#'price of living is going up so we had to raise rent'

[lost-in-yahargul]

Landlord decided to raise rent by 40k forints I am so dead

[rubenesque-as-fuck]

Anyway I got notified that I'll be getting a nice $$ bonus from work today and I wish that I could celebrate with someone in a way that didn't just feel like obnoxious bragging. Like beyond the financial aspect, it's just nice to be recognized for good work and I actually feel... good?? about this job??

But it feels so silly to say I want to celebrate when I just got back from what felt like my first real vacation in a very long time and am doing cool comic con stuff this weekend and am scheduled for a new tattoo next weekend. I am already doing lots of things to try to make myself feel good! It feels selfish to want more!

But I guess even with all of that, there's just still a hunger for external validation from trusted sources. Will I ever grow out of wanting someone to be proud of me?

[hermoglobiini]

.

[risuola]

▶ ONE BEDROOM? — short memory about how you found yourself sharing a bed with two of your best friends.

contents: college+roommates!au, fluffy, silly Satoru, caring Suguru and all that jazz — wc. 916

a/n: feel free to send me suggestions for entries of this series! any specific situations you think might be funny? any topics that sound interesting to you? let me know!

𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀 𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙇𝙀𝙔 | series masterlist

“Alright, I found one,” Satoru informed, a grin of mischief tugging on his lips and both you and Suguru knew immediately that there are some gears turning below the mop of white hair of your best friend. “Near our uni, rent’s cheaper than any other we looked at, it looks nice, and there’s even a balcony for the addict. Available anytime.”

It sounded too good to be true, really. You’ve been looking for weeks now, desperate to find the right balance between the price and quality and it turned out to be the hardest thing you had to face in your lives. It was honestly a nightmare, turned out that you were way too late to find a rental with three rooms in the college area – everything was already taken and you were forced to scratch the idea of all having separate rooms. Two bedrooms, turned out, were just as hard to find. You were slowly coming to terms that you��re gonna have to either spend three hours in metro every day just to get in and out of uni or pay an unreasonable amount of money just to live even moderately close. In your head, you already saw yourself searching for the second job.

“Where’s the catch?” Suguru’s raised an eyebrow, his mind analytic as always and his questioning tone matched your thoughts perfectly. He wrapped one arm around your waist and reached with the other to snatch a phone out of Gojo’s hands, but the snow-whites grin grew even wider as he dodged the attempt. You could feel your friend taking a deeper breath behind your back, you were seated next to him, resting against his body whilst Satoru was on the floor, with his head comfortably on your thigh. “Is it one of those ‘rent a room along with ten other students’ kind of deal?”

“Nah, it’s a separate apartment. It’s not big, by any means, but as far as I’m concerned, it should be more than enough for us,” you reached your hand, but instead of giving you his phone, Gojo put his chin on your palm, smiling with the typical amount of cat-like mischief. “In fact,” he said, pulling the lollipop out of his mouth with a loud pop and threatening to lick you. The trail of sticky sugar covering his lips in a reddish tint from the cherry, his favorite, flavored candy. “I already sent a message to the renter.”

“Toru, spill it,” you pushed, pinching his cheek and with a theatrical roll of his pretty blue eyes, he put his phone into your hand, sticking the candy back into his mouth. You leaned back against Suguru’s chest again and with his head on your shoulder, you swiped through the pictures of the offer. “It… does look nice?”

“Sus,” the brunette mumbled, reaching to swipe over the screen with his own finger. “Very sus. What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing’s wrong with it,” Satoru said in fake offense and got up to his knees to peek on what you two were doing, sticking his nose in front of the screen so aggressively that you had to push him away. “But—”

“Wait, is there one bedroom in this apartment?” You noticed. The pictures you were analyzing all showed the same room and the living area with joined kitchen, the bathroom, and again the same room, and some weird kind of storage? and again the same room.

“That explains a lot,” Suguru laughed lightly and leaned back again.

“We can see the place in an hour” Satoru showed off his pearly whites. “Come on, let’s at least see it, yeah?”

“I guess we can see it,” you gave it a nod. “The price is really nice.”

“Alright… so let’s get going.”

And so, all of you hopped on the bikes, you behind Satoru, and took the ride to see the apartment. Turned out, it really was perfect. Despite the apartment having just one bedroom, it was spacious enough to fit all three of you. The bed was so big it could easily fit five and during the many years of friendship, you and two of your friends shared way too many single person mattresses, sandwiched and squished together to think twice about it. The odd storage room seemed to be a perfect candidate to become a guest room (later called: a fuck room).

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Satoru grinned, looking at both of you as he was bouncing his ass on the bed, testing it as if he was already the owner.

“It is nice, I’ll admit,” you said, looking at Suguru to hear his opinion, but the man seemed to be thinking still. “Sug?”

“For me, it’s perfect. But,” he looked at you, a concern clearly written in his eyes, “is it alright with you?”

Geto has a way of constantly reminding you why you love him. He doesn’t look like it, in fact, he looks quite intimidating to anyone who doesn’t know him, but to you he’s just the sweetest, most caring friend you could ever wish for. If anyone was to worry about your comfort, it was him because it is true that all three of you slept together already, sharing sheets and being as close and personal as it was possible, but a random sleepover doesn’t equal sleeping with them every single day.

“It’s fine with me, don’t worry,” you reassured him, squeezing his bicep playfully.

“If it’s fine with you, then I guess we have a place.”

taglist: @kibananya, @r0ckst4rjk, @rixo-19, @soraya-daydreams

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Come Out and Play 2

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as non/dubcon, age gap, cheating, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your mom welcomes an old friend back into her life that brings chaos with him.

Characters: Thor, Loki

Note: Two silverfoxes for the price of one

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. Thanks to everyone who reads this one and thank you for all your energy.<3

Love you all like Thor loves thunder. Take care. 💖

You hide away in the room that was once your own. You’re dressed and ready to go but waiting for the chance to flit out. You have a fib ready to go. You’ll tell your mom the landlord called and you had to leave quickly. 

The opportunity hasn’t come yet as the house is lively with noise. You didn’t wake up early enough to get ahead of your mother and her friend. You know he stayed the night; you can see his car through the window. A steel grey SUV with a boxy build. 

As you build your courage, bag in hand, with a plan to dart down and grab your shoes and coat, there’s a knock at the door. Dang. You drop your bag as you mother calls through to you. 

“Honey boo,” she trills, “are you hungry?” 

You huff and cross the room. You open the door only a few inches to see her. You stare back at her blankly. 

“Thor cooked some breakfast for us? Isn’t that lovely?” She preens.  

You weigh your options. There’s not really more than one. If you say no and rush out now, that would be rude. And a free meal isn’t something you should pass up. Not with your rent due. 

You nod and come out into the hallway, “okay, thanks.” 

“Oh, don’t thank me. I know you’ll be polite and let Thor know you appreciate it,” she steps back and waits for you to go ahead of her. “I’m so lucky to have such a good daughter.” 

“Mom,” you grumble. 

“Sorry, I’m just so... happy. I miss you,” she tugs your hair playfully from behind. You feel a little icky as you suspect the true reason for her good mood. Not that she isn’t always chipper. 

“Miss you too, mom,” you throw over your shoulder as you come down the stairs. 

You slow as you near the kitchen, hearing the subtle clinking of dishes. Your mom points you into the dining room and you gratefully accept the detour. 

“I’ll check in on him. I know he was wrestling the coffee machine.” 

You sit at the table as she tromps off into the kitchen. You hear Thor’s timbre and her singsong replies. You can’t make out the words, not until the last. 

“Go, sit,” Thor insists. “I’ve got it all figured out, Seli.” 

Your mother giggles before she appears again. She sits across from you. She’s always been bubbly but she seems bouncier. You’re happy for her. She deserves someone. It’s been so long since your father passed. You always felt a bit guilty for how much she put into raising you. 

“Ah, ladies,” Thor pops in just behind her, “coffee for both? I can always put on tea.” 

You nod and your mom turns, “yes, both of us. Thank you.” 

“Of course,” he grins and your eyes meet for a startling second. 

He stalks back to the kitchen. You wonder if a man his size ever does anything quietly. You tap your fingers on the table as you wait. 

“Hon,” your mom reaches across, “thanks.” 

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” you insist as you still your hands. 

“I know it’s a lot.” 

“He’s nice,” you say. 

She smiles even bigger, “he is, isn’t he?” 

You nod again. You can’t say you really know him. You just love seeing her so excited. 

“Ah coffee,” Thor declares as he sweeps in, “did we require sugar, dairy?” 

“Black,” you confirm, “thank you.” 

“Just some almond milk for me, please,” your mother replies. 

“As you wish,” he bows his head and backs out. 

It’s awkward. Almost as if you’re at a restaurant. It’s a bit too much but you suppose he feels just as weird staying in someone else’s house. Especially with their daughter crashing on the fun. 

He dips out once more and you squirm in your seat. You just need to get through this and you can go home. It might not be very warm there but it’s your own. 

Thor returns with two plates in hand and the cart of almond milk under his elbow. He sets a plate by your mom, and the milk, then reaches across to put the other before you. You chew your lip sheepishly. 

“Oh, thank you, this is so amazing,” your mother squeals, “and it smells delicious.” 

“Thank you,” you echo softly. 

“Full Norwegian. Smoked salmon, scrambled eggs with my secret ingredient, Jarlsberg cheese, and some oat bread toasted.” He announces proudly.  

“Wow, oh my god,” your mom touches her cheeks. “I never knew you could cook.” 

“Well, I had a few kids, had to learn,” he chuckles boisterously. “Now, please, dig in. I’ll just go get my plate.” 

“We can wait--” 

“No, no, it’s best to have it hot,” he insists, “please.” 

You pick up your fork only as your mother does the same. You use the fork and knife to pick apart the salmon. It really is tasty. You take small bites as your stomach swirls uneasily. 

Thor sits by your mother and wiggles as settles into the seat, “so, literature? What year?” He asks. 

“Oh, um...” you peek at your mom, “I finished last year.” 

“Ah, sorry. I think I misheard. That’s great. All set then. And are we going for another degree or out there is the wonderful world of employment?” 

“Erm, well, I work right now at a temp agency. Desk jobs, mostly.” 

“Oh, very interesting. You probably meet all sorts. See different places,” he remarks. 

“When there’s work,” you shrug. 

“Of course. That’s the catch then,” he says. 

“Mhmm,” you hum. 

“She’ll get there. Remember when we were in school and I worked at that pop up shop? Oof. They had me selling overpriced anti-aging cream. I was nineteen. Imagine.” She chirps. 

“Oh yes, I was lucky enough to work for my father’s firm. Well, luck being a relative term. He is a hard ass but I suppose I turned out alright. Now my brother for the matter,” he chortles and shakes his head. “So, just the one then, Seli?” 

“Just my precious bean,” your mom grins and you cringe. She can be so embarrassing. 

“Ah, I always wondered what it would be like to be an only child. You must be spoiled, especially with her as your mother. She’s always been a horrible enabler,” he nudges her and she guffaws. 

“Me? I would day you are a bad influence,” she pushes back on him. 

You muster a smile. Just to be nice. Then you focus on your plate and the food. The quicker you finish, the sooner you can be gone. Alone. 

💜

“I hope I haven’t run you out,” Thor catches you off-guard as you sit to pull on your boots. You pop your head up and wince. You were going to say bye to your mom before you fled but you just can’t seem to summon your usual invisibility. 

“Um, no, I gotta get back. See if they can fix the radiator.” 

“Radiator? Hm, I used to have a fussy one back in college. Actually, my first home was built at the turn of the century, not this one, and it had some rattly ones as well,” he rambles, much like your mother. You see why they get along. “I could have a look. It’s rather cold out, you wouldn’t mind the ride, eh?” 

“Oh, well, that’s fine. My landlord can fix it,” you tie your boots as you mutter at the carpet. 

“That is so sweet,” your mom strides in and you sit up in surprise. It’s almost as if she was waiting to sneak up on you. “Oh, Thor, would you mind? I really hate her on the bus. Did you hear about last week with that woman and her purse?” 

“Mom,” you drone. 

“I don’t mind at all. I’ve got some running around to do. Can’t be too far out of the way. Besides, I can see you’re keen to have me out of your hair already, Seli,” he chortles. 

“No, no, oh it’s been so nice to have you. Both of you! Have you found a place yet?” She asks. 

“Still nothing,” he answers with a tut. “Mother’s a lot like you though. She likes having me around, better when the kids chance to visit.” 

“Oh, I can’t wait to meet them. Won’t that be nice, honey? I think his daughter’s about your age,” she says around him. 

“She’s a year or two back. Still in school,” he intones, “close enough then, eh?” 

“It’s really not...” you begin but see your mom’s smile falter. “Oh, well, thanks, sure. It’s really nice to offer.” 

You stand and both of them smile. “I’ll just get my coat and that,” Thor says. 

He moves around you in the entry way and your mom flutters closer, “oh, honey bun, I’m going to miss you!” She hugs you and rocks you. You’ve never lived in a different city but she acts like she never sees you. “Don’t get in trouble, alright?” 

“I’ll keep an eye out,” Thor jibes as he pulls on his thick flannel coat. 

“Love you, mom,” you murmur quietly. 

“Love you!” She lets you go and pats your head. “You call. Let me know about the heat. Don’t you dare stay if it’s freezing. You’ll catch cold.” 

“Nothing I can’t fix, I’m sure,” Thor insist, “come, I’ve still got a whole list I should’ve done yesterday.” 

You give a wistful look to your mom and a small ‘bye’ before you reluctantly follow after the large man. He holds the door and you step out into the frigid air. You approach the steps warily. He’s still only a stranger to you. 

He frightens you as he puts his hand on your back and dips around you. He reaches the SUV first and opens the passenger door. You look over your shoulder as your mom waves giddily. 

“Drive safe!” She calls out. 

You turn and grab onto the door. You haul yourself up with your bag, an extra push from Thor along your lower back. You quickly swing into the seat and hug your knapsack. He closes the door without comment. 

You buckle your seat belt as he gets in the other side. You stare ahead as your mom gives one last wave and goes inside. You look down at your lap and pick at the zipper of your bag. The engine rumbles to life and you jolt as he reverses out of the driveway. 

He asks for your address as he idles in the middle of the street. You give it and he keys it into the GPS built into the dash. 

As he drives, you watch the houses pass outside the window. The cold makes the silence crisper. The heater blows warmth over you but you feel a shiver creeping nonetheless. 

“Mm, don’t take much after Selina. Quiet...” he muses. 

You nod. It’s the truth you can’t dispute that. 

“That’s not so bad though,” he says. “It means you put more thought into what you say. My brother can be the same way. Yet, he’ll often say too much.” 

You sniff and wiggle your foot impatiently. You’re burnt out from all the social interaction. You can handle your mom, but with his unannounced visit, you’re feeling yourself wear thin. 

He doesn’t say anything else, almost as if he can sense your reticence. You shrink down next to him. Your eyes threaten to close. You feel the how little sleep you truly got. Maybe you would’ve been better off sleeping in the cold. 

Finally, you get to your building. It would be a solace if he didn’t get out with you. You point him ahead to the building as you fish out your keys. 

You show him inside. You’re not used to the company. You’re always alone. Even your mom’s only been there a few times. You don’t like having her over because she just complains about it being too small. You tell her you don’t want to crowd her but she’s just wants to make sure you’re okay. 

“Brisk,” he says as he follows you down the hall. 

“If you can’t fix it, I’ll be okay,” you say. 

“Of course, but if I can, I’d hate to not look,” he assures. 

You unlock your door and let him in. He enters and stops to pull untie his boots. You do the same before you lead him further in. It feels like a violation to have him in your space. You’ve always been very protective of your bubble. 

He finds the radiator without direction. He grunts as he gets to his knees bracing his lower back, “never get old, mouse, or at least stretch,” he chuckles. “It isn’t fun.” 

He takes out his phone and shines it between the slats and bends further to see. He reaches underneath as you shiver behind him. He feels along and lets out an aha! 

“I think we only need to bleed the radiator,” he twists and something creaks loudly. “Just so.” 

He sits up and looks at you, “may be some trapped air. Easy repair but if you don’t know the little tricks, an easy miss,” he explains, “come, let me show you.” 

He beckons you over and flashes the light toward the small red knob, “this is the bleed. You can twist to release then close it back up.” 

“Okay,” you lean in and squint to see it. 

You lift your head, nearly brushing him with your nose and back up. 

“I’ll close it and give it a bit. Do you have the thermostat here? Or is it central control?” He asks. 

“Um just... on the radiator.” 

“Ah,” he cranks the knob tight then moves to the end of the metal heater. He moves the gauge and the radiator rattles. He puts his hands up. “Think I’ve done it.” 

“Thanks,” you wring your hands in front of you. “That’s... thanks.” 

“Oh, it’s nothing.” He gets up with another grinding grunt and some popping in his knees. “Anything else before I go? Maybe a leaky faucet?” 

“No, no, that’s it,” you say but wince. Your mom would be disappointed in your lack of hospitality. Besides, he did help and he’s her friend. You can’t just kick him out. “Do you like tea?” 

“I love tea,” he smiles, “but let me not presume on you.” 

“It is cold in here. I was gonna make it anyway.” 

“Well, then, if it isn’t any trouble, how could I deny the little mouse?” 

[briar-ffxiv]

Hate to do this, but if anyone can help

TL: DR - Due to a lot of financial strain this year and moving before we planned to with little notice, my cats and my family don't have money for groceries for the next few months. We just need to make it to January and we've been trying hard, eating as cheap as possible, not going out, no extra services, etc. Heck, I only have FFXIV because a friend was nice enough to help.

But now, we're out of money and next paycheck once we cover rent and bills, we'll have less than $30. And unfortunately, we need to eat.

So if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it. Anything. Thank you. <3

Below the read-more are the longer details. If anyone doesn't mind boosting or something, I'd be grateful.

More Details:

Basically, due to having to move at least a year sooner than expected with less than 60 days' notice, we've used up every bit of savings and resources we have. Plus, due to some other financial nonsense, including the past roommates being terrible and my spouse's work using loopholes to avoid paying him overtime, we're finally having a really rough time.

We can just cover rent and the minimal bills. Several months ago, we turned off anything we didn't completely need. That includes streaming services, games, and what have you. Heck, we wouldn't have kept on the internet if my spouse didn't need it for work.

We were just trying to hold on until New Year. The New Year means a mandatory raise for my spouse and his boss has promised it's a good one (due to several years of him getting the minimum under his previous boss who was fired for several reasons). So we've been just trying to make it and just have a few months left.

Unfortunately, with just a few months to go, we've basically maxed out all we can. The next step is trying to rehome my cats to remove the cost of maintaining them, although I hate to do it. I really don't want to. Pretty much every cat I have, I either rescued and/or raised from birth. But I'm certainly not going to let them starve or suffer.

I have been trying for months to get a job, but due to personal things and limited options (only one car with limited gas, etc.), I haven't been able to find anything. I keep sending out forms and not hearing much. Due to gas prices and such, I can't even do UberEats or Doordash or something. I'm at a loss and I feel completely useless in trying to help my spouse at the moment.

I really hate asking. My little Tumblr is just cute stuff with my character, aesthetics, and trying to be positive. I'm just really desperate because I don't know what else to do.

We've looked into state help, but I live in Texas and their "poverty line" is absolutely ridiculous. My spouse makes "too much" for us to get the benefits of any kind of help, even temporarily. Due to the crappy roommates, our credit isn't great and we're already struggling to pay off things so getting a loan is pretty much impossible.

I don't really have any skills that people would pay for commissions for. I'd be happy to do writing commissions or something, but I've never had much luck with that.

So, yeah, I just...I really need some help getting through the next 60 days or so. So if you've read all this, thank you. If you reblog, thank you. If you feel like giving anything, thank you. Even if it's just kind thoughts, I appreciate it so much.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Bard

[southtopaz]

PSYCHO KILLER - SCREAM

Summary: in which Iris Morris has to navigate her personal relationships while surviving a psycho.

Warnings: Fem!reader, angst, mention of violence, swearing, mention of death, Tara Carpenter x Fem reader, multiple parts.

Word count: 3k

A/n: the next 3 chapters won’t follow Scream 6 plot as I wanted to add more storyline to the characters outside of the movies. If you want to read just Scream 6 plot, skip to Part 12. I’m also not going to follow the original timeline as Scream 6 will take place two years later from Scream 5. English is not my first language, so I apologize for any grammatical mistake.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11

Iris leaned against the kitchen counter, a cup of coffee in hand, gazing out the window at the bustling streets of New York. The city hummed with life, a vibrant symphony of honking cars, distant sirens, and the chatter of people rushing by. It had been a month since she, Tara, and Sam had moved into their modest apartment in Brooklyn, and slowly everything was falling right into place.

"Can you believe we actually live here?" Tara exclaimed, bouncing into the kitchen with a bright smile that lit up the room. Iris, lost in her thoughts, jumped slightly at her voice. She turned to look at her friend and found herself taking in Tara's relaxed appearance. Her hair was still damp from her morning shower, and she wore an oversized sweatshirt that hung loosely on her frame. Feeling a strange flutter in her chest, Iris quickly averted her gaze, a wave of confusion washing over her. What was happening to her? As a distraction, she reached for the coffee pot and passed Tara a steaming cup. "It feels like a dream," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

"More like a chaotic dream," Sam replied, emerging from her room with a stack of books. "I can't find anything in this mess. I'm still trying to locate my favorite sweater."

Iris chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Which one? The black one? Or the other one that's also black? Or wait—what about..."

"Point taken! It's not my fault black goes with everything!" Sam exclaimed, feigning annoyance at Iris's playful critique.

"Oh, I see you're breaking out the spring colors," .

Sam threw a small book at her, but Iris was quick to dodge it, laughter bubbling up as she ducked.

"Maybe it's a sign that you need to embrace the New York fashion scene," Tara chimed in, grinning.

"I rather die but thanks"

As they settled into their new routine, the trio found joy in the small things: discovering local coffee shops, exploring vibrant street markets, and hosting movie nights along with Chad and Mindy in their living room, which was still adorned with unpacked boxes. Soon they were going to start their classes so they were trying to enjoy the most they could before they inmersed themselves in books. Iris was also searching for a job because she didn't want Sam to be the only one contributing financially, and she wanted to stop her mom from having to spend money on her.

Some weeks later, even with Iris getting a job on a coffee shop, they soon realized that money was still running short. With rent prices in New York being what they were, they knew they needed a fourth person to share the burden. They set up an anonymus ad, detailing their apartment and what they were looking for. They were all wary but they knew they didn't have a choice.

After a few interviews that felt more like awkward first dates than roommate searches, the trio finally met Quinn, a girl with fiery ginger hair that seemed to glow under the dim light of their cluttered living room, and strikingly blue eyes that sparkled with confidence. She was majoring in biology, and perhaps the most intriguing detail was that her dad was a cop. As she strolled into their apartment, she instantly filled the space with a vibrant energy.

The living room was still a whirlwind of unpacked boxes and mismatched furniture, a mix of secondhand finds and items from their old homes. Colorful pillows were scattered across an old couch, while a coffee table was littered with snacks from their latest movie night. A small bookshelf leaned against the wall, stuffed with books that had yet to find their proper places. The air carried the faint aroma of popcorn mixed with the floral scent of a candle they had lit in a moment of desperation to mask the smell of takeout.

"So, how long have you guys been looking for a roommate?" Quinn asked, casually leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed with an air of confidence.

"For a few weeks, but as you can see, we haven't had much luck," Sam replied, gesturing toward the chaos. Her tone was laced with a hint of frustration, but there was also a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

"Is it because people in New York are weird, or are you guys just too strict?" Quinn quipped, raising an eyebrow playfully, a smirk dancing on her lips.

"Honestly? A little bit of both," Tara admitted, sharing a knowing glance with Iris as they both recalled some of the more bizarre people they met.

Quinn let out a soft laugh. "I get it! You should have seen my last roommate, she was a little bit weird. She had a pet rat, and that little fucker would sneak into my room all the time!" She shuddered dramatically, her eyes wide with mock horror, and Iris couldn't help but snort at her antics.

After a bit of small talk, Quinn leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued. "So, where are you guys from?"

The three friends exchanged glances, an unspoken agreement passing between them. "We're from Woodsboro," Sam said, determined to be honest, at least about this part.

"Oh, okay. I think I've heard that name before," Quinn replied, making a nonchalant face as she glanced around the apartment. "I come from Philadelphia, but I think I already mentioned that" she added with a light laugh, her eyes sparkling.

"Why did you move here? Just for college?" Sam asked, genuinely curious about the girl who seemed to fit right in.

"Well, actually, I moved because my dad got a job here at the police station, and I figured I'd apply to a university while I was at it," Quinn explained, her tone brightening with pride.

"Your dad is a cop?" Iris inquired, raising an eyebrow, intrigued. After Quinn nodded, she exchanged a quick glance with Tara. Having a roommate whose father was a cop felt like a safety net in their world, right?

Sam, sensing the conversation flowing nicely, offered to show Quinn what would be her room and slipped away, leaving Iris and Tara alone in the living room. They both knew that Sam had her own agenda, to continue interrogating the new girl.

"So, what do you think of Quinn?" Iris wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

"She seems nice. It could be good," Tara replied, her tone thoughtful as she leaned back against the couch, letting the cushions cradle her.

"Maybe she likes horror movies too, she could even join our movie nights!" Iris exclaimed, though she knew no one was going to interrupt the nights in where Tara tried to convince her that horror movies are the best.

"Nope, that's our thing, just you and me," Tara said, playfully rolling her eyes as Iris draped an arm around her shoulder.

At that moment, Sam and Quinn returned, and Sam subtly nodded at Iris and Tara, signaling that they'd found their new roommate. . "Well, Quinn, pleasure to meet you, and welcome to your new home, I guess!" Sam said, her smile a bit awkward but genuine. "My sister and Iris will fill you in on everything else you need to know."

Iris gave a thumbs-up to Quinn, feeling a mix of excitement and nervous energy. She had to get used to someone else living here. "Yeah, welcome! It's a bit chaotic, but it's home," she added, trying to reassure her.

"Okay, cool!" Quinn replied, then added with a teasing grin, "By the way, you guys look really cute together. How long have you been dating?"

Both Iris and Tara froze, their eyes wide in shock. They exchanged a quick glance and suddenly they realized that Iris still had her arm around Tara's shoulder, and Tara had inadvertently intertwined their fingers. This was not looking good for them.

They quickly disentangled themselves, deep blushes spreading across their faces. "Oh, no, we're not—" Iris stammered, her heart racing.

"What? No, no—" they spoke in unison, completely flustered and embarrassed.

"We're just friends," Iris clarified, trying to regain her composure, her voice a little shaky. "Best friends!"

"Omg, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to assume!" Quinn exclaimed, her face a mix of embarrassment and amusement, her cheeks flushing as she realized the misunderstanding.

Iris and Tara waved it off, trying to hide their awkwardness, while Sam stood to the side, silently laughing at the whole situation, her shoulders shaking with suppressed giggles.

After some time, Quinn excused herself, and the three friends were left alone once again, the tension still hanging in the air. "Well, that was fun. I'm just gonna go..." Iris said, signaling backward toward her room, desperate to escape the lingering awkwardness. "To my room."

Once Iris left, Sam turned to her sister with a teasing grin, her eyes sparkling with mirth. Tara, however, pointed a finger at her, ready to defend herself against any teasing that was sure to come.

"Not a word, Sam," she warned, her voice stern.

"I didn't say anything," Sam replied innocently, her grin widening as she leaned against the wall.

"You're thinking it," Tara shot back, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Everyone is thinking it" Sam quipped, unable to hold back her laughter any longer.

"Shut the fuck up".

Two weeks later, classes started. Iris adjusted her backpack as she hurried across the bustling campus of Blackmore University, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. It was her first day, and the sprawling brick buildings felt both intimidating and inviting. The crisp autumn air filled her lungs, energizing her as she navigated through a bunch of students chatting animatedly.

She finally reached her classroom, a bright, airy space filled with wooden desks and large windows that let in the golden sunlight. As she stepped inside, Iris found a seat near the front and unpacked her notebooks, eager to absorb everything she could. Just as the professor began the lecture on cognitive behavioral therapy, a girl with brown hair and a bright smile plopped down in the seat next to her. "Hey! Is this seat taken?" she asked.

"Not at all, you can sit".

"Thanks, I'm Anika". she introduced herself with an enthusiastic smile.

"Iris," she replied, returning the smile. "Nice to meet you!"

The lecture unfolded, filled with complex theories and intriguing concepts, but Iris couldn't help but sneak glances at Anika. The way she scribbled notes furiously, then made funny faces at the professor's overly serious demeanor, made Iris chuckle more than once.

As the class came to an end, Iris gathered her things, and Anika turned to her, an excited glint in her eyes. "So, what did you think of the class? Aside from the professors boring voice"

Iris laughed. "It was interesting but I'm not gonna lie, he did make me wanna go to sleep at some point"

"God, I wish we could steal their coffee" Anika quipped, her smile wide. They both stood, now surrounded by a stream of students making their way out of the classroom. "What other classes do you have today?" Anika asked as they walked down the hallway together.

"I have social psychology next. How about you?" Iris replied, feeling a sense of ease as they chatted.

"Same! I guess we're officially psychology buddies," Anika said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

As they settled into their seats for the next class, Iris couldn't shake the feeling that she had just made her first friend. Throughout the lecture, they exchanged snarky comments and jokes, growing more comfortable with each passing moment.

After class, as they wandered outside, the campus was buzzing with energy, students lounging on the grass or rushing to their next classes. Anika turned to Iris, her expression turning more serious. "So, what made you choose psychology? Just curious."

Iris took a deep breath, thinking about how her own experiences shaped her decision. "I guess I've always been fascinated by why people do what they do, why they are willing to do things that sometimes are not morally correct" Iris had always been interested in psychology but after what happened eight months ago, it was like she had this need to understand people's actions and maybe to understand her own. She pulled the trigger that killed someone and she still doesn't feel bad about it to this day. She couldn't say all of that to Anika yet so she decided for a simpler explanation. "It feels like understanding people can help us navigate through the chaos of life. Plus, I just want to help others find their way, you know?"

Anika nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I get that. I want to figure out how to help people but also how to help myself. I mean, if we can understand our own minds, maybe we can navigate better this world."

"Exactly!" Iris said, her heart swelling with the connection. They exchanged numbers before parting ways, both feeling a spark of excitement for what lay ahead. As Iris walked back to her apartment, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of her first day.

After two months of classes at Blackmore University, they all settled pretty well into their new lives. They had already met Chad's roommate and new friend Ethan, and even though they didn't really talk, he seemed great. So she decided it was time to introduce her new friend Anika to the rest and what a better introduction to her group than a movie night.

*Hey! We're having a movie night at my place this Friday. Wanna join?* Iris sent a quick text to Anika.

Within minutes, Anika replied with an enthusiastic thumbs-up emoji and a string of excited messages. *Count me in! What are we watching?*

Iris grinned as she typed back, *Some classics, does pizza sound good to you?*

As Friday evening approached, everyone was already there, arranging cozy blankets and cushions on the floor.

"So tell me again, on a scale of 1 to 10, how pretty is your friend?" Mindy asked, her tone mischievous as she plopped down onto a cushion. Just as Iris prepared to respond, she swiftly threw a pillow at Mindy, who expertly dodged it.

"What? I'm asking an important question!" Mindy defended, her laughter echoing in the room.

"I agree with Mindy; I want to know too!" Chad chimed in, raising his hand like an eager student, a grin stretching across his face. He leaned forward, clearly invested in the banter.

"You both are disgusting. I'm not going to answer that," Iris said, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the amusement dancing in her gaze.

"So, like, a ten then?" Mindy shot back, winking at her brother, who snickered at the playful exchange.

Just then, the doorbell rang, slicing through their lighthearted conversation. Iris jumped up, a flutter of excitement in her chest, and rushed to the door. She swung it open to find Anika standing there, vibrant and cheerful, a large bag of gummy bears in one hand and a couple of cold beers in the other.

"Hi, girl!" Anika greeted as they embraced each other, stepping inside with a wide smile that radiated warmth. "Didn't know what to bring, so I brought my two faves!"

"Beer and candy? Yeah, everyone is going to love you," Iris exclaimed, grinning as she led her friend into the living room.

Chad was the first to approach, extending his hand with an inviting smile. "Hi, pleasure to meet you! We thought Iris invented herself a friend,".

"Asshole," Iris muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at Chad's antics while stifling a laugh.

Ethan, Quinn, and Sam soon joined the introductions, each welcoming Anika with friendly smiles. Sam, however, approached a bit more cautiously. Still, she was as nice as she could be for Iris's sake.

Anika's gaze then shifted to the shorter girl in front of her, and her smile widened. "Ohh, you must be Tara!" They embraced warmly. "Iris talks about you all the time."

Iris's eyes went wide, and she felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "The fuck, no, I do not!" she protested, trying to sound incredulous but failing to mask her embarrassment.

Tara beamed at Anika, her confidence surging. Once she heard Iris's flustered response, she couldn't resist. "I mean, she just said you do. Can't get enough of me?" Tara declared, her tone playfully bold, reveling in the moment.

"I only talk about how much you annoy me," Iris shot back, grabbing a pillow and tossing it at Tara, who laughed heartily, her joy infectious.

Tara turned around just in time to see Anika mouthing to her, "No, that's not true," and the girl couldn't help but smile. Oh, Tara really liked Anika.

Tara moved closer, a playful glint in her eye as she threw the pillow back at Iris, leaning in as she did. "You're extremely red," she teased, enjoying Iris's flustered reaction.

"No, I'm not!" Iris protested, her voice a little too defensive.

"Like, actually crimson," Tara quipped, laughter bubbling in her throat.

"Go to hell Carpenter".

"I just love to annoy you".

"Yeah well I'm going to love to push you out of the balcony".

Anika then turned her attention to the last person she hadn't met yet. She found herself in front of a strikingly attractive woman with curly hair, who was staring at her with her mouth slightly agape, as if trying to process the situation.

"Hi, I'm Anika," she said, her smile bright and amused as she took in the girl's stunned expression.

"H...hi, I'm Min...dy," Mindy stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. The moment was comically awkward, and both Chad and Iris exchanged glances, barely able to contain their laughter at the sight of Mindy's flustered face.

"Nice to meet you Mindy"

"Yeah same". Mindy came out of her stupor. "Please make yourself comfortable". And she proceed to show her around the apartment.

"It's not even her apartment". Iris said.

"Let her be gay in peace".

As the evening unfolded, soon laughter filled the room as they settled in. Mindy, strategically positioned herself next to Anika. Even with the movie playing, they all stayed up talking. Mindy and Anika continued to find ways to strike up a conversation with each other, it seemed that they had a lot in common. Anika cracked an extremely funny joke at one point, to which Mindy gave a loud snort.

"Did I really just laugh-snort? Oh no." She was embarrassed as Anika just giggled in endearment.

"It was cute".

Iris stared at her two friends lightly flirting with each other and she couldn't help but smile at Mindy's face, she was in complete awe as she listened to everything Anika had to say.

Well, mission get Mindy and Anika together just started.

[theweepingangelofcas]

I am aware that you are very busy, and I wish you ease!

I had a request, the reader who has just moved to the apartment cannot get along with Sherlock at first. (Since we know that Sherly doesn't like women) he doesn't want to accept her existence at first, but as time goes by, he gets used to her existence.

From time to time she would go into his study and pick it up, and sherlock was uncomfortable with it. but after a while he starts to like making this and such gestures-

YESSS I've been needing inspo to write for my dear Sherly!!! I hope you like it! Like our dear Sherly in the show, canonically, Sherlock has always been moreso awkward and distrustful of women rather than purely disliking them. He's not one to disrespect or demean a woman just because of gender, moreso that he just doesn't like female company. Victorian era feminist, I guess? This starts off from Sherlock's perspective, before switching to the reader's. Hope you all enjoy!

***********

Flatmates, to Enemies, to Lovers - Sherlock x Reader

He. Needed. Cash.

Or, more accurately, he needed money for rent again. Ms. Hudson had raised the price on him, saying that if he was to cause so much ruckus at such ungodly hours of the night, then he should compensate her for it. As always, a lengthy argument ensued, that she inevitably won, and that left him with few options.

Getting more money was an issue, right now. His most recent case had left Lestrade a bit miffed at him, so it was unlikely he'd get another one until at least another week or two.

Going to John wasn't an option either. If he found out about all this, especially since it was all Sherlock's fault? He'd never hear the end of it.

That left him with only one last option.

They had a spare bedroom.

A new flatmate was in order.

Though Ms. Hudson approved the idea of a new flatmate, she made it very clear that her, and her alone would be the one choosing them in the end. He just had to find the right person.

It had been a major miracle that he had stumbled upon Dr. Watson when he needed him. Surely another kind soul would help him out, right?

Wrong.

None of his connections brought him any luck, and not a single one of John's friends needed a place to stay. It was like every possible person he could have picked had been plucked up into the heavens.

Rent payment was getting close. It got to where he had a measly 48 hours to find someone to help him, or goodness knows how much Ms. Hudson would abuse him.

So, when you knocked upon the door, it felt like whatever cruel god there was had finally given him a break.

Finally, his ad in the paper had been answered.

But, there was one problem. He knew it before he even opened the door.

The knocks were light. Dainty. The shoes walking up to the door sounded exactly like low heels. And, he could smell a faint hint of floral perfume.

The person who would come to live with him was a woman.

It wasn't the societal taboo that irked him about the situation. After all, since when had he cared what other people thought? But it was the idea that he'd have to share his flatmate with someone he'd be absolutely rubbish at tolerating that he loathed.

If he wasn't so desperate, he would have shooed you away. Lied and said that the room wasn't available anymore. But, he could feel Ms. Hudson's furious gaze through the walls it seemed, since he ended up letting you inside anyway.

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

You were fine enough, he supposed. You mostly kept to yourself, though you did seem to pick petty fights with him about the silliest of things.

After all, how was he to know it was uncouth to keep some spare human eyes in the fridge? It was for an experiment!

He wouldn't say he enjoyed being around you. But he tolerated it. It was for the greater good, after all (the greater good being the roof atop his head). It didn't come without it's problems, though.

The sound of your humming in the morning used to annoy him to pieces. The way your heels would click against the wooden floor sounded too piercing for him. The way you applied your rouge made him look at your lips for far longer than he found comfortable.

It took months before he could stand being in a room with you for more than an hour. Prior to that, he considered you too distracting to his work.

But, you were quiet. That was something he would be forever grateful for.

But that quietness hid so much, as well. He already knew everything he could deduce about you. Yet you hadn't even been phased when he correctly guessed the salon you went to on a monthly basis, or the way you picked at your skin suggesting a former smoking habit. You simply nodded, and went back to your work.

It infuriated him.

He could collect no new data.

This, he supposed, was the reason he wasn't fond of women. The initial deductions were absurdly easy, but anything deeper was much more well hidden than any man's. And it drove him crazy.

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

"Why did you choose this flat?!"

You sighed, audibly. Sherlock was at it again, asking questions you were sure he at least kind of knew the answers to. This time he was knocking on the door to your room, leaving you no method to escape.

After all, it was taboo for a woman to have an interest in crime. It was a practically a sin for women to learn science and study math.

You had known Sherlock wouldn't care. You had heard about him before, in the papers. An aloof man, living in the middle of Baker street, seen as both a hero and an outcast to the world.

The ad for a flat in the paper had intrigued you. Perhaps you could be near someone who shared your same interests? Maybe, you'd see him while walking to the store some day.

You had nearly keeled over in shock when it was THE Sherlock himself who opened the door to greet you.

But, it seemed true to never meet your heroes. Sherlock was rude on the best of days, and an ass on the worst of them. Dr. Watson was pleasant, but that did little to make up for Sherlock's tomfoolery.

You could tolerate it, though. You kept to your room most of the time, reading and experimenting on your own interests.

And, that was where you were at now, rolling your eyes at the idea of listening to him yelling at you through the door. The man had no social skills, which you were normally tolerant of, but this was too much.

You pulled open the door, a scowl on your face. He had interrupted the newest book you were reading, it was still clutched in your free hand, "Sherlock, I do not have the time for these dumb questions-"

You saw his face. His eyes were wide, brows lifted. Following his eyesight, he was seeing into your room.

Specifically, to the textbooks and experiments on your desk.

"You..." He seemed shocked. You don't think he's ever been shocked before, "Is this yours?"

You nodded, "I was TRYING to study the biochemistry of pigs blood compared to human's, but since you're so insistent on interrupting me, I guess I'll humor you."

His eyes lit up with every word you spoke. Hand slamming against the wood of the door, the man pushed himself past you, happier than you'd ever seen him.

"You even have the blood smear perfected. You have the right kind of charting..." He trailed off, observing your workstation, "Where is your microscope?"

You shrugged, a bit more intrigued than ticked off, "The shop down the street refused to sell me one, something about 'that crazy Holmes lad that keeps breaking each one he gets in stock'."

He grimaced for a moment, before perking up again, "I have a few spare ones in my own room. Give me a moment. I will be right back."

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

From there on, he found he actually enjoyed your company. You were a woman, sure, but you were akin to him, in a way. He found out your liking of forensics had gotten you outcast of your last flat, leaving you nowhere to go. No college of science in the country would accept a woman, either. In a way, his flat was your last hope, one that he wanted to keep safe no matter what.

Likewise, you found that this man gave you opportunities to see and experience so much more than you ever could have before. He supported your interests, instead of shunning them like the rest of the world had.

Maybe this arrangement wasn't too bad, after all.

[honeyjars-sims]

3.38 Common Goals

Things have been busy over the past couple of weeks. The channel is planning some special videos and the cast has been filming at different locations. That means I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to Lacey yet, which I’ll admit is a bit of a relief. 

I’ve been pretty distracted anyway. My dads already have a buyer interested in the house so that doesn’t give me much time to find a new place. Lucy suggested I get in contact with Paul since he’ll need a roommate when he moves to San Sequoia, so I’m meeting with him to look at a townhouse he’s had his eye on. 

When I arrive at the address Paul gave me, it’s not quite what I was expecting. It doesn’t look like any rental property that I’ve ever seen. There’s a little market area on the other side of the parking lot where booths of fresh flowers and produce are set up. Before I have a chance to check it out more, Paul's Jeep pulls into the parking lot and he hops out.

"You ready?" he asks. I tell him I am and we walk to a gate with an intercom. ”I just have to let the property manager know we’re here.” After a couple of minutes a woman who looks to be in her 50s arrives to greet us. She looks like she’s been working outside; her jeans dusted with dirt and her cheeks are pink from the sun. 

 "Hello Paul, it's nice to speak to you in person," she says. She looks at me. "This must be the roommate."

"Hi, I'm Johnny," I say, reaching out to shake her hand.

"Johnny," she repeats. "Johnny and Paul. I'm Gail. My wife and I own the townhouse you’ll be viewing. Let’s go take a look."

We walk down the path. There are two buildings on either side and Gail takes us to the one on the right. “My son just moved about a week ago. He’s going to do some conservation work in Sulani,” she explains as she unlocks the door to the unit.

When we step inside, I'm surprised by the size of the place. Going by the rent price, I was expecting something much smaller. "Are you sure you got the price right?" I ask Paul. Maybe he transposed some numbers somewhere. It seems unlikely, but even future doctors make mistakes.

"I thought I did when I first saw it, but it really is that cheap," he insists. I raise an eyebrow, sensing that there's more to the story. "There is just one little catch," he admits.

Gail catches wind of our conversation and smiles. "It really does sound too good to be true, doesn't it? The community here is a little...atypical, but I promise it's worth it."

"What do you mean?" I ask incredulously.

"Well, Ellie and I started this community once our children got older. Initially we just wanted a way to keep us all together, but we saw an opportunity to create affordable housing here in San Sequoia and foster our community at the same time. At Hopewell Commons, helping out your neighbors isn't simply a courtesy. Everyone contributes, whether it's through tending the garden, making repairs, providing childcare, offering goods and services...everyone finds their place."

"So we have to earn our keep?"

Gail laughs. "I wouldn't put it quite like that. As renters, you’re not required to put in the hours that our homeowners do, but we encourage you to get involved. You'll not only be helping out others but you'll have a built-in support system when you're the one in need."

I’m feeling pretty skeptical, but I want to see if this place is worth the effort. Gail shows us one of the bedrooms upstairs. 

“That’s a nice view of the garden,” Paul comments. I peek out the window. The garden is pretty quaint with a small greenhouse and a few rows of plants. There’s an older woman and a young girl talking near the chicken pen. 

“That’s Ellie and our granddaughter, Ramona,” Gail tells us.

“How many people live in the community?” I ask her.

“Well, there’s my daughter Cleo and her family, and we’ve got about 10 other residents at the moment. But we’re growing! We’re building more houses on some land we just acquired.”

Once she's out of earshot, I turn to Paul. "This isn’t a cult, isn't it?"

"It's not a cult. It's more like a…family."

"That's what someone who's in a cult would say," I point out.

“It’s NOT a cult!”

Next, Gail leads us out into the community garden. "This is a group effort," she explains. "We have several residents who rotate duties in the garden, and once the crops are ready everyone helps themselves to their share."

I can't say that I've ever been into gardening, but Paul seems excited by the idea. I guess I should get used to it, too. While he and Gail share gardening tips in the greenhouse, I wander around the garden. It does seem like a nice idea, everyone chipping in so that their neighbors can enjoy the bounty. Plus, free food.

Gail’s granddaughter is playing nearby and when she sees me, she skips over. 

"Hi, I'm Ramona! What's your name?" "I'm Johnny." "Oh, okay. Do you have any pets?" "Yeah, I have a cat named Taco."

"Taco??? That's a funny name!” She giggles. “Can I see it?" "Well, she's not here right now." "Why?" "Because I don't live here." "Why?" I'm not completely sure how to answer that one. "Because I just don't." "Oh. Are you going to live here soon?" "Maybe." "Can I see Taco when you do?" "Well, you should probably ask your parents about that." "Why?"

Gail comes around the corner.  "Because it's not a good idea to go to someone's house alone if you don't know them." Ramona seems satisfied by her answer.

Gail turns to me. "You'll have to excuse Ramona. She thinks everyone is her friend. You’re a nice young man, but it's important that she learns the difference between a friend and a stranger."

"No problem," I tell her. Ramona runs off to examine a tomato plant. It seems like she has the type of childhood that I wish I had. I learned way too young that not everyone can be trusted.

Paul walks over to me. "So, what do you think?" he asks. "I understand if you're not feeling it. I know it's a little strange."

So far everyone looks happy, like, genuinely happy and not like people in a cult who are being brainwashed. I sigh. "Okay, as long as the rental agreement doesn't make us promise our souls to The Great Leader I guess I'm open to it."

"Are you sure? Because we can keep looking if you're not."

"I'm sure. I trust your judgment."

We tell Gail what we've decided and she takes us to fill out our applications. She says we should hear something in a couple of days.

When we head back to our cars I spot Ramona again.

"Bye Johnny!" she tells me cheerfully. "Tell Taco I said 'hi!'"

"Sure thing, Ramona. See you later!"

Previous | Beginning of story | Beginning of chapter | Next

[konigenblobbity]

Can’t Help but Fall Apart

König x F!Reader

18+ MINORS DNI

Warnings: NSFW, subby König, biting, neck biting, teasing, kissing

Summary: After Price gives the task force an impromptu vacation, you remember you don’t really have a home to go to. So König decides to invite you over. What takes place at his house is something he definitely needs to keep secret… seeing that you had him weak and writhing on his couch to a level that had him embarrassed.

You and the team just had a long and tiring mission and have been given some time off away from the base to go back home. Everyone planned on going to their own homes, however you couldn’t do the same. You had been renting your place out for the past few months to someone so you couldn’t go back.

Had you known earlier about having this time off, you would’ve been able to talk to the person you were renting your place to, but it was too short notice. So now you had no option other than to stay at the base.

That is… until König spots you in the common area still in your gear, long after everyone was allowed to go home. He walks in carrying a large duffel bag and was back in his civilian clothes. “Hey Schatz, aren’t you gonna go home?” He questions and you look up with a tired smile and shake your head.

“Can’t. I’m renting my place out right now and I wasn’t expecting this time off so…” you shrug your shoulders and chuckle dryly, trying to hide your slight frustration. As nonchalant as you try to appear, he can sense the exhaustion in you. Knowing that the last thing you want to do is spend your break still at the base.

“Well. Why don’t you come stay with me then?” Your eyes widened at his offer, you’d been dating for a month or so and had barely even slept in each others dorms at the base. But you couldn’t lie… the idea sounded nice and it would give you two more time together.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude…” you say but he just nods at you. “I’m sure. Come on, pack your things and let’s get going” at that you stood up and went to your room, putting away all your gear and grabbing some civilian clothes, throwing them in your small bag, throwing it over your shoulder.

You reunite with him in the common room and smile. “Ready.” At your words he gives you a short nod and you then both walk out of the base to his car. You sit in silence, the quiet radio acting as white noise, as he drives you both back to his house.

At some point you feel yourself grow tired and take a nap. Waking up as König softly shakes your arm and tells you “we’re here”, you sit up and yawn, rubbing your eyes before stepping out of the car. You close the door behind you and walk to the trunk where König already stands, handing you your bag, you thank him and then he grabs his own.

He approaches the entrance and opens the door, holding it open for you to walk in first. You thank him with a smile and he follows close behind you. As you enter the home you look around, admiring the furniture and the cosy atmosphere of the place.

König walks by you, grabbing your bag from you and placing it on a chair somewhere to the side of his living room. “Make yourself comfortable” his tone is soft and kind as he walks off to place his bag in his room. When he returns he goes behind his kitchen counter, pouring you both a glass of whiskey.

He walks over into the living room, you look up at him from the couch, already sitting on one end of it. You smile as he leans forward, going to pass you your glass “Thank you König”, you say and he nods, the way his eyes squint telling you he’s smiling softly under his snipers hood.

He sits down on the opposite end of the couch. Taking a sip from his glass and looking over at you. You’ve already cuddled up under a blanket, taking full advantage of the leg room you had, unlike König, who instead lies sideways on the couch so he is parallel with the TV.

“Wanna watch a movie before we go to bed?” You ask and look over at him with raised brows. He shrugs “Why not, Schatz…” he hands you the remote, and you take it with a smile “You pick. I’m good with anything”

You begin to scroll through Netflix, trying to find something entertaining to watch. You finally pick a horror film, something not too paranormal, rather suspenseful and chilling. König looks at you and chuckles lightly “Won’t you get scared?” He asks and you shrug.

“Isn’t that part of the fun?” You say and then send a wink his way. He playfully shakes his head, chuckling softly while he gets comfortable against the couch. “Alright, but don’t blame me if you get nightmares” you then roll your eyes, retorting back playfully “Oh please, I can handle a few nightmares, I’m a big girl” your teasing makes him smile under his mask. Both your gazes moving to the screen as you start the movie.

After an hour or so of watching the movie, you began to slide more and more under the blanket. Feeling shivers run up and down your spine simply at the music in the background of the movie.

König’s voice breaks through your scared daze “You look absolutely petrified” he lets out a soft chuckle watching you cower under the blanket. You turn your head to look at him, ready to retort back “Well it’s a goddamn horror m-“ until you notice him holding his phone up, recording you.

You blush but then look at him in shock, your mouth hanging open. A smile slowly traces your lips as you throw the blanket off your body, leaping off your end of the couch to him “Why you-!!” You cry out, your tone playful, feigning shock and hurt.

His eyes widen when you jump on top of him, your hands flying to try and grab his phone, but due to his much larger stature, he easily lifts it into the air, out of your reach. You were straddling his waist, on your knees with each one on either side of his wide hips.

He sits there, laughing to himself at the sight, it was honestly pathetic how far you were from grabbing his phone, it made him feel cocky “It’s no use Schatz, you’re not going to get it” he moved his hand further back, watching as you crawl up a little more trying to reach it, keeping a hand on the couch’s armrest which König was using as a backrest.

He then noticed how your chest was perfectly aligned with his face, he brings his other hand up, lifting up his sniper hood just above his nose, and leans forward. A yelp escapes you, and you shift back as you feel König’s teeth bite at your exposed skin, just above one of your breasts, looking down the bite having left a visible indent in your skin.

One of your hands moved to sit over where he bit you, you look down at him with wide eyes, shocked. His hood still sitting above his nose, so you can see how his cocky smirk drops in an instant. He begins to try and explain himself “Scheiss, I’m so sorry Schatz, I was just playing around“ placing his phone on the coffee table as he speaks.

Your shocked expression turns to one of unknown intent, tongue poking at your cheek as you smirk, gaze narrowing as you tilt your head, looking him up and down. “You have no idea what you just started…” your voice was low, a tone that had König on edge, at your chuckle he felt shiver run through him.

Without another word you grab at both his wrists, pining them to the armrest of the couch right above his head. He’s not quite sure why, but he doesn’t fight you, instead stammering out “w-wait what are you-“ not finishing his sentence as he notices your face was a mere inch from his own, eyes staring him down.

Your face looks unamused by his plea. “Getting revenge” you say, words laced with venom, but the devilish smirk that he spots on your face couldn’t help but have him intrigued.

His eyes follow you as you lean down to his neck, biting at the side of it rather harshly. He lets out a soft gasp from the feeling, feeling his heart skip a beat. When you place a playful kiss on top of your bite, he can’t help but let out a shaky breath. He wouldn’t admit it but what you just did had his head reeling.

“A-alright you got your revenge” he stutters out softly, waiting for you to pull back. Your lips hover just above his skin, moving slowly up his neck to his ear. Letting out a soft breathe which has him trembling, before whispering into his ear “not yet.” When you bite at the lobe softly he can’t help but whimper out, the feeling both painful and pleasurable.

He stays still, not even fighting the grip on his wrists as you move to the other side of his neck, biting at that skin as well. Leaving a kiss atop it just as you did with the first. You then move right to the front of his neck, biting and softly pulling at the skin above his Adam Apple. König’s body was set alight as his eyes threatened to roll back into his head.

Its then that you finally pull away, letting go of his wrists, although König doesn’t move them a single inch. Staying frozen in place, simply looking up at you in shock, blushing a deep red under his hood.

“There. Done” you say once you’re sitting straight again, still straddling König’s waist. You smirk as you take in the sight of the small bites you left on his neck, you notice but brush off the visible redness of the skin of his neck, unaware that it lead up to his face, a similar shade of crimson.

As you go to get off him, he quickly places his hands on your thighs, stopping you. “W-wait…” he murmurs softly, looking into your eyes with a visible desperation, as if pleading with you. “Please. Don’t” his words were quiet, as he felt himself shrink - no matter his large stature, he couldn’t help but feel small from his pleading.

You raise an eyebrow at him, giving him a clearly confused and questioning expression “What are you talking about?” König takes in long breathe, gaining courage, before mumbling out “don’t be done… please. I-I want more” it’s then that he looks away, feeling embarrassed from the desire clear in his voice.

You sit there in shock, taking in what he said, taking in his new demeanor, you’d never seen him like this before… but you liked it. A smirk began to grace your lips, you reach a hand up to his face, grabbing at the base of his chin through the fabric of his sniper hood, turning his head to face you.

“You want more?” narrowing your eyes as you asked, and then feeling your confidence soar as all he can manage is a meek nod of his head. In response you give him one short nod “Alright” before going to lean down again, using your thumb to push at the base of his jaw so he leans his head back.

As you begin to place more bites and soft kisses against his skin, he lets his eyes flutter shut and a soft hum leaves his throat. You can feel the vibration against your lips, encouraging you to move further down, beginning to bite at his collarbones, running a hand under the collar of his shirt to pull it to the side as you did.

Focusing in on the sensitive spots that had him shivering, listening to how his breath gets caught in his throat or how it comes out shaky. Your rested your palms on his chest. At the feeling of him caressing and gripping at your thighs, as if he wanted to praise or encourage you, makes you want to tease him further.

Leaning up to his ear “Maybe I should take a video of this hm? How you practically melt under me” at those words he lets out a soft gasp, the idea having him blushing all over again. You chuckle and tease further “What would the others say… seeing their threatening killer weak and pleading?”

Its then that he shakes his head quickly, opening his eyes, looking at you with a half-lidded gaze. He can only stammer out a response “n-nein… only you. I-I don’t want a-anyone else to see” you bite your lip at those words and smile down at him, loving the power you felt as how desperate he looked for you.

You bite at his ear and then place a few more along his collar before finallly sitting back up “Now I’m done” By this point König was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling slowly, you could feel it under your palms. You look down at him, taking in the sight of his neck, the way your bites and hickies beautifully decorated the blank canvas of his skin.

He looks away, speaking softly “Thank you~” you just smiled down at him, moving a hand to his cheek to caress it through his hood. He hums softly at the feeling and you notice how he leans softly into your touch. You could feel the heat of his cheeks through the fabric, only imaging just how red he must be.

You remove your hand, placing it back on his chest. Then go to lean down and place a kiss on his cheek alright over his hood, when you pull away you notice how his head turns slightly as if trying to follow your lips. Your eyes were somewhat wide at the sight but your expression was amused.

He can only manage a soft “please…” that has your heart skipping a beat. You lean down closer to him again, using a hand to lift his hood to sit on the bridge of his nose. König lifts his head slightly off the couch, gazing at your lips. “Tell me what you want” you said and the tone you took had him dizzy… the way you were being demanding… and that slightly cockiness to your words.

He gulps down the lump in his throat and speaks “kiss me. Please” You smile and lean the rest of the way down, pressing your lips against his lightly, feeling how he tries to lean up to kiss your harder. When he whines against your lips, the sound going straight to your head you finally give him what he wants.

Pressing against his lips enough for his head to be pushed against the pillow. His hands grip at your thighs tighter, not daring to put them in your hair, letting you take the lead. Both your eyes were closed as you relished the way your lips molded together perfectly. Swallowing all the small whimpers and groans he lets out.

After a few minutes you pull back, opening your eyes to see his lips swollen from the kiss, and parted slightly. His eyes flutter open shortly after yours and his eyes look at you in adoration, drunk from your kisses. “Now… I’d like to get back to the movie” you say and he gives you a weak shake of his head.

“No?” You ask looking at him with a feigned incredulous expression. He shakes his head again, moving his hands to your waist. “I want all your attention… please Schatz. I need it… I need you”

[artist-of-dawn]

So High School

Chapter 2: "Tangerine? TANGERINE"

Next: "Holy arms"

Masterlist

a/n: fun facts apparently turned into confessionals and free rent living in each character's head

🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊

"So? Whaddaya say?" Samu raises his head and asks with a little smirk.

"I say you better tell me why you look seconds away from plotting a murder. Most probably mine. Is this poisoned?" I gestured towards the last piece of strawberry mochi left on the plate.

"Ya ask that after the 7th piece?" I shrugged.

"It's really good. I say you should go for it." He nodded and left most probably to greet some customers while I fell deep in thought.

Nostalgia has been a lot more present in the last few days, and it got to me. I can't say that I miss home physically, but the warmth and radiance it brough. We've all made great memories here, but I cannot help but feel like something's missing.

I am usually not one to say I regret things I didn't do, it's a consolation price that I didn't make a fool of myself and the thought that I should be grateful for the choices I made still holds me together in some sense. But my resistance seems to slowly crumble at one tiny tiny question: if I did something-if one thing had been different, would everything be different today? Would my courage be rewarded with the warmth of a beating heart and a beaming smile, or would it be crushed by rotten delusion?

I pride myself by loving freely, but I have always been somewhat afraid of things that cross the borders of friendship, and I beileve that the only other thing that may best this fear is the slight ache for the warmth of feeling. But I'm turning 20 soon, should this be so hard? Should I still be afraid? I take a bite of the last mochi and make my way to change the music. I glance at the door and the restaurant is mostly empty. Perfect.

What could possibly fit better than "The 1" ?

°•I guess you never know, never know

And if you wanted me, you really should've showed

And if you never bleed, you're never gonna grow

And it's alright now

But we were something, don't you think so?

Roaring 20s, tossing pennies in the pool

And if my wishes came true

It would've been you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I guess you never know, never know

And it's another day waking up alone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I, I, I persist and resist the temptation to ask you

If one thing had been different

Would everything be different today?•°

I rest my head on one of the counters, absorbing the meliodic melancholy of the song, up until I hear a voice simmilar to Samu's screaming from the restaurant.

"Oi! Cut off that depressive shit!" Shit. Atusmu's here.

It's not that I have anything against the guy, but he sucks a lot at flirting.

"Shaddap Tsumu!" Samu screamed back. Thank God. If that guy knew I was here, he'd never leave me alone until I left if he's in one of his macho moods. But before I could go back to fucking up Samu's playlist I heard a rich laugh.

"Come on Tsumu it was a nice song!" Even though the voice was slightly deeper I could never mistake it.

Now, I am not one to make any rash decisions, but....This is not my proudest moment. At least the brooms in the closet are pink.

Nope.

There is no way.

Last time I checked the dude was in Brazil trying out beach volleyball.

No fucking way I just saw red hair while bolting to the closet.

Nope.

🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊

Fun facts:

- the movie night went well, everyone was in high spirits and the atmosphere was chaotically joyful, yachi was unable to stay till and squeacked every 5 minutes, tsukishima smiled a couple of times after receiving his little dino sketch from yn, shimizu and samu exchanged some recepies and koushi insisted on self care masks while watching the film.

-yn basically screeched while running towards the nearest closet and later wondered how in the hell no one heard her. Her breath was cut short when she realised who was on the other side of the wall.

-yn always refrained of romance because she was utterly afraid of it, of the rawness and wilderness. She liked stable, quiet and melodic. But everything changed once she got into karasuno high. She secretly wished he would say something, afraid that the shine in his eyes wasn't reserved for her and was a usuality for him. Yes. She wore his jersey and rooted for him. And he looked happy.

In case you wanna listen to the whole song:

🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊🌸🍊

"I wanna find you in a crowd

Just to hide from you"

[mishydraws]

Very... very unfortunate life update

Hi, everyone.

Ok, I don’t want to waste your time but I wanted to be upfront about what’s going on in my life just so you all know.

Last night I got what is probably one of the worst emails that could have ever appeared in my inbox? Our landlord has given us a 60-day notice to get out. For context, my mom and I have been living here since the year 2000. We have never been late on rent or missed a payment despite every difficulty life has thrown at us in that time and this has completely blindsided us.

We haven’t spoken to any of the neighbors yet but some of the wording on the notice makes me think that they may be kicking out the entire building. Or maybe they’re just targeting those of us in the non-renovated units because we’ve been here so long and they could charge a new tenant much more with a quick kitchen and bathroom upgrade. Renoviction is a new word I just learned. I don’t know. That’s what happened to my brother at his last apartment. They kicked out everyone in his building, renovated, raised the rent, then let new people move in.

They suddenly started increasing our rent every year like clockwork a few years ago so I’ve had a feeling they’ve been trying to price us out for a while but I didn’t know they could just… tell us to leave just because they can. Rent consistently paid up and everything for 24 years.

The notice we received really doesn’t say much so it’s all speculation I guess. It doesn’t state a reason why it just says we need to be gone by March 31st.

But basically, I’m really not doing well right now in all honesty. I slept for maybe an hour last night and it’s like a switch flipped in me as soon as I read the email. My stomach has had this weird knotted feeling ever since and I can’t stand up for more than a few minutes before needing to lie down again in case I either faint or vomit… I’m not sure which but it’s been this way since last night. I had to stand up at the sink to wash one singular dish from dinner and I could barely do it. At least I didn’t see the email until after I ate last night because I still have no appetite now.

However bad I’m feeling I know my mom is probably feeling worse. She has been for a while. She’s getting older and my dad is no longer alive. Aside from my brother and one irl friend I still see in person regularly, we have no family or other support system in this country and are well and truly on our own, staring down the barrel of homelessness if we can’t quickly secure a place and move decades worth of our life there before the end of March.

All of this to say, I don’t know what our usual art shenanigans here are going to look like during this time. I am incredibly stressed to the point where I am physically ill but I also can’t pause and step away because I do need the income that I receive from your support of me/my art here. It’s just the reality. I’ve never been particularly Big And Successful with what I do so your support means all the much more and makes a real impact on my life.

I am so sorry if this dampens your mood at all today or if you notice a decrease in the quality of art I’m able to deliver over the next few months but I will try my best to keep things rolling and let you know if there’s any particular delays to expect.

To top it off, I requested a tour of a nearby apartment last night (more expensive than our current) and the name of the person who just texted me back has the same name as our current landlord. Who wants to start taking bets? I know for a fact they own a lot of property in the area so this isn’t looking promising.

Anyways. Sorry for this downer of a post. If we’re not homeless in 2 months then… I dunno. I’ll have somewhere indoors to do art? Yay? You can imagine the housing market we’re dealing with being in California. The prospect of moving at this point has always been one of my biggest fears but we’ll see if we get lucky real fast 😢

If you've ever thought about supporting my Patreon or anything else, now and over the next few months might be a good time if you can swing it. Maybe it'll help us secure a place to move if I can point to it and be like 'Look! A whole income!' 🥲 Idk man.

There's an art update in the (public) post I made if you want to see what we're at least trying to work on for sticker club through all of this.

Mishy

[ironladders]

palestinian gofundmes to donate to

i've had several fundraisers for palestinians in gaza sent to my inbox so i'm going to compile them here in this post; if you have the means to, please go through and send some money + love to these people, whose stories i've briefly summarized here. otherwise, please share this post so it may come across someone who can help

ibrahim (@ebrahimyasseralangarsworld) and his family have a goal of €10k, with ibrahim specifically wishing to be able to continue his education in peace. right now though, donations to their campaign are only at €286/€10,000.

farah (@farahh2003) is using current donations so her family can pay for rent and food, as prices of both have risen, but they're trying to get enough money to evacuate and rebuild their lives at the first chance. they are currently at only £2,041/£50,000

mahamoud (@mahmoud91hilles) has a very large family, many of whom are children, and is collecting donations to both provide for his family and have crossing funds for when the rafah border is open again. his campaign only has €187/€50,000

mohammed (@mohammednasers-blog) is just 17 years old and has been displaced multiple times along with his 7 siblings and mother. he is raising money to buy food, water, medicine, and to evacuate when possible. the campaign is only at €3,819/38,000

ehab (@ehabayyad23) and his family of 20 have been displaced and living in tents for almost a year now. he is asking for donations to secure daily needs and be able to evacuate. his gfm is currently at only €2,147/€50,000

mohammad (@yasermohammad) and his 5 children have been left without a home, employment, or proper education. a relative of mohammad's started a campaign to help them recover, and so far they are about halfway to their goal €19,841/€35,000

islam (@islamgazaaccount3) is a physical therapist with a family of 6, including an 85-year old grandfather who lost his hand to israeli occupation's violence many years ago. their gofundme page details what exactly they plan to do with the expenses. his friend mohammed is the one who set up the campaign, which is currently only at €1,842/€30,000

alternatively, you can donate to islam with this paypal link:

mahmoud was studying IT before the university of gaza was destroyed, and is currently caring for his father + siblings. he has hopes of being able to escape with his family, and continue his studies down the line. it is at only $1,145/$25,000

majed (@majedgaza1) and his family already fled gaza, but due to having to pay so much to cross the border & losing their homes they are still struggling in egypt. because of the economic situation, they are raising money to rebuild their lives and secure stable housing. their campaign is only at $2,118/$70,000

[toliveforthehopeofitall626]

The Beginnings of a Backstory

Mirio followed as you lead him into your apartment. It wasn't an absolute dump by any means, but it definitely wasn't what any normal person would call nice. It was technically speaking a studio, the kitchen, living room, and bedroom all connected in one big space. You had a couple of cheap, paper dividers that blocked off your bed from the rest of the living space. You walked into the makeshift room and started packing a few clothes into a bag. You didn't have a lot of clothes, enough to get by, which was pretty much the theme of everything in your life. The less possessions you had the easier it was to move around. It was probably a result from never having a stable living space as a child, but there was no way you were going to even begin to unpack all of that, especially not at this point in your life. 

As you packed your bag you watched Mirio begin to explore the small apartment. He didn't make any faces or show any signs that he didn't like the place or was judging it. You didn't think he would, but it was always a possibility, especially after you saw the beautiful home he lived in. 

"How long have you lived here?" He asked as he came back over to you. 

"Oh, just about a year now. I used to live closer to the college I attended but they were raising rent prices so I had to find something that I could afford to live in while also still being able to get groceries. It was pretty difficult. This was the cheapest place I could find that wasn't too far away. Sure, it used to be an hour bus ride to get to my classes and I had to live off of instant ramen for most of the time I've been here, but it's mine and I'm proud of it." You rambled a bit again as you finished putting your things into a bag. The last thing you grabbed was your laptop and carefully slipped it into its case. "Alright I've got everything."

Mirio turned to face you with the same smile you've become to find comfort in. "Great! Let's start heading back. Maybe we can pick up some pizza on the way home. I'm sure the others would be stoked to not have to do any cooking tonight. What kind of toppings do you like?"

You went to pick up your bags, but Mirio beat you to it, carefully slinging both bags over his shoulder. He really was such a gentleman, wasn't he? "I'm not super picky, anything that doesn't have onions or peppers on it I'm fine with. Though my favorite is pineapple and ham" 

"I'm glad you're on the correct side of pineapple on pizza argument." He joked as the two of you left the building. You made sure to lock the door before following back down to the car. You slid into your seat and frowned as your keys fell out of your pocket and onto the cement. You reached down to pick them up when you saw a flash of blue off in the alley way. You squinted a bit as you looked at the spot before shaking your head and grabbing your keys. It must have been your brain playing tricks on you. 

"Everything okay over there?" Mirio called out to get your attention. 

You nodded and slid back into the car. "Peachy keen." You flashed a smile over at him to reassure him that you were fine. "Just dropped my keys but I've got them now, so we are good to go."

The drive back, including your pizza stop, was filled with lighthearted conversation. Nothing too terribly serious. You'd had your fill of serious talk for the next few hours after borderline trauma dumping on Mirio before. The two of you pulled up to the house. You offered to carry in the pizza's seeing as Mirio wouldn't even let you carry your own bags. "Hey everyone, we're home." Mirio called out as you walked inside with him, splitting only when you headed to the kitchen to set pizza boxes down. 

It wasn't long before you heard footsteps coming into the room. You looked over and smiled as you saw Nejire and Tamaki walk in. "Mirio said you don't like pineapple, Nejire, and that Tamaki eats... to put it nicely, non typical toppings due to his quirk, so we got each of you your own pizza, that way everyone is happy." You opened up the boxes to show the others. 

"Hey, hey, those smell great!" Nejire pulled some plates out of one of the cabinets and came over. She set them down on the counter before putting a couple slices on her own plate. Tamaki followed her lead as he got his own slices. Mirio came into the room, now bag free, and walked over to the rest of you. 

"Boy I'm starving." He looked over at you. "Aren't you going to grab a plate? Don't be shy. You're our guest so you should have gone first."

You shook your head in response. "Oh no it's okay, you paid for it so really I could argue all of you should go first." You picked up a plate, grabbing a slice for yourself before Mirio grabbed some for himself as well. 

The four of you walked into the dining room and took seats around a medium sized table. Big enough for you all to have your own elbow room but not so big to make things awkward. The room was quiet as the four of you started eating. A bit of awkwardness floated in the air before someone finally spoke. More light small talk was carried out. A few jokes here and there. It was nice. You weren't used to having other people to talk to around you. Though you spent most of the time listening, learning and getting to know them. Which meant the majority of the conversation was held between Mirio and Nejire. 

You noticed that Tamaki seemed pretty uncomfortable, which wasn't unexpected. You felt a bit of guilt over the fact that it was your fault he couldn't be comfortable in his own home, and a part of you began to worry that it wasn't okay for you to stay. Maybe you could try and talk to him one on one later. Try and make yourself seem less scary. 

"So y/n Mirio said you just moved here a year ago, where did you live before?" Nejire's voice pulled you back into the conversation at the table. 

You shrugged your shoulders. "Here and there. I was moved around a lot as a kid between this family and that. It wasn't until I reached college that I had a consistent home and even then, it was just the campus dorms, until scholarships ran out and I had to find off campus housing. It's really crazy how hard it is to find a permanent place to call home is."

"My parents have lived in the same home for my entire life, I used to wish for the opportunity to move or change anything." Mirio spoke as he finished off his dinner. 

"It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Who knows maybe if I had a normal family, it would be different, but when you're bounced around between homes and families for so long, you never get the chance to get comfortable and make friends." You didn't realize you had begun dumping on them again. What was wrong with you? It's not like you knew any of them super well, you can't just constantly vent all of your life's problems to people who are still practically strangers to you. It was almost like having people in your life, even if they were only temporary friends, made you comfortable enough to let all of these problems you'd bottled up out.  

"Well, sunshine, you don't have to be alone anymore." You stared over at Mirio for a moment before he clarified. "Because you have us as friends now, and you have your own apartment. You can finally let yourself put down roots." He smiled as he began to collect everyone's empty plates. 

"Oh well that is if I can find an apprenticeship or a job that pays well enough for me to stay." You responded back, not wanting to rain on his parade but you wanted to be rational. "I missed my interview, and it was already so hard to get that one, let alone to try and set up another."

"They have to be at least a little understanding; it's not your fault villains broke onto their campus and kidnapped people." Nejire spoke as she stood up. 

You stood as well and followed Nejire into the living room, both of you taking a seat on the couch. "This is a school for very rich kids of rich and snotty parents. They wouldn't care if I was dying in a hospital somewhere and that's why I couldn't make it. The second I was marked as late or that I didn't show up my chances were shot. I'll have to try and find something else soon. It's why I brought my computer with me, so I can still job search while I'm here."

"Well I'm sure that it will work out for you." She smiled sweetly. "Now do you like movies?"

"I love movies." You responded as the two of you got comfortable on the couch and started searching for something to watch.

[coochiequeens]

Maybe more boomers would be grandparents if they were better parents in the first place.

According to younger Americans, the ‘unspoken’ grief their parents feel about not having grandchildren isn’t entirely unspoken

By Meredith Clark Tuesday 19 November 2024

Amid falling birth rates and growing numbers of U.S. adults opting to remain child-free, boomer and Generation X grandparents are mourning the prospect of ever becoming grandparents. However, according to millennials themselves, the reasons for not having children far outweigh the disappointment their parents may feel.

The uproar began this week after the New York Times published an interview with yearning would-be grandparents, titled “The Unspoken Grief of Never Becoming a Grandparent.” The article stated that older Americans “may experience a deep sense of longing and loss when their children opt out of parenthood.”

Indeed, there is an increasing number of Americans who have decided not to have children. A 2021 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 44 percent of adults said it is “not too or not at all likely” that they will have children someday. Meanwhile, a little more than half of adults 50 and older had at least one grandchild in 2021, down from nearly 60 percent in 2014.

As the New York Times article went viral on X/Twitter, it prompted many younger adults to share their reasons for not having children.

“Bro we can’t afford houses, much less entire new humans,” one user replied.

“Maybe if Boomers and elder Gen X had focused on voting for policies that benefited their children rather than themselves, they could have had grandchildren,” claimed someone else. “They pulled up the ladder behind them and expected us to keep climbing.”

Another person commented: “Boomers sitting in their paid off four-bedroom homes in the suburbs while their kids drown in debt and a skyrocketed cost of living watching winter rapidly disappear: ‘But what about what WE want.’”

Some younger Americans simply took issue with the idea that their parents’ complaints about not having children could go “unspoken,” considering it’s a major topic of conversation for some families at the dinner table.

“‘Unspoken’ is crazy considering every older person I’ve ever voiced my decision to not have children to gets visibly mad at me,” one woman said.

“Ask any woman over 25 if it’s unspoken,” another echoed.

“Hey if it’s so unspoken why am I constantly hearing about it,” a third user wrote.

From rising housing prices to the cost of child care, the financial impact of raising a child in the U.S. has influenced younger adults to remain child-free. In 2020, average Americans paid $1,202 per month in homeownership costs – including taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance, and utility bills. Just four years later, that number has jumped a staggering 26 percent, up to $1,510 monthly.

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), house prices across the U.S. rose by an average of 6.6 percent in one year. In fact, the median home price in the U.S. is $412,300 – that’s 40 percent higher than some millennials’ parents paid for their homes in the 1990s.

When it comes to child care, such as hiring a nanny or paying for daycare, parents are spending almost a quarter of their household income on child care, per Care.com’s 2024 Cost of Care Report.

Discussions surrounding the housing crisis and declining birth rates were heightened leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Throughout her campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris proposed a child tax credit of $6,000 for families with newborn children in the first year of their life.

The Harris-Walz campaign also promised up to $25,000 in assistance with down payments for first-time homebuyers who have paid their rent on time for two years, in order to create “more generous support for first-generation homeowners.”

As for president-elect Donald Trump, he’s suggested using federal land to address the housing shortage. The Republican National Committee platform states that they plan on promoting “homeownership” by using tax incentives and helping first-time buyers.

The platform also plans to cut “unnecessary regulations” that raise the price of housing and to “reduce mortgage rates by slashing inflation.”

[love-overdrive]

Ordinary Miss Yazawa Pt. 1

Summary: The house for sale next door to the Higashikata's was quickly bought by someone. Josuke wonders who it could possibly be before he finally gets to meet his new neighbor, a young woman named Mary Yazawa. However, Tomoko can't help but think something doesn't add up with this new arrival.

Relationship: Platonic! Tomoko and Josuke Higashikata x OC (gen- no romance)

Rating: SFW

Word Count: ~3.5k

Notes: Nothing I think needs to be warned about. Mostly bantering between Tomoko and Josuke (I love them dearly). No spoilers for Part 4.

A/n: Aaaaa my first fic with my oc <3 please enjoy! More information on my OCs can be found on my pinned posts. Concrit is always appreciated and welcome, too.

You can read this on my AO3 here!

(Please feel free to let me know if you'd like to be tagged whenever I post a new work!)

“Huh? Someone bought that house already?” Koichi pointed to the ‘for sale’ sign that had a big ‘SOLD’ sticker slapped over it. “I thought they only put it out a few days ago.” 

“Who’s that desperate to come here?” Okuyasu commented, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“I guess I’ll find out soon enough,” Josuke sighed. “Mom said that no one even came by to look inside.” 

“Damn, real desperate.” 

“Why would you buy a house without looking inside it?” Koichi pondered. “What if you don’t even like the inside? Isn’t that kind of a waste?” 

“How should I know?” Josuke shrugged. “I mean… at the end of the day, it’s just a house, right? You just go home and sit there. It’s not like these houses are bad or anything.” 

“But what if you wanted a big one!” Okuyasu shouted. “I know I want a huge living room in mine. Something awesome for parties.” 

Koichi tapped his chin. “Well, if we’re talking about what we want in houses… maybe many rooms. One for a library to put all my manga, a guest room for my family if they want to stop by, and rooms if you want to start a family.” 

“I would want a huge fridge,” Josuke added. 

“The fridge isn’t part of the house, dude! You buy that!” 

“What? No way, when we moved in our house, the fridge was there!” 

“That’s because your grandpa had bought it…” Koichi grimaced at the two. Josuke pouted for a moment at Koichi’s correction before waving his hand. 

“Well, that’s not the point! It’s still kinda weird to buy a house without looking at it!” 

“Who do you think bought it?” Okuyasu’s eyes widened. “What if it’s secretly a celebrity?” 

“Why would a celebrity come to live here?” 

“Damn,” Okuyasu deflated. “You’re right, you’re right.” 

“It’s probably just a family.” Koichi stated. “Probably couldn’t afford the prices in places like Tokyo and so they would come here to pay a cheaper rent or mortgage.” 

“How do you know so much about houses in Tokyo?” Josuke raised a brow. Koichi bashfully smiled and chuckled. 

“I saw it on the news yesterday. Apparently prices have been going crazy over there.” 

“Whoever bought this house probably has no clue what’s been going on here, though. I kinda feel bad,” Josuke commented. “I’m sure we’ll meet them soon. I just hope they’re not totally annoying or something.” 

Scratch that thought. It was not even 8 am on a Saturday and already the moving trucks next door had bothered Josuke. He sandwiched his head in between his pillow and huffed. Who the hell moves in so early?! 

Already cranky from being woken up, he glanced to his mirror and noticed his hair was a mess. What a great way to the start the day. He opened the window and was about to give his new neighbor a piece of his mind when he saw a young woman twirling her hair while the movers unloaded the truck. 

“Wait, careful with those ones, please,” she pointed at a box with the word ‘fragile’ on them. “Those were like, pretty expensive.” 

“Yes ma’am!” The men nodded, making her grin widely. 

“Thanks~, you guys are so sweet,” she replied, continuing to watch them. “Uh, put that box by the kitchen, and that one by the window.” 

Josuke raised a brow as he watched the scene. His new neighbor was definitely not what he expected them to be. 

He didn’t realize he was staring until the woman called out to him and waved. 

“Yoo-hoo!” She cheerfully yelled from below. “Hello! I’m your new neighbor!” 

He was taken aback by her peppy attitude- seriously, it was 8 am on a Saturday- but waved back awkwardly. “N-nice to meet you.” 

“Sorry for all the noise, I hope I didn’t disturb you!” 

“It’s alright, not like I was sleeping or anything,” he lied, feeling guilty at the thought of unleashing his previous anger at her. Josuke had to wonder how she was up this early. Was anyone else ever- 

“Josuke, who the hell are you talking to right now?” Tomoko snapped from the hallway. “What did I tell you about hogging the phone?” 

Right. How could he forget? 

“I’m not on the phone, mom,” he tiredly replied. Tomoko swung open the door without a second thought, only to find her son indeed was not on the phone, but still in his tanktop and pajama pants and leaning out the window. 

“Then what are you…?” She shook her head and strode over to the window, looking to see a slightly confused but smiling young woman. “O-oh! You must be our new neighbor. Welcome!” 

The woman chuckled and nodded. “Thank you. I’m happy to be here. If it’s not too much, I have some gifts for you all. Can I drop by soon to introduce myself properly?” 

Tomoko nodded quickly. “Of course, yes, you can. Stay for some tea, too!” 

“I’d love that! I have to finish with this, but give me about… um… like… three hours and I’ll be over,” the woman replied, waving one last time before turning around and ordering the men to drop off another set of boxes in a specific place. 

“I love her shoes,” Tomoko mumbled to herself as she closed the window. 

“I didn’t think it would just be some woman. I thought it would be a family,” Josuke rubbed the back of his neck and yawned. 

“I didn’t expect that, either,” Tomoko casually replied. “That being said, what the hell were you thinking!” 

Josuke’s eyes widened at his mother’s harsh tone. “What? What did I do?” 

“What did you do? You just introduced yourself to our new neighbor in your pajamas! Do you know how bad that makes us look? We have to make a good impression, not make her think we’re a bunch of slobs or something!” 

Tomoko frantically paced around Josuke’s room. 

“It’s not that big a deal. It’s just our neighbor. Not like she’ll die if she sees me like this,” Josuke sighed, knowing his mother’s rant would continue. 

“I can’t believe this. I knew she’d be here today, but I was trying to plan a welcome visit and everything, and now it’s all ruined! Now she thinks my son is a delinquent who just sits in his pajamas all day and that we’re a bunch of bums!” 

“I really doubt she thinks-” 

“No, no, no. Fix yourself up, now. I want you to put on your best clothes and make the best impression you can.” 

“But it’s so early and I’m tired! She won’t even be here for another few hours and it takes me less than five minutes to get ready!” 

“No. You will not be sleeping right now, you will be cleaning yourself up and- oh, for the love of god- clean up your room, will you?” Tomoko gagged as she stepped on a pile of Josuke’s dirty clothes. 

“She’s not coming in my room!” 

“What if she asks to see it, hm? You’re just gonna let her walk in and see how messy your room is?” 

“Why would she be in my room in the first place?” Josuke retorted exasperatedly. “She’s coming to have tea, not a house tour!” 

“That doesn’t matter! What if she wants a house tour? You don’t say no to your guests! Now clean up, that’s final!” Tomoko pointed at Josuke, leaving no room for any disagreement. Josuke rolled his eyes as Tomoko slammed the door shut behind her, leaving a grumbling and exhausted Josuke. 

Well… she won’t know if I sleep for another fifteen minutes, right? 

All too quickly, a fifteen minute power nap became an almost three hour long sleep. He only woke up due to hearing the door knocking, and that’s when all the panic set in. 

“Josuke, she’s here!” Tomoko called from downstairs. 

Shit! He thought as he tumbled out of bed and threw off his pajamas. “C-coming! Give me a sec!” 

Knowing his mother would get on his case about his clothes, he rummaged through his closet for anything nice he had that wasn’t a huge, wrinkled mess. He settled, for some reason, on his school uniform and threw it on haphazardly, nearly tripping over himself as he went to grab his comb from his mirror. 

He already knew he was taking too long, and he could hear his mother’s threatening tone when she called his name again, despite Tomoko trying to hide it under a veneer of saccharine sweetness. Josuke barely managed to get himself ready before he almost fell down the stairs to greet their new neighbor. 

“Well, you know teenagers, always doing their own thing-” Tomoko said to the woman, not realizing (or, more likely, not caring) that Josuke was in earshot. Tomoko placed a cup of tea for both her and the woman, who graciously thanked her. 

“I don’t mind, really. It’s good that they’re taking a moment to like, explore and stuff,” the woman mused. Up close, Josuke could get a better look at the woman. She had dark brown hair that went to her shoulder, but curled upwards at the ends of it. She wasn’t as pale as Tomoko, and her face was covered in freckles and beauty marks. Large, gold hoop earrings dangled from her lobes while her eyes had on some eyeliner and blue eyeshadow, which coincidentally, matched the baby blue sweater she wore. 

Josuke cleared his throat awkwardly so his mother could introduce him. Tomoko turned to him with a smile before her face fell. She shot him a death glare when she noticed how slovenly his appearance looked- a warning for what was to come after their guest had left. 

“Miss Yazawa, this is my son, Josuke. Josuke, this is Miss Yazawa.” 

Josuke bowed politely. “Nice to see you again.” 

“It’s nice to see you, too. But, you know, I’m not at work and I’m still pretty young, so you can just call me Mary,” Mary casually stated. Tomoko shook her head to Josuke, telling him not to do so. “And since you’re both here now, I hope it’s alright for me to give you my gift?” 

Mary pulled out a pink box wrapped with a golden, glittery bow. Josuke leaned over curiously, wondering what was inside. 

“Thank you, you didn’t have to give us something this big,” Tomoko said as she took the box. “I’ll just set it aside and-” 

“Oh no, feel free to open it! I think it’ll go great with the tea!” Mary giggled. 

Tomoko undid the bow and opened the box, gasping alongside Josuke as they saw many tarts, macarons, and other desserts they couldn’t even name within it. 

“W-wait a minute, this can’t be,” Tomoko quickly said as she examined the cover she just removed. “Is this really from that French bakery? Patisserie Chic? That one?” 

Mary nodded. “Yeah. I heard it was good. Have you tried it before?” She asked, fiddling with her cup. Both of them shook their head. Patisserie Chic was hailed as the bakery in Morioh, but it was, frankly, very expensive. As a teacher and single mom, Tomoko just didn’t have the funds to splurge that much on a slice of cake or a cookie. 

Especially not a whole box of them…

“No, we haven’t.” 

“Well, then that means it’s the perfect time to try them!” Mary grinned, clasping her hands together. 

All of them took a pastry and took a bit. Josuke and Tomoko gasped at the taste and covered their mouths. 

“Mmm! This is amazing!” Tomoko said, not caring she was talking with her mouth full. 

“Mhm! Sho good!” Josuke agreed, chomping down on the sweet. 

“I guess they were right,” Mary hummed, taking a small, ladylike bite of her pastry. She didn’t react much to the taste, but neither Tomoko or Josuke were paying attention. 

After indulging in her sweet, Tomoko wiped her mouth and looked at Mary. “So, Miss Yazawa, what made you move all the way to Morioh?” 

“Oh, it wasn’t a big deal or anything,” Mary responded. “I wanted to experience more things, so I took a position at the bank as their receptionist.” 

Tomoko raised a brow. “You moved from…” 

“Shibuya,” Mary answered. 

“Shibuya,” Tomoko repeated. Explains the makeup. “You moved from Shibuya… to here? For a receptionist job?” 

“Yes,” Mary nodded casually. Josuke tried to imagine what that would feel like, but he couldn’t think of anything. He loved Morioh, would live here forever, no questions asked- but moving here from Shibuya? That seemed a bit crazy. 

“I heard the housing prices and mortgages are high over there,” Josuke commented, trying to keep the conversation going. He’d thank Koichi later for that. Tomoko shot him a confused look, wondering why the hell her son, who was always too busy playing video games and could never clean his room, was suddenly discussing mortgages. 

“Yeah, they are. Morioh looks like a nice change of pace. I do like the quieter towns, too. And everyone’s been pretty friendly so far.” 

“It’s a very nice town, even if it’s smaller than what you’re probably used to,” Tomoko replied. “I hope I’m not coming off as too rude or anything, but are you living with anyone? A fiance or a husband? I didn’t see anyone else with you right now.” 

“Oh, no, I live alone. Again, I just moved for work and stuff,” Mary answered, not at all offended by the question. Josuke briefly wondered if all Shibuya women were like her. He did like that she was a bit more casual than some of the ladies here. 

“You are? I didn’t expect that. You look very young. I’m surprised you aren’t with someone,” Tomoko gasped, starting to feel her previous holdups wear down. Even though she was stern at times, she still was a young woman, too, and she hadn’t talked to another woman her age in a while like this. 

“I just haven’t found the right guy, you know?” Mary explained. “Like, I’m usually pretty busy with my job, so sometimes I just don’t have the time to really meet guys. My supervisor once said I should try a small town guy once in a while, instead of the big city ones.” 

“They’re pretty rough, aren’t they?” Tomoko replied. Mary nodded in agreement. 

“Right? Some of them are so pushy and don’t even listen when I talk,” Mary sighed. “All they do is talk about finances or the stock market or something, like, can we just talk about anything else?” 

“And don’t they always complain about you working, too?” 

“They do!” 

Josuke cleared his throat as the two women got caught up in their conversation, making them both silently return to their previous positions. 

“Well, in any case, this is a pretty nice place to settle down in. I don’t think you’ll have many complaints here,” Tomoko said casually. 

Josuke, wanting to be involved after sitting around boredly, looked at Mary. “So, Mar- Miss Yazawa, how old are you, anyways?” 

“Josuke!” Tomoko hissed, glaring at him. Mary giggled again and waved it off. 

“20,” she answered. 

“W-wait, 20?” Tomoko and Josuke said at the same time. 

“Yeah. Is there like… something wrong?” Mary cocked her head to the side. 

“No, I just… I didn’t think you’d be that young,” Tomoko responded, the surprise evident on her face. She mumbled a, “you could be my daughter at that age…”

“Woah, you moved out and everything by yourself at 20?” Josuke’s eyes sparkled, seemingly impressed with the fact she could do all that. 

“Mhm. It’s nothing crazy. I know lots of people who do the same.” 

Before Josuke could talk more, the phone began ringing. 

“Josuke, answer the phone, will you?” Tomoko asked. Josuke looked at the house phone attached to the wall and raised a brow. 

“It’s not ringing,” he replied, seeing as there was no light flashing on it. 

“No, that’s me, sorry,” Mary chuckled. “Is it alright if I take this call over there?” 

Tomoko was about to nod before her and Josuke gasped again at seeing Mary pull out a large, thick cellphone. They huddled together as Mary walked to the living room to answer. 

“Is that a-” 

“No way-” the two whispered to each other. 

“How the hell can she afford a cellphone?” 

“It’s the newest Nokia, too. I heard you can use it all around the world!” Josuke said with wide eyes. 

“Are receptionists really paid that much?” Tomoko asked. “Maybe I should consider a career switch.” 

“It’s not fair, how can she get a cellphone at 20, but I can’t?” Josuke whined. 

“I don’t even have a cellphone! Why would I get you one?” 

“Because… pleeease?” Josuke gave Tomoko his best puppy dog eyes before she shook her head. 

“No way. You don’t need a cellphone to waste more time on. You’re already slacking on your chores and schoolwork.” 

“Come on, I promise, I’ll do all my chores if I get one!” 

“No.” 

Josuke rolled his eyes and slumped against the seat. “One day, I’m gonna get one. And when I move out, I will not be yelled at about my room.” 

“You have to actually go to college and get a job for that,” Tomoko teased. 

“I will! You’ll see!” 

The two bickered a bit longer before Mary came back, Nokia in hand. Mary, true to her youthful age, had decorated her phone with some rhinestones and two pink phone charms. Josuke wondered once more if women in Shibuya did this sort of thing. They must be loaded. Or bored.

“Sorry about that, my supervisor was calling.” 

“Is everything alright?” 

“Yeah, just some things are gonna need to be done sooner than expected. But, not a huge deal. I’ll just pull an all-nighter or something,” Mary shrugged. 

“Ugh, never mind about me getting a job,” Josuke joked. 

“Aw, work isn’t so bad. It’s kinda fun!” Mary replied, a wide grin on her face. 

Josuke lost track of the time until Mary had left, citing her need to begin unpacking and organizing her house. Once she was gone, Tomoko folded her arms and stared quizzically at the door. 

“Something up, mom?” Josuke asked, wondering why she was just standing by their door. 

“I just can’t put my finger on it, honestly.” 

“Put your finger on what?”

“Obviously, I mean Miss Yazawa.” 

“What about her?” 

“I don’t normally like to gossip about others but something’s a bit strange about her, don’t you think?” 

Josuke shook his head. “Nah.” 

“What do you mean, ‘nah’?” Tomoko deadpanned. 

“Was there something weird about her?” Josuke scratched his cheek. 

“I mean, the fact that she lived in Shibuya and then decided to move here for a receptionist job, her being only 20, having a new cellphone- none of that was off to you?” 

“Is it supposed to be off to me?” 

“Well, yeah, it’s not really…” Tomoko paused, scrunching her nose at what she was tryna say. “Oh god… am I getting old?” 

“What?” Josuke shouted, confused where his mother would get that idea from. “What does this gotta do with anything?” 

“I think I’m getting too old. I know I look younger than my age-” 

“So humble.” 

“Quiet. But, jeez, she’s only 20! Are younger women these days working that hard and doing that much?” 

“I guess?” Josuke replied, not knowing much about women. “Maybe it’s what the women do in Shibuya.” 

“It’s gotta be that. I heard they got some crazy stuff going on there,” Tomoko commented, fanning herself. “And I guess you would need to work extra hard to afford that place.” 

“So then, it’s just cuz she’s from Shibuya.” 

Tomoko let out a breath, before nodding. “Yeah. Shibuya. Must be a Shibuya thing.” 

“So that settles it then?” Tomoko hummed back. “And you’re not worried about being old?” 

Tomoko tried to remain serious, but her lips twitched upwards as she let out a short laugh. “No. I’m good. I guess even the way I did things when I was her age was unconventional, too.” She rubbed the back of her neck. 

Josuke knew what she was referring to and pursed his lips. “Maybe. But I wouldn’t have you any other way.” 

“And I wouldn’t have you any other way, either. Mmm… maybe just a cleaner room but that can be worked on.” 

“Whatever,” Josuke laughed. 

“But, really, you should go clean your room. And if you have time one day, you should go stop by her house and help.” 

“Why?” 

“It’s just a good thing to do. She’s all by herself and she probably needs help moving things around.” 

“Yeah, I’ll do that tomorrow. I’ll call Koichi and Okuyasu over, too, since they wanted to know who it was.” 

Tomoko smiled, a proud look on her face. Josuke gave a questioning expression back. “Why’re you smiling like that?” 

“Nothing,” Tomoko shook her head before sighing wistfully. “I guess I just realized that you’re really becoming a man.” 

Josuke’s face softened alongside his mother’s. Well, he wasn’t really all that eager to do so, but maybe helping Miss Yazawa wouldn’t be so bad if this is how his mom would react.