and the old brickmaker kissed her foot, but the weaver looked at her with eyes as hard as slate. She knows I lie, the queen thought. She knows I cannot keep them safe. Astapor is burning, and Meereen is next.

I don't think that's why she's looking at you like that, saviour.

+.+.+

Brown Ben shrugged. "Hundreds. Thousands. Some sick, some burned, some wounded. The Cats and the Windblown are swarming through the hills with lance and lash, driving them north and cutting down the laggards."

"Mouths on feet. And sick, you say?" Reznak wrung his hands. "Your Worship must not allow them in the city."

No easy roads for Daenerys Targaryen.

It's awful, but I don't think you can allow the bloody flux to enter the city.

+.+.+

"I wouldn't," said Brown Ben Plumm. "I'm no maester, mind you, but I know you got to keep the bad apples from the good."

"These are not apples, Ben," said Dany. "These are men and women, sick and hungry and afraid." My children. "I should have gone to Astapor."

Can she shut the fuck up with this?

God, I can't even applaud her basic empathy.

+.+.+

"You warned King Cleon against this war with Yunkai. The man was a fool, and his hands were red with blood."

And are my hands any cleaner?

Look at all this accountability.

+.+.+

She remembered what Daario had said—that all kings must be butchers, or meat.

Yes, yes. Let it happen.

+.+.+

The Shavepate disagreed. "If you had taken the Unsullied south to Hazzat, the Sons of the Harpy—"

"I know. I know. It is Eroeh all over again."

Brown Ben Plumm was puzzled. "Who is Eroeh?"

"A girl I thought I'd saved from rape and torment. All I did was make it worse for her in the end. And all I did in Astapor was make ten thousand Eroehs."

Strong chapter for Daenerys.

I'm being sincere.

+.+.+

"What is done is done," said Reznak mo Reznak. "Your Worship, I beg you, take the noble Hizdahr for your king at once. He can speak with the Wise Masters, make a peace for us."

"On what terms?" Beware the perfumed seneschal, Quaithe had said. The masked woman had foretold the coming of the pale mare, was she right about the noble Reznak too?

I want to take this opportunity to spotlight her small council.

Groleo advises her to use her dragons to burn the ships that block the bay.

Skahaz Shavepate advises her to kill family members of the Meereenese nobles, and torture Hizdahr to learn the Harpy's identity.

Reznak mo Reznak wants her to marry Hizdahr to make peace.

Brown Ben Plumm wants her to use her dragons against Yunkai, and waste gold on bribing sellswords.

Barristan Selmy wants to fight Yunkai in an open field, while she's at war with her own people inside the walls.

Daario Naharis wants her to slaughter everyone.

Now, I have two questions for you.

Which character gives the best counsel?

Which character does she trust the least?

+.+.+

"I may be a young girl innocent of war, but I am not a lamb to walk bleating into the harpy's den. I still have my Unsullied. I have the Stormcrows and the Second Sons. I have three companies of freedmen."

"Them, and dragons," said Brown Ben Plumm, with a grin.

"In the pit, in chains," wailed Reznak mo Reznak. "What good are dragons that cannot be controlled? Even the Unsullied grow fearful when they must open the doors to feed them."

[...]

"Pets?" screeched Reznak. "Monsters, rather. Monsters that feed on children. We cannot—"

"Silence," said Daenerys. "We will not speak of that."

Reznak shrank away from her, flinching from the fury in her tone. "Forgive me, Magnificence, I did not …"

He's her best adviser, and she's going to kill him.

Not only that, the fandom will defend it.

#JusticeForReznak

+.+.+

Brown Ben Plumm bulled over him. "Your Grace, the Yunkish got three free companies against our two, and there's talk the Yunkishmen sent to Volantis to fetch back the Golden Company. Those bastards field ten thousand. Yunkai's got four Ghiscari legions too, maybe more, and I heard it said they sent riders across the Dothraki sea to maybe bring some big khalasar down on us. We need them dragons, the way I see it."

The sellsword sees a loss on the horizon. What could that mean?

None of this is accurate.

Yunkai has two companies, not three. The Windblown are switching sides.

The Golden Company are not assisting Yunkai or coming to Meereen.

The four Ghiscari legions are not prepared for battle, and their leaders are unfit for command.

There's no khalasar coming down on Meereen unless Daenerys is leading them.

+.+.+

Plumm scratched at his speckled whiskers. "If there's no dragons in the balance, well … we should leave before them Yunkish bastards close the trap … only first, make the slavers pay to see our backs. They pay the khals to leave their cities be, why not us? Sell Meereen back to them and start west with wagons full o' gold and gems and such."

"You want me to loot Meereen and flee? No, I will not do that. Grey Worm, are my freedmen ready for battle?"

She'll definitely loot it and leave.

Sounds like ... Ben Plumm ... has fleeing ... on the mind.

+.+.+

Daenerys looked at the faces of the men around her. The Shavepate, scowling. Ser Barristan, with his lined face and sad blue eyes. Reznak mo Reznak, pale, sweating. Brown Ben, white-haired, grizzled, tough as old leather. Grey Worm, smooth-cheeked, stolid, expressionless. Daario should be here, and my bloodriders, she thought. If there is to be a battle, the blood of my blood should be with me. She missed Ser Jorah Mormont too. He lied to me, informed on me, but he loved me too, and he always gave good counsel.

Lots of talk dedicated to Cersei's incompetent small council, but how about this group? Yikes.

I guess the stage is set for Tyrion.

+.+.+

"You mean to take the field?" The Shavepate's voice was thick with disbelief. "That would be folly. Our walls are taller and thicker than the walls of Astapor, and our defenders are more valiant. The Yunkai'i will not take this city easily."

Ser Barristan disagreed. "I do not think we should allow them to invest us. Theirs is a patchwork host at best. These slavers are no soldiers. If we take them unawares …"

"Knights know only one way to solve a problem. They couch their lances and charge. A dwarf has a different way of looking at the world. What of you, though? You are a clever man yourself." - Tyrion II, ADWD

+.+.+

Brown Ben scratched his chin. "Might be we could get some o' them to come over. If Your Grace could spare a few bags o' gold and gems … just to give their captains a good taste, as it were … well, who knows?"

I'm starting ... to think ... Brown Ben ... is up ... to no good.

+.+.+

"Buy them, why not?" Dany said. That sort of thing went on all the time amongst the free companies of the Disputed Lands, she knew.

Did she just give gold and gems to a sellsword? What a dumbass.

You want me to loot Meereen and flee?

+.+.+

"It shall be done, Magnificence," said Reznak mo Reznak. "What of these Astapori?"

My children.

I can't with this.

+.+.+

Ser Barristan frowned. "Your Grace, I have known the bloody flux to destroy whole armies when left to spread unchecked. The seneschal is right. We cannot have the Astapori in Meereen."

Dany looked at him helplessly. It was good that dragons did not cry. Dany looked at him helplessly. It was good that dragons did not cry. "As you say, then. We will keep them outside the walls until this … this curse has run its course. Set up a camp for them beside the river, west of the city. We will send them what food we can. Perhaps we can separate the healthy from the sick."

Love that she called it a curse.

I think she did well here.

+.+.+

The old rhyme rang in her head. Ash and bone is Astapor, and ash and bone its people. She tried to recall Eroeh's face, but the dead girl's features kept turning into smoke.

If I look back I am lost.

+.+.+

When Daenerys finally turned away, Ser Barristan stood near her, wrapped in his white cloak against the chill of evening. "Can we make a fight of this?" she asked him.

"Men can always fight, Your Grace. Ask rather if we can win. Dying is easy, but victory comes hard. Your freedmen are half-trained and unblooded. Your sellswords once served your foes, and once a man turns his cloak he will not scruple to turn it again. You have two dragons who cannot be controlled, and a third that may be lost to you. Beyond these walls your only friends are the Lhazarene, who have no taste for war."

It can be Brown Ben AND Daario! George, please!

+.+.+

"I know." The queen sighed. "What do you counsel, ser?"

"Battle," said Ser Barristan. "Meereen is overcrowded and full of hungry mouths, and you have too many enemies within. We cannot long withstand a siege, I fear. Let me meet the foe as he comes north, on ground of my own choosing."

I am no Hand, a part of him wanted to cry out. I am only a simple knight, the queen's protector. - The Queen's Hand, ADWD

He's actually a disaster.

Going to battle when there's conflict within her own walls is madness.

+.+.+

"Or five. And if I give you the Unsullied, I will have no one but the Brazen Beasts to hold Meereen." When Ser Barristan did not dispute her, Dany closed her eyes. Gods, she prayed, you took Khal Drogo, who was my sun-and-stars. You took our valiant son before he drew a breath. You have had your blood of me. Help me now, I pray you. Give me the wisdom to see the path ahead and the strength to do what I must to keep my children safe.

The gods did not respond.

How is Daenerys smarter than Barristan Selmy? How is that even possible?

Gods don't answer prayers, Daenerys. You must follow your heart, follow Daario.

+.+.+

When she opened her eyes again, Daenerys said, "I cannot fight two enemies, one within and one without. If I am to hold Meereen, I must have the city behind me. The whole city. I need … I need …" She could not say it.

"Your Grace?" Ser Barristan prompted, gently.

A queen belongs not to herself but to her people.

"I need Hizdahr zo Loraq."

Horrific counsel from start to finish, yet somehow she manages to land on the only right solution - the Reznak option.

#JusticeForReznak

Again, impressive chapter from Daenerys, so I'm sure the next one will be a shitshow. Where's Daario when you need him?

Final thoughts:

Let me guess, Tyrion shows up, starts giving her sound advice, she eventually grows impatient, and then turns to the dragons when everything doesn't perfectly fall into place.

-> return to menu <-

#operation stumpy re-read #adwd #daenerys v

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1unpaid-intern · 1 year ago

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Sooooo I usually just post about my recent obsessions (that being tgcf rn), but I just had an internship and I figured since I fits my name I might as well post something about it.

I actually applied at a different company first, because everything was online and via email, so I didn't have to call anybody. And at first everything was looking great. I filled out the online formular, wrote a few emails with a lady from the human resources department, she said it's looking good and that she'll write me again when my application has been fully processed. After that I didn't hear from her for a while and then out of nowhere she's like "Sorry but we can't take anymore interns rn". So after emotionally recovering from that I replied with the typical "Sad to hear that, but thanks for your answer bla bla bla ... Also could I maybe apply for an internship at a later date?" Aaaaaannd I haven't heard from her til this day, so yeah I got the hint.

I then ended up at a smaller company, because my Mom knows a guy there (I think he is the husband of her great cousin or sth like that). I first had to suffer through some VERY awkward phone calls, but I somehow survived (I ended up giving them the wrong email, because I was so nervous, fuck you social anxiety, and even had to call them again because of it 🥲).

The internship wasn't bad, I originally wanted to do one as a graphic designer, but since the small company's marketing department consisted only of two people, who actually just were office management clerks, that specialized in marketing and knew all the Adobe programms, I had to compromise a little. Even though they were super nice and showed me all their tasks, I felt kinda useless, because I barely did anything in comparisson to them.

I had to:

- Check the new calender they designed in case they got holidays or something else wrong (they obviously didn't)

- Prepare a presentation on how to reache and then also hopefully get more trainees (they gave me way to much time for that, I'm used to pumping those out in two hours, because of school)

- Put some labels on Schnaps bottles, that they gave out to customers for their 125th anniversary

- Help packing up some other giveaways (like pens, measuring tape, t-shirts and so on)

The best thing was honestly overhearing all the gossip from the department next to us. My personal favourite was when they were talking about this one lady and one of the younger employes joked about her having an onlyfans. His older coworker obviously didn't know what that was, so he explained it to him and his reaction was just priceless. At first he was in denial, he thought he was joking, then he was in shock, because he just couldn't believe that people actually made money with this, and in the end he just stared laughing hysterically.

After the internship was over, I actually realized that they were making fun of me too and I feel kinda stupid for not realizing it earlier. Apparently it's very common here in Germany to refer to an overweight intern as a "Praktifant". A mix of the words Praktikan (=intern) and Elefant 🐘. The young guy, who made the onlyfans joke, always started playing "Colonel Hathi's March" from the Jungle Book shortly after I came in ...

I mean I'm not mad, because I geniunly like the song and it made everything less serious, so I wasn't as nervous. So, thanks I guess?

Also Bowser is into Elephants so I'll take this as a compliment. 🐘

#elephant #intern #Gschichtn ausm Paulanergartn #story time #funny stuff #Tööröööööö

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vulpes-fennec · 2 years ago

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The Fae Equality Initiative (Ch. 10) 🌊

Summary: We learn a bit more about Cresseida's past and Elain reaches out to the humans residing in Adriata!

Tarquin, High Lord of the Summer Court, has sent ripples of shock throughout Prythian with his plans to eliminate discrimination against Lesser Fae. When the Night Court is invited to send a delegation to Summer Court, Elain Archeron can’t wait to show everybody what she’s capable of on her first official Inner Circle assignment. Little does she know that Tarquin has also recruited Lucien Vanserra’s assistance…

Read: Ch 1 | Ch 9 | AO3

Cresseida had seen—but had never spoken to—Elain Archeron before. So when Tarquin requested her to escort Elain to Safe Harbor House, Cresseida was dreading the awkward interaction. What could she even say? I flirted with your brother-in-law before I knew he had a mate? I still don’t trust your sister, even though Tarquin has long forgiven her?

But the Night Court delegate had said “call me Elain,” with a stunning smile that instantly put Cresseida at ease. Elain’s tawny brown hair was swept up in an elegant bun, her earthy brown eyes bright and friendly.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Cresseida said, trying to soften the hard set of her lips. “I can take you to Safe Harbor House, but I’m afraid I can’t bring you back. I have a long day with the Department of Education.”

“That’s fine, I’m sure I can find my way back easily,” Elain assured. “What are you doing with the Department of Education?”

The question was borderline prying, but Cresseida didn’t have it in her to be standoffish to Elain. “To oversee the integration of schools. It’s because several schools are segregated along Fae lines,” Cresseida explained. “Some, not all. Which makes my job easier. Anyways, are you alright with winnowing?”

“Yes, of course.” When Elain took her outstretched hand, Cresseida was surprised to feel several rough patches of warm skin. As far as she knew, Feyre and Nesta were the only sisters who were trained as warriors. What is a lady like Elain doing with calluses on her palm?

Cresseida’s winnowing was characterized by a warm breeze whipping through the air and salty ocean scent filling their nostrils. They landed rather gracefully near one of Adriata’s many markets. Fish-mongers, vendors, and shoppers filled the mid-morning with eager chatter and energized haggling. Palm trees and colorful tents lined the street. Flapping fish were expertly cleaned and fileted while late breakfast was being served to locals.

“It’s a good custom to always bring something to a charity,” Cresseida explained the slight detour. “So we pay a visit to the market. I also recommend buying your lunch ahead of time.”

The market was small, but one of Cresseida’s favorites. It was situated just a block away from her childhood home, and she had fond memories of visiting the market with her mother. Although the war had taken out several vendors, the market still came back at the same time, same place every week. Its resilience was bittersweet, for familiar faces had been replaced by new ones.

Cresseida watched as Elain curiously took in the hubbub. The humble dress of sage green cotton and plain canvas shoes only seemed to underscore the middle Archeron sister’s beauty as she greeted a Lesser Fae vendor selling savory sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves with another stunning smile.

The vendor was an elderly female marsh Fae. Marsh Fae were experts in growing rice, spending their days wading through flooded fields. Though they were a mellow bunch, they were frightening at first glance with paddles for feet; short, webbed fingers; translucent eyes; and furrowed gray skin.

But Elain did not balk, did not stare dumbfounded at the marsh vendor. She simply pocketed the sticky rice packets into her satchel, and continued walking with Cresseida unperturbed.

Cresseida stopped by the citrus stand. “Good morning, Farun,” she greeted the wood nymph. “How has your family been this winter?”

“Cresseida!” Farun’s leaf-green eyes brightened. “It’s so good to see you again. We are doing well. The orange trees have been quite cooperative, but the kumquats are being fickle. I recommend the pomelos—they’re especially sweet this year.”

Farun was a wood nymph whose family had maintained a citrus grove for generations. Wood nymphs were skilled at communicating with the trees. In Farun’s case, he made sure the trees’ needs were met to ensure bountiful—and delicious—fruit. Cresseida promptly bought five large pomelos and a large bag of oranges.

“I can carry the fruit,” Elain offered.

“Oh, there’s no need,” Cresseida replied, opening the little pocket of space and placing the bag of citrus inside. “We can keep them in here.” Was Elain always so helpful, or was she just trying to stay on Cresseida’s good side after the Night Court’s debacle several years back?

A flower stand suddenly caught Elain’s eye, and the female eagerly bounded up to the sprite—Chessie—who was misting the cut blooms with water. Elain must have said something nice, for Chessie had a toothy grin on her face. Cresseida watched as Elain paid for a large bouquet of vibrant blooms.

“Sorry,” Elain apologized as she walked back to Cresseida. The multi-colored petals nestled protectively against Elain’s chest made her heart-shaped face glow with new life. “These flowers were too beautiful not to share.”

Cresseida led Elain down a sloping avenue, past quaint shops and apartments, in silence. I should try to be more amiable, Cresseida thought. She hasn’t done anything wrong, and I’ve only said a handful of words. “What’s Velaris like?” she asked Elain. “I’ve never been.”

“Velaris is…” Elain hesitated. She tried again. “Velaris is called the City of Starlight because the nights are especially beautiful. The river Sidra runs through it, and the Rainbow quarter of art has plenty of galleries and theaters. There are many gardens in the city, though they have to be replanted annually because of the harsh winters.”

“If you like gardens and flowers, I recommend visiting Adriata’s botanical garden,” Cresseida suggested.

Elain smiled. “That sounds wonderful. And yes, I love flowers. I’ve only been here for a few days, but I’ve seen so many fascinating specimens.” Her brown eyes lingered on the remaining rubble and scars along the buildings. “What was it like? During Amarantha and the war?”

“We had eternal summer, so we were able to assist other courts with extra provisions when Amarantha siphoned off their resources for herself and Hybern. As princess of Adriata, I had the unique privilege of managing trade relations with the other courts. But then my cousin Nostrus, the High Lord, was killed.” Cresseida shuddered at the bleak memory, at how the ground shook with the transfer of power from one High Lord to the next.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry,” Elain said softly. “Were the two of you close?”

Cresseida blinked. “That’s the first time someone asked me that,” she said, surprised. “It’s complicated, you know? Varian and I had the most wonderful time with Nostrus when we were younger. He was 372 years older, and he spoiled us with the best things Summer Court had to offer.”

“So he was like a fun uncle?”

“Yes, you could say that. But…when I got older, I began to realize just how Nostrus staunchly defended the norms that Tarquin—that we—are trying to break. It’s hard to reconcile how much I loved, yet resented him, after his premature death.”

Elain was silent for a moment. “That’s what it was like with my mother,” she confessed. “I remember enjoying balls and concerts with her. But looking back, she clearly wasn’t a very good mother to us.” Elain shrugged. “She died many years ago, and I’m still not sure how I feel about her.”

How did we end up on this topic? Cresseida wondered. Spilling our deepest thoughts to each other? She was going to ask about Elain’s impressions of Adriata, but Safe Harbor House had appeared on the corner ahead.

***Elain***

Rilum, the director of Safe Harbor House, gave Elain a tour of the small charity once Cresseida left. It was small for a bed and breakfast-type of establishment. Safe Harbor House possessed a decently-sized backyard, overgrown with vines, shrubs, and palms. The upper two levels, Rilum explained, comprised of temporary housing for humans who needed a place to stay.

Rilum was a young merchant by Fae standards, with rabbit-like features in his curved haunches that had him moving in short hops, buck teeth, and cotton ball tail. Rilum had lost a hand during the war, rendering him incapable of sailing with the merchant fleet. Thankfully his wife, Luna, was a bookseller who made enough money to support them both. “Running a charity is primarily volunteer work,” he explained to Elain. “The board members and I collect a small stipend every month, but that’s about it.”

“What got you into this sort of work?” Elain inquired.

“I was doing fairly well for myself, but the war changed all of that.” Rilum lifted his left arm and waved the prosthetic hook that had replaced his hand. “Unable to sail, unable to work…I felt useless.”

“Us Lesser Fae—now, I know Tarquin doesn’t want us using those words but how else am I supposed to distinguish myself from the High Fae—have always relied on each other,” Rilum said in a gentle, contemplative tone. His large, floppy ears twitched. “But I saw how the humans were on their own…they struggled more than us. My friends supported us after the war, and I didn’t want anybody else to be in the same position of helplessness.”

“As a sailor, I thought the name Safe Harbor House would be fitting for the humans who were looking for a place to stay, for some friendly faces.”

“And as someone who used to be human, I’m thankful for all that you do.” Elain said softly. “It means so much to me.”

Across from the administrative office on the first floor was a small medic room, where the human doctor, Sarah, kept a meager stock of supplies. Down the hall was a fairly large common area, with mismatched tables and chairs. The last room was a medium-sized kitchen, where two human chefs, introduced as Lizzie and Samuel, were preparing lunch.

“So you were the one who brought oranges!” Lizzie exclaimed. “Thank you so much. We wouldn’t have had a fresh produce component otherwise!”

“You’re welcome.” Lizzie’s face crinkled as she smiled. Her rounded ears, her distinctly clumsy movements, Samuel’s brown hair was streaked with gray—these were traits Elain hadn’t seen in a long time.

How is it possible that I used to be like them? The fact that Elain was taken aback at seeing humans only solidified the extent of her acclimation to Fae society.

“We try to provide well-balanced meals twice a day. Unfortunately, we are often running low on funds.” Samuel gestured to the two plucked and skinned chickens, and the smattering of onions, corn, and radishes on the counter. “This is all we have for the time being.”

The paltry ingredients harkened back to Elain’s days at the dilapidated cottage, when Feyre’s hunt had stretched thin and the last tubers had been dug out of the ground. Oh, how terrible! Elain thought. That I was eating such decadent food while the humans were barely getting by!

Elain suddenly felt ashamed of the bouquet of flowers she was carrying. Safe Harbor House needed groceries, toiletries, new clothes and bedding…and she came with flowers? People couldn’t eat flowers.

“Please, let me assist,” was all Elain could say in response. “I-I brought these flowers but I don’t know where to put them…”

“What a stunning bouquet,” Lizzie agreed. “Here, I can take them off your hands. They will be a lovely touch on the dining tables. And we would love it if you could help us bake the bread.”

Thankfully, the dry goods cupboard was well stocked with flour, sugar, baking necessities, beans, and rice. As Elain kneaded the dough, she inquired as much as she could about Safe Harbor House.

“Charities in Adriata have their rent waived, thankfully. But other than that, we rely on donations and fundraisers,” Lizzie explained as she expertly cut up the chicken.

“Donations have been slow and our fundraiser last year was not successful.” Samuel added morosely.

“That’s terrible!” Elain exclaimed.

Lizzie glanced at her sadly. “That is the nature of things for humans in Adriata. But Samuel and I don’t have a home to return to. Our town was razed by the Hybern army.”

“Most Fae are not happy about our presence here. High Lord Tarquin has been generous to humans, but he cannot control the sentiments of all his citizens,” Samuel sighed.

“If they ever rebuild, would you return to the human lands?”

Samuel hesitated. “We would like to. But…Adriata is much more beautiful. So many wonderful things to see and eat that we’d never known before.”

“To be honest, I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I moved back to the human lands,” Lizzie admitted. “I miss seeing other humans. But even if they rebuilt it, it wouldn’t be the same. And I would also miss being near the sea.”

“I understand,” Elain replied. “What it’s like to long for a life that doesn’t exist anymore.” She had gotten more used to being Fae, but sometimes wondered what her life would have been if Feyre hadn’t shot the wolf that fateful day. I would probably be dead in our desolate hovel, waiting for help that wouldn’t ever arrive. But Tamlin was the one who provided for a new mansion and life. Well, maybe I would have married Graysen if things stayed that way, if Feyre hadn’t found Rhys. But then I wouldn’t have met Lucien or lived in Velaris…agh, too many factors to contend with!

“Seeing High Lord Tarquin extend protections to what they call the ‘Lesser’ Fae gives us hope that life in Adriata will improve,” Samuel assured her. “These changes have been tough, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?”

When they finished preparing lunch at noon, the other humans who were residing downstairs came down to eat. Elain now realized why Cresseida told her to bring her own lunch; if they’d added a 16th plate, there would not be enough food to go around.

A family with two small children, around seven and ten years old, sat next to Elain. “Hello,” the father introduced himself, holding out a hand for Elain to shake—another distinctly human gesture. “My name is Raul. And this is my wife, Maya.”

“My name is Elain. It’s nice to meet you.” Raul’s human hand, a perfectly strong human hand, felt brittle in Elain’s sure grip. She gulped, trying not to think about how fragile she had been, how easily these humans could be harmed by the Fae.

“We’ve heard about you.” Maya’s hollowed face was awestruck. “You and your sisters.”

Well, that solves the tediousness of telling my life story over and over again. “I’m honored,” Elain smiled gently at the couple’s children. “And how is your family settling in Adriata?”

“As well as we can. I’ve been looking for work, but it’s been difficult the last few months,” Raul answered. “I was a carpenter in the human lands.”

“Raul is being humble about his craft,” Maya chuckled, placing her hand over her husband’s hand affectionately. “Only one of the Lesser Fae would hire him, and we are very grateful for that. However, they can only pay him to work two days of the week.”

“Do your children go to school?” Elain asked, shifting her gaze away from the happy couple and towards the fidgeting children. It wasn’t because she couldn’t stand public displays of affection. With all the members of the Inner Circle coupled up with each other and her heightened Fae senses, Elain sometimes knew a little too much about her family and friends’ sex lives. No, it was because Raul and Maya’s tender gesture had her wondering if she could ever be that way with Lucien.

“Yes, they do. We are also very lucky that education is free in Adriata,” Raul nodded.

“And how are they adjusting to the changes?”

Maya smiled. “Children are more adaptable than adults. My youngest…she gets along with everybody. All they do is play, and we’re happy that she’s made some friends already.”

“That’s good to hear. My education was a solitary one,” Elain murmured, remembering the rotating circle of governesses at the Archeron’s old mansion. “It would have been nice to be surrounded by other children.”

Just then, she recalled Cresseida’s mention of school integration. “What kind of classmates do you have?” Elain asked the children.

“Faeries,” the daughter piped up. “Blue faeries, wood faeries! Water faeries!”

“Some other humans,” the son added. “Fae, too, but like your kind.” His brown eyes regarded Elain warily, which made a part of her heart twinge. I was human too! Elain wanted to remind him. Don’t look at me like I’m some scary monster! I used to be like you!

“Please forgive him,” Raul apologized. “My eldest was initially bullied by several of his Fae classmates. Thankfully, his teacher put an end to that.”

“Nothing to worry about,” Elain said smoothly, trying to cover up the hurt she felt. “My sister herself faced some ah…relentless taunting by some of the Fae.” Nevermind that Fae turned out to be my damn mate. Why the Mother decided for things to be this way is beyond me.

Elain chewed her food industriously, trying to banish all thoughts of Lucien from her mind.

“We heard that the High Lord is planning to integrate the students at schools. My husband and I are not necessarily opposed, but…are there going to be any safety measures? I don’t want my son to be used as magic practice,” Maya fretted.

There was fear in the mother’s voice—the same fear Elain once had for the Fae. “I understand your concern,” Elain tried to assure her. “I know someone who is working on that initiative, and I can pass on your suggestions!”

“Thank you, Elain.” Maya visibly relaxed. “We are so glad you’re willing to listen to our ramblings and concerns.”

It was one thing to be Made Fae and forced to live in a new city, in a different society. But it was another to still be physically human and living amongst the Fae, Elain realized. The smile she plastered on her face felt like a lie. Like false hope. I’m a Seer, but I don’t know what the future holds for your family. For Tarquin and his court. Even for ME.

Resources linked here!

Read Ch. 11

#elucien #elucien fanfic #elain archeron #cresseida acotar #summer court #acotar #acotar fanfic

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