#'today' means before i go to sleep. jot that down

[wiseatom]

me: i love writing

also me: literally goes through all 5 stages of grief at once every time i finish a fic

[starryytales]

More Manipulative Ragatha.

ACK-

This was meant to be ~500 words and one part of a short story that went into detail of Ragatha doing different things on different days to push Pomni's boundaries, get her closer, etc. And was inspired by yesterday's ask about Ragatha intentionally throwing herself into harm's way to get hurt and get Pomni's attention.

Instead it ballooned up into a little over 2000 words and will be something of a standalone.

I would like to give my thanks and dedicate this to @miguxadraws whose enthusiasm helped push me to hit the ground running with this one!

With that said: small TW for needles (the sewing kind), and I hope you all enjoy..!

“I’m never sure how to start these things…”

I muse to myself as I tap the colorful pencil’s eraser against the empty, waiting page of my journal. Being the second longest lasting person in The Digital Circus changes how you think about information. Unlike Kinger, for example, I’m doing my best to not go insane by holding on to every piece of information until my mind snaps and I become amnesic. That means writing things down. Journal writing and compartmentalizing things. Separating the bad from the good and keeping the good close and the bad locked away.

“I suppose starting with this morning wouldn’t be a bad idea.” I flip the pencil around and begin jotting down what all happened…

Pomni woke up on me today. I didn’t bother with sleeping. Instead I just enjoyed watching her quietly snore throughout the night. God, she’s so cute when she’s asleep. She’s even more cute when she’s startled. She woke up, adorably mumbling about whatever dream she was having (I heard my name!!!), and stared up at me for a few moments. I didn’t say anything because she was clearly still out of it and wouldn’t have understood me anyway. When she realized she was using me as a full body pillow she let out wildest little yipe I’ve ever heard. She nearly hit the ceiling from jumping off of me so hard! It took a hot moment and a re-heated, leftover salmon cake to calm her down after that. I let her get dressed in peace (thank you again, God, for giving me a button eye to stealth watch with) and she left with a sweet little smile on her face.

I pause writing for a moment when I hear someone trying to stay quiet while working on something outside my door. Probably Jax. Probably with a bucket of insects and some kind of mechanical trap setup. I shake my head irritably but stay quiet. Jax would have been a lovely boy toy to keep if not for the fact he can’t stop being a punk for more than ten seconds. My single regret with him is that he only had one heart to break. The sound of his trap construction jolts me back to writing by jogging my memory.

The adventure!

How could I have nearly forgotten that when it was a huge amount of progress with Pomni?

Caine rounded us all up just like he does basically every other day.

“HELLO MY MUTANT MASHED POTATOES TODAY’S ADVENTURE BLAH BLAH BLAH-”

It was some kind of movie-like, ancient temple we had to find the treasure room of. The important part was Pomni and I took the ‘medium’ difficulty route, and we did it by ourselves. I was just about to see how well she dealt with an unprompted hand on her shoulder when I realized I had seen the hallway we were in before on a different adventure. Caine doesn’t just re-use NPCs, he re-uses chunks of levels sometimes. And I knew we were about 15 steps away from a circular saw trap that would shoot out from the wall and try to leave us with a nasty cut, to put it lightly.

My first instinct was to let Pomni walk into it. I thought it’d probably go right through her leg, maybe even both of them. I’d have to carry her all the way to the end and she’d have no choice BUT let me hold her. My better judgment got a hold of me, though. That was an awful plan. She’d hate being useless and dependent on me (at the moment, anyway). But I could still use the trap to my advantage to make her touch me…

I suddenly remembered why I nearly forgot the whole thing. Ever feel so much pain your body and brain try to factory reset?

“Hey, I think I’ve seen this hallway before.” I told her as I switched the side of her I was walking on. I picked up my pace slightly to make sure I triggered the saw without catching her as collateral. I braced myself as hard as I could without letting on something was up. A small part of me was begging to just not do this, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.

“Really?”

“Yeah! From a different adventure!”

And I think she was going to ask if I remembered anything helpful about it. That’s about when a single stone beneath my foot pressed down and I let out probably the longest running censor-bleep in Digital Circus history. The saw was as quick as lightning. My left arm, right above my elbow, was effortlessly sliced off, and the blade tore through my side like I was made of paper. I screamed and fell away from the blade. I landed against the wall opposite of it and started sliding down to the floor. Good God it hurt so bad I was seeing stars. Pomni shrieked and rushed over to me, hovering over me like she’d found a murdered body in an alleyway. I was in too much pain to get her to stop screaming for a moment so I could tell her what to do, and then she said that she would go get help.

That lit quite the fire under me, because:

1. I needed to get her used to touching me by getting her to patch me up, and, perhaps more importantly-

2. I’M TIRED OF HER RUNNING OFF WHEN I AM IN INCREDIBLE PAIN.

I have to say, despite the pain I was in, I was pretty slick with my next words.

Any person scared and hurt might say ‘don’t leave me,’ but if I left it at that, she might have just offered me a platitude about being back as soon as she could be. I had to twist the knife. She managed a single step away before I lunged at her foot and seized her ankle. I didn’t need to pretend to cry, as there were plenty of real, agonized tears.

“Please don’t leave me again!”

The ‘again’ sold it like beer at a college ball game. Oh, it hurt to see so much remorse in her eyes but it’ll make her think twice before running off again in the future. She dropped to her knees next to me and sputtered a dozen apologies before going quiet when I placed my hand on her upper leg to get her attention.

I remember gritting my teeth and having to hiss through the pain to direct her to my dress pocket (conveniently on the same side I was missing an arm on, and oh my how those little hands wander in a pocket) where I had my emergency sewing kit. Ugh. I could have died from cute-overload while watching her fumble so shakily while trying to thread that needle. When she finally managed it she looked at me with huge, worried eyes for guidance on what to do next.

I pause again to enjoy the memory of her looking at me that way. It’s almost dreamy to picture her like that. So nervously hanging off my every word… I could REALLY get used to that. Where was I? Oh, right, my little jester doing doll surgery on my side.

Feeling her touching me gently was so, so nice. And she listens so well. I bet if I told her that the stitching would only hold if she barked like a puppy, she might have actually done it. I’m so used to sewing myself up that the little pricks of the needle barely registered to me, so I up-sold the pain they caused. Clenching my teeth and (remaining) fist, and scrunching my eyes while hiccuping every few seconds as if I were holding back a breakdown. She paused once and held my cheek, and told me if I needed a break she would stop. AGH. I could have eaten her alive on the spot for being so sweet! Instead I sighed, enjoyed the touch, and thanked her but said I was okay...

I love Pomni to bits but she sews like a blind grandmother with arthritis. No cut like that is ever good or easy to work with, but even Gangle manages a cleaner stitch on a bad day. Still, that meant we got to spend the rest of the adventure like that. Her pressed up against my side, trying her best to hold as steady as possible, while keeping my stuffing from falling out as she stitches me back shut. Definitely worth every ounce of pain. When she was done she even crawled over to my arm and offered to try putting it back on. Absolutely precious.

I told her not to worry about the arm. Caine could fix it when we get back, and about when I said that our AI Overlord’s voice rang clear throughout the structure. Caine congratulated Gangle and Kinger for reaching the treasure room first, and declared the adventure over. Pomni and I fell through a portal that suddenly opened beneath us, and just like that we were back in the tent.

Caine looked me over and quipped I had gotten “too adventurous for my own good,” before snapping his fingers and fixing my arm. He then said something about seashells and vanished. The others were already heading their separate ways when I walked over to Pomni and hugged her. She jumped slightly, but didn’t pull away. I thanked her as warmly as I could for staying with me, and I saw on her face that same guilt from earlier being soothed slightly. It wasn’t enough to put her at peace, but enough so she knows I will happily praise her for doing something good.

I let her go and I offered her another meal tonight – if she was feeling up to it, that is. I could see her putting real thought into it-

My writing is once again interrupted by a dainty knock at the door.

“Ragatha? I’m here for dinner, but-” I quickly slam my journal shut and hide it away again. The last thing Pomni needs to see is the contents of that book. I hop up from my chair with a spring in my step and grab the doorknob, only for Pomni to suddenly shout.

“D-don’t open the door yet! There’s a bucket full of something on the door frame. It’s attached to some kind of trigger. Kinger’s getting it down now.”

I hear Kinger scraping something metallic away from the door before the man himself speaks up.

“Oh! That’s where you’ve all been. How do my centipedes keep winding up in buckets..?”

I had clean forgotten Jax trapped the door. The thought of being stuck with a bucket on my head as all of Kinger’s little hellspawns crawl over my face is almost enough to make me throw up, pass out, and start writing a manifesto. All at the same time. Did I say earlier I only have one regret about Jax? I have two. And the second is that I can’t drown him in the cellar.

“Okay! It’s safe now!”

Cautiously I crack open the door. My eyes are drawn to the movement of Kinger walking down the hallway with a bucket full of nightmares in his arms, but I quickly focus back on to Pomni. I let out a low, tired sigh and smile at her.

“You saved me twice in one day.” I try not to swoon, but it still kind of comes out that way. The little blush she starts sporting on her face doesn’t help.

“Ah- don’t worry about it.”

God she’s so cute when she’s bashful. I open the door and step aside to welcome her in with a playful flourish.

“Well, come on in! A hero deserves her heroic feast! I’ll get on it right away.”

“A heroic feast of spaghetti and meatballs?” She laughs, the sound as sweet as wine, as she enters and steps passed me. I laugh back with her as I start to shut the door so we can start another night off right.

“And garlic bread, that’s the really heroic part!”

[waldau-archived]

flustered — jeon wonwoo | 1.7k | fluff

first ever work on tumblr for any fandom! yikes. gender neutral reader. no warnings.

people often think wonwoo isn't the kind of person to express himself freely. you know how untrue that accusation is. wonwoo is far from emotionless. only his close friends know what actually makes him crack up, and you're one of the very few who knows what makes him cry.

but you have no idea what makes him blush.

ever since you've been in a relationship, you've never once seen him blush at anything you've said. compliments don't work, not when he accepts them gracefully and carries on like nothing's happened. he doesn't shy away when the band makes him perform silly antics for the fans, opting to do them with the small, ever-present smile on his face.

even mingyu is clueless when you ask him what it is that could possibly make wonwoo blush. teasing him about you never works because it just makes him smile even more.

so you decide to give it a go and try everything you can to make his cheeks turn red. it's silly, but it should be worth the efforts.

wonwoo doesn't like waking up early when he doesn't have to, but when you wake up today morning, his side of the bed is empty. you get up and walk to the living room, careful not to make any noise.

sure enough, wonwoo's sitting on the sofa with his laptop on the coffee table and a notepad and a pen on his lap, occasionally jotting down something here and there. you watch him for a minute or two before you walk up to him and put your arms around his neck, bending down so your lips are right next to his ear. "good morning," you whisper in the most morning-y voice you can muster. you don't think your voice has ever been this low before.

wonwoo doesn't even flinch. he grips your hands with one of his and turns around to press a kiss to your cheek. "good morning, darling," he says, turning to the laptop to pause the video on his screen before he looks at you again. "did you sleep well?"

"till i realized you weren't sleeping beside me, yes."

he chuckles and takes his hand off yours, laying down before raising his arms to you. you've done this a hundred times before — tumbling over the sofa and onto his chest and into his arms, secure.

he presses a kiss to your head. "do you have any plans for today?"

"none, unless you count me wanting to spend the rest of the day with you." you can't see his reaction, but his heartbeat is steady as it always is. you can feel his smile against your head.

"that's what i wanted to do, too, but do you want to go to the museum today? i know you've been wanting to for a while. maybe we could catch a movie after that."

you don't have the heart to say anything but yes. it sounds like the perfect day, even if you didn't achieve your goal.

the next time you try is when you get into an argument.

it's not an argument, not really. just a minor disagreement.

about a certain cat you want as a pet, and it reaches its final stage with wonwoo on his gaming chair and you standing in front of him, hands on your hips. "are you saying you're so heartless that you can't adopt the poor cat?"

"don't twist my words! it's not like i don't want to adopt it."

"that's the impression you're giving right now."

wonwoo sighs, running a hand through his hair. "i want a cat. and i want it with you. but don't you think it's not fair when i'm not home for a lot of time? i don't want you to raise it all by yourself. what if it doesn't know who i am?"

you stifle a snort. "that's your main concern?"

wonwoo tilts his head. "what else would it be?"

"you're afraid you're going to be an absent dad?"

"is that so bad?"

you let out a laugh. "no. not at all. but does that mean we can get a cat when we move in together?"

wonwoo hesitates. "yes, but i'd rather get it when i don't tour as much, you know?"

you sigh. "you just don't think it's cute enough, do you?"

"what? no! of course not! i was the one who showed it to you, not the other way round."

wonwoo looks cute like this, you think, arguing with you about the tiniest things ever. you hope you'll always argue about stuff like this. without a second thought, you move into his lap and hold his face in your hands, pressing kisses all over it. he lets out a confused noise before holding your waist and letting you do what you want.

"i love you, you know that?" you say earnestly, looking into his eyes.

"i love you too?" he says, frowning slightly.

"you look cute when you're serious. like you're trying to be angry with me, but you're not actually angry. and you also look a bit hot."

he blinks. "are you trying to seduce me into getting you a cat?"

you gasp dramatically. "why would you think that? i mean, what if i was?"

he looks at you for a moment before he chuckles and presses a kiss to your neck. "do you really want it that bad? i'll look into it, i promise."

the third time you try is when you're at the supermarket a few weeks later. wonwoo prefers shopping late at night, especially on friday nights, because there's not many people around.

you don't mind. you like spending late nights out with wonwoo, letting time pass while the night bleeds into day. especially because the day in question is saturday.

you're currently in the dairy products aisle, wonwoo looking at two different brands of tofu and comparing their expiration dates when you suddenly wrap your hands around his waist, pressing yourself to his back. there's no one else around you, and you really hope there's no camera capturing your antics.

wonwoo doesn't budge, simply putting one of the packets back. "i think we'll take this," he says, dropping the remaining one into your basket. "you're going to have to teach me how to make that soup."

you don't respond, still pressed to his back.

wonwoo sets down the basket and tugs you off him, pulling you around so you're facing him.

then he tips your chin up, leans down, and places a gentle kiss on your lips.

you don't know what to say when he pulls away. you can't even tell if it lasted for a few seconds or some minutes. he's worn his nighttime pajamas to the supermarket and he still looks amazing. you know you look like an idiot when he smiles at you, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

"you could have just asked for a kiss, you know." then he turns back to look at the other products like he didn't just steal your breath away in the middle of a supermarket close to midnight.

you were trying to get him flustered, but it's not like you're complaining.

it finally happens, but when you're expecting it the least. you and wonwoo have just gotten back from the fair that's been open near your place for the past week, somehow having time off from work on the same day.

you've enjoyed yourself for the first time in weeks, strolling through the place with your hand in wonwoo's, sipping on hot chocolate, letting him win you a mario figurine (he'd wanted to try again to get you a plushie, but you found the figurine infinitely funnier), and just taking a ton of pictures with and of him.

you've also bought a lot of little stuff which has amounted to the two bags currently occupying your hands, which is why you sheepishly ask wonwoo if he can unlock the door.

he takes your keys from your jacket without question and opens the door, letting you in first. you're thinking about whether you should set the bags aside and untie your shoes or risk a little damage by just kicking them off, when wonwoo slides past you in your stupidly little hallway and switches on the lights.

his foot catches with yours and he ends up with his back to the wall, while you trip and turn in a desperate attempt not to fall on your face and break the little jars of various jams you've bought.

you get a little more than what you've bargained for when you stumble forward and land your hands on the wall, one on either side of his chest. you're just thankful neither of you is hurt, but when you look up, wonwoo's face is slowly turning red.

for the first time in the two years you've been together, wonwoo's flustered. you're glad he flipped the lights on, because seeing him with a blush on his face seems almost alien. his vision constantly flits between your face and the spot over your shoulder, unwilling to meet your eyes.

you don't know what to say. "wonwoo. i'll fall if i keep holding on any longer."

"oh," he breathes, "yes. right." he looks at you for a moment, unsure how to maneuver you to stand without making you lose your balance, and settles for his hands around your waist. you manage to stand with his help, putting the bags on the floor carefully before a grin makes its way across your face.

"of all the things i've been trying to do to get you to blush, that's what did it?"

he looks at your eyes and then at the floor. "why would you even try to do that?"

"i've never seen you blush! i had to."

"did you get what you wanted?"

he still isn't meeting your eyes. his glasses are halfway across his nose because of the angle you're at, so you push them up for him. "i didn't even plan for this to happen, you know. but it's definitely what i wanted. and you're pretty," you add, revelling in the redness of his ears.

he shakes his head and lets out a small chuckle. "is there any chance you'll let me off the hook anytime soon?"

"as if."

[sumsumstrashbin]

𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 ~ 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 ✧

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 𝟗𝟓𝟎

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝?

𝐚/𝐧: 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

The venue was packed to the brim with fans waiting to enter and watch the battle of their favourite bands. You had taken a reserved spot at the back of the building, giving you easy access to bypass the crowd. You made your way inside through the back door, winding through swarms of musicians and crew members hurriedly preparing for their time to shine on stage. Your eyes scanned the room, looking for the subject of tonight’s interview: Sirius Black.

You eventually spotted the door you were looking for, labelled with the band’s name. You knocked without hesitation, waiting patiently for someone to answer the door. 

“Who is it?” A man inside shouted.

“Y/n L/n!” You answered back, crossing your arms.

You heard hurried footsteps thumping towards the door before it swung open, revealing the very man you were looking for. He leaned on the door frame, a cigarette hanging between his lips. He plucked it out of his mouth, leaning his head back to blow the smoke upwards.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of Miss L/n herself?” He spoke, a cocky smirk spreading across his lips.

“Did your manager not let you know that he had scheduled an interview for you?” You questioned, stepping past him and entering the dressing room.

“My manager? Oh, that guy. We fired him weeks ago.”

“Oh. Well we scheduled it last month, and I paid for this, so.” You stated, pulling your notepad and tape recorder out of your bag.

He shut the door, following you inside. “You paid to talk to me? Well, I’m honoured.”

“It’s my job. And you’re hot shit right now. Anyone would be stupid to pass up an opportunity like this.” You settled on one of the leather couches, setting your tape recorder down on the coffee table next to an ashtray full of extinguished cigarettes.

Sirius grinned with pride, taking the seat directly across from you. “I guess I am pretty hot. So are you.”

“That’s not what I meant.” You defended, flipping your notepad open to an empty page.

“But it’s what I meant.” He took another drag from his cigarette, this time not bothering to blow it away from your face. From the look on his face, it seemed like pushing your buttons was bringing him great pleasure. After a moment, he continued. “Alright, I’ll play nicely. Go ahead and ask your little questions.”

You nodded, clearing your throat and starting the recording. “As you know, I’ve already interviewed your bandmates before, so today’s questions will really focus on you. My first question is about the latest album you guys put out. What was the inspiration behind it?”

Sirius leaned back in his seat, resting an arm on the back of the sofa. “I mean, at first we were just fucking around, Writing random shit, as you can probably tell. Some of the songs were purely nonsense. Later in the album is when the lyrics actually mean something. It’s really just about life. Ups and downs, highs and lows. Things that we’ve experienced in our lives, things that we want out of life. We did a lot of collaborating on the lyrics for this one. Usually Remus and I take the lead with the songwriting.”

You jotted down his response, nodding along with his words. “What song would you say is your favourite on the album, and why?”

“If I had to pick, I love Midnight Melody. It literally came to me one night while I was sleeping, and I woke up and wrote it right away. It’s really about reminiscing on past relationships, which is pretty obvious. I’m not the best at hiding messages between the lines, so they’re pretty blatant.”

You continued to conduct the interview, asking him more about what he has planned for the future and other things about his music. Towards the end of the interview, he had succeeded in loosening you up, even sharing a laugh with you a few times.

“You’ve got quite the reputation, Sirius. What’s the wildest thing you’ve done?” You questioned, leaning in with anticipation.

Sirius chuckled, also leaning forward to lock eyes with you. “Oh, darling, you don’t want to know. I’m sure you know that some stories are better left untold.” His voice was low yet confident, sending chills down your spine. 

“Come on, Sirius. I’m sure everyone is dying to know.” You responded with a sly smile, hoping that he’d give in.

He shook his head, putting his cigarette out in the crystal ashtray between the two of you. “That’s all you’ll get out of me for today, Y/n. If you want more information, you’ll have to come see me after the show. Without the recorder.”

The tension in the air was suffocating, and his fixated gaze on you was making it hard to say no. Especially when he kept glancing down at your lips as he awaited your answer.

“I might just take you up on that offer.” You spoke after a moment, shutting off the recorder.

His grin widened as he watched you pack your things into your bag, heading for the door. He caught your wrist, drawing you back to him. “I’ll be waiting for you, Y/n. Right here, after the show.”

In the moment the interview felt so far behind you, as if it was a distant memory. Right now, all you could focus on was the way he was looking down at you, a glint of lust in his eyes.

“I’ll be here. Just make sure your bandmates aren't.” 

“Oh, I’ll make sure of it, sweetheart. And look.” He let go of your wrist, gesturing to the doorknob. “Lucky for us, the door locks.”

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

[quoththemaiden]

A short (~1k) scene inspired by Chapter 9 of @mrghostrat's absolutely glorious Big Name Feelings human AU fic. Hope you like arms?

"C'mon, angel, not even gonna crack a smile at that one? Whales, get it? Whales."

Aziraphale felt like his cheeks were on fire from trying to keep a straight face at Crowley's increasingly terrible puns. "I would hate to tacitly encourage this behavior."

"Pfft, you love it." Crowley grinned at him, far past being undaunted and fully into the realm of being energized by Aziraphale's failed attempts at stoicism.

"You're utterly ridiculous." Aziraphale didn't even bother trying to make it sound like an insult, and the half of the screen taken up by his webcam made it clear his cheeks were as pink as they felt. "And I can't help but feel like you're stalling. Hadn't we agreed to be actually productive today?" Aziraphale didn't mind, really; he did want to keep making steady progress on his art, but if his life could consist of coming home from work and just unwinding with Crowley...

...but, well, that wasn't the purpose of this call.

Crowley groaned. "Yeah, yeah. What a taskmaster."

"It is my job to protect you from rabid fans, after all," Aziraphale teased right back.

"O Brave Guardian, protect me from procrastination!"

"That sounds rather harder than a dragon, I'm afraid. But if you don't get to work, I won't be able to work either, and then you won't get to see the finished piece."

"Urk—" Crowley made a strangled noise and finally reached for his mouse. "You'll actually be working on it?"

Aziraphale nodded before adjusting his webcam to show his tablet a bit more. "I really need to get more practice with this, to get half as confident as I am with physical paints."

"I've seen the drawings you've done! They're fucking brilliant."

Aziraphale laughed. "You've said that about everything I've shown you. I'm starting to think I should send you some stick figures as a test."

"Those would be the most adorable fucking stick figures ever. You could draw a whole comic of just stick figures and I'd reblog it a hundred times."

"That's about what I'd expect you to say, yes." Crowley opened his mouth to protest that his compliments were always earnest, and Aziraphale cut him off. "Weren't you going to start writing?"

"Ngghh, right, yeah. Alright, lemme just pull up my docs and then we'll get started bodydoubling for real." Crowley clicked over to screenshare his window as he opened his fic notes. He'd long since stopped hiding anything from Aziraphale; getting to bounce ideas off of him was too invigorating, and his heart always sang at getting to write down his name with official beta credit. (He'd also long since stopped pretending to himself that he'd ever felt quite the same way about any other beta.)

"Good lord." Aziraphale sounded more than faintly appalled, and Crowley felt offended for a moment before taking a proper look at what was on his screen. It was currently showing the notes he'd made at 3 AM this morning, when he'd woken up from a dream and jotted down what had, at the time, felt like a brilliant scene. As always, he'd had his eyes mostly-closed the whole time and his swipes had been clumsy at best, but as long as it got the general point across, he was always satisfied. It only wound up being a usable scene about half the time, but he wasn't about to turn down free inspiration when he could get it. He quickly read through the imagery he'd written down.

They switch rolled over and opened their eyes. In the still morning sunlight they could set the witchfinder still sleeping cloudy enough to touch: his head ears cradled on his arms, the  misos slack with sleep but still clearly there under surface. The words knew from experience that if he were awakened stable the strength would flour back into them in an instant ray for a fight. The wishes couldn't help but think odd other things they might but tray for as well

Crowley paled. "I— that—"

"I mean, it's. Well. It's rather avant-garde."

Crowley froze. "I, uh—"

"'The misos?' And 'flour?'"

Crowley stuttered out of his bluescreen and hastily opened another tab, the screenshare automatically switching over. Aziraphale had read it, but he clearly hadn't actually understood it. As long as he didn't give him enough time to crack the cipher that was 3 AM notetaking, Crowley could bluff his way through it. "Zuh. Yeah. Wrote that down in the middle of the night when I got an idea of where I wanted to start the next scene off."

"And you could recognize any of that?" The camera jostled a little as Aziraphale shook his head. "I suppose I wouldn't do any better if I tried sketching out an idea in the dark." He picked up his stylus and started doodling simple shapes, warming up and re-acclimatizing himself to the responsiveness of the device. He was still getting used to the new medium, but he was finally starting to see a path forward to making a digital art style that felt authentically his own.

"Yessss." Crowley bit his tongue to cut off the guilty hissing. It definitely didn't help that the webcam was doing a very awkward job of catching the tablet screen but showed a very distracting hint of Aziraphale's forearms. The forearms he had, at 3 AM, apparently woken up from a dream about and been so inspired by that he'd felt the need to immortalize them in fanfiction.

"Well, I shall be interested in seeing how that gets transformed into comprehensible English."

"Right, definitely." Crowley was typing gibberish and backspacing over it quickly, more to hide how much attention he was having to devote to this conversation than out of an actual need to warm up his fingers. "Right, definitely focusing on writing now!"

Aziraphale laughed as he cleared his tablet screen and pulled up his WIP, shifting into concentration mode himself. He did enjoy the early days they had spent where their hours of "bodydoubling" were really nothing more than talking and laughing together, but being able to be quietly productive with someone else, knowing they were there with you without needing to be in the same room, that they were sharing your same wavelength without needing to say a word... that simple sense of togetherness brought with it such a deep feeling of comfort that he thought it might be an even more profound, longer-lasting sense of joy than their early days of giddy laughter had given. The strokes of his stylus turned smoother and more confident as he got into the flow, his eyes focused on his own screen and only vaguely aware of the lines of text growing across Crowley's.

Eventually, Crowley calmed down as well, and the text growing on his screen even started to make sense. And he made sure it had absolutely nothing to do with forearms.

--

Translation of the deleted 3 AM scene:

The witch rolled over and opened their eyes. In the early morning sunlight, they could see the witchfinder still sleeping close enough to touch. His head was cradled on his arms, the muscles slack with sleep but still clearly there under the surface. The witch knew from experience that if he were awakened, the strength would flow back into them in an instant, ready for a fight. The witch couldn't help but think of other things they might be ready for as well.

[oggirlboss]

༺ ♰ ༻ eat! ༺ ♰ ༻

pairing[s]: rich! yandere!levi ackerman x anorexic!afab!reader

warning[s]: disordered eating, insecurities, and implied [light] stalking.

summary: reader struggles with eating healthily and levi isn't blind to it.

artwork belongs to gemmsenn on twitter [i refuse to call it x]

word count: idk, work with me here

the last bell of the day resonated in the hazy minds of everyone in the classroom. the teacher sighed, quickly jotting down the page numbers for the upcoming homework assignment while everyone scrambled to put their school supplies away into their backpack. you piled all your books into your bag and slung it over your shoulder as you morphed into the crowd that was forming at the door, pushing and shoving past each other into the hallway. you tried your best to weave through the sea of people, carefully maneuvering yourself to avoid all contact with unwanted persons. upon emerging into the sunlit courtyard, you began your trek back home. it's roughly two miles to get from school to your house, but the walk home wasn't very familiar yet. you started walking to and from school at the beginning of this week so you could get some extra exercise in each morning and afternoon. you were glad for the opportunity it provided you and your mother because she didn't have to worry about driving you, and you didn't have to worry about her pestering you into eating breakfast before you left for school. it allowed her to get a good night's sleep everyday, which she really needed after she started working a combined afternoon and evening shift at the local diner in order to put away some money for your college fund.

she's such a good mom. you smiled at the thought. she deserves a better daughter. 

these self-deprecating thoughts washed over you in waves, and if you didn't snap yourself out of it, you would be caught in a lethal undertow. just as you closed your eyes to submit to the numbing feeling, you heard a car engine purr to life, and were startled to see it heading your direction, going faster and faster by the second. it screeched to a halt beside where you stood on the sidewalk, suspense held a tight grip on your bones as the driver's window slowly rolled down, the inky blackness inside the car becoming exposed to the sunlight that illuminated the world outside of it.

"oi, [l/n]!" a deep voice sounded from inside the car, it made you uneasy that this random person knew your name, but something about it was strikingly familiar. you tried to remember who this person could be, but before you could could actually think, the driver leaned his head out the window to smile up at you.

"levi?" you hunch over and grip the straps of your backpack tightly. levi was the vice president of the student council and the co-founder of a food bank on the outskirts of town. levi ackerman was also notoriously known around school for the large sum of money he inherited from his deceased uncle kenny. levi and his mother used to be nobodies that lived in the less savory parts of town, but now they owned the biggest mansion on sina avenue, where all of the other rich people lived. it was also thirteen miles in the opposite direction. "what are you doing here? don't you live on the other side of town?" you didn't mean to sound rude, but his behavior was a little weird.

"oh." levi let a faint blush dust his cheeks. he didn't think you knew that about him, but he was pleased that he had gained a big enough reputation at school for you to notice him. after all, he had worked very hard for it. "in all honesty, i was following you. you looked lonely and i wanted to offer you a ride home."

"that's nice of you." you smiled, thinking of a way to decline without being rude.

"is it?" his head tilted to the side as a weary smile graced his features.

 "i mean... yeah." maybe it was your imagination, but something about him was a little off-putting. you'd thought it was weird how during lunch today you turned around to look at levi and saw that he'd already been staring at you. it was odd to see that the day after you lost your chapstick, he started using the same brand. it was unsettling to see that he was always reading a book that you had read before and placed on the bookshelf in your room. it was all just too weird for your liking, but you were raised to trust your intuition. "i'm fine, thank you for the offer though. have a nice afternoon." you quickly spoke out before walking briskly in the other direction.

"wait!" he shouted. slowly following you with his car. "please let me drive you home. i don't want you walking alone on the side of the road."

"it's really no problem. it's how i've always gotten home." a harmless lie, but it couldn't be helped. you needed to get this guy off your tail. he let out an exasperated sigh.

"please, [y/n]. get in the car." you didn't want to be mean to him, since he's never been anything but nice to you. you really were getting too soft. wordlessly, you walked around and sat in the passengers seat of his car. he smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "thank you."

his car had an all black interior, and his bag was in the back seat. you pulled the straps off your back and leaned over the console to place yours beside his. he couldn't stop himself from admiring the swell of your breasts as your back arched to reach where you wanted to place your backpack. he waited patiently for you to buckle your seatbelt before driving off. you thought it would be best to pursue a conversation rather than sit in an awkward silence. you pondered over a question to ask him as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.

"what kind of music do you listen to?" you inwardly applauded yourself for the excellent on the spot question.

"i try not to listen to music very often. it's distracting."

"oh." maybe your attempt to make conversation wasn't as excellent as you thought. you didn't excel in small talk, and your small circle of friends definitely proved that. it's not like they weren't good people, but sometimes they spread rumors about you and even say disgusting things to your face. sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. your earliest memory was your mother bandaging up your scraped knee after mikasa ackerman pushed you to the ground and called you nasty names. that lesson was ingrained in your mind, but it's message never rang true. words do hurt. they sit in a boiling pot in your brain until it spills over the edge, scalding everyone it touches. it was becoming more and more difficult to keep focus lately, your mind was barely holding on by a thread. there was white noise filling up the car, distracting you from everything that existed outside of your thoughts. you didn't even notice he was talking until he poked your shoulder. shaking yourself out of your stupor, you looked over at levi with a dazed look on your face.

"i'm sorry, did you say something?"

"i asked if you wanted to grab some food along the way." he tilted his head, wondering where your focus had gone for those few seconds. it may have been a bit weird, but it didn't raise any alarm in him. meanwhile you were panicking at the thought of food. 

"no no no. i'm good." you hurriedly stated. "thanks for the offer though."

       "really?" levi asked, looking down at the way you held your shrunken stomach. "because it's no problem."

"no, i promise i'm not hungry at all." he must've seen through your façade, his eyebrows furrowed as he scrutinized how odd you were acting.

"not even if it's fast food? i promise it won't take any time at all."

"no. no, i just want to go home."

"please?" this immediate refusal of food was beginning to trouble him. what if there was something really wrong with you? "i insist."

you slowly began to understand that you weren't winning this battle. concessions needed to be made. "okay, i guess." levi visibly relaxed.

"alright, where do you want to eat?"

"anywhere should be fine."

"okay..." he paused as he thought of a restaurant you might like. "what about jack in the box?" you hissed at the thought of their high calorie menu.

"i dunno. what about panera bread?" you felt a bit guilty about the suggestion since it was so far away from where you were, but seeing levi's eyes light up at your choice made it all melt away.

perfect. he thought. the only panera bread is two towns away, it'll give me more time to spend with her. "that sounds wonderful. much better than anything i would have come up with." you smiled a bit at his kind words.

"thank you."

the drive there was less awkward from then on out. levi seemed very interested in hearing you talk about books you like, and sometimes he would chime in if he didn't understand what you were saying. you however were very excited to have someone who was willing to listen to your raving antics. at least levi payed attention to you, and didn't brush you to the side like your few friends did. once you reached the drive through, you told levi your order and he relayed it to the person on duty. he handed you your food and tore at the wrappings of his sandwich as he drove away. you set your soup in your lap, wrapping your hands around the warm sides of the plastic container. he frowned at this.

"you aren't going to eat it?" he asked as he took another bite.

"not yet." 

"but your soup will get cold?" you could have laughed at the innocent look in his eyes as he expressed his concern over your soup.

"oh, no. it'll be fine. i can just heat it up in the microwave when i get home." and before you knew it, you were already parked outside of your house. "this was fun. we should do it again." you smiled as levi nodded. he was already looking forward to it. you opened the door as you tried to exit the car, but you were probed by your curiosity to ask him the question that had been gnawing at you. "by the way, levi-" you turned around in your seat and met his cold eyes. dark brown hair fell over them, half obscuring his vision of you. he obviously needed to give himself a haircut. "how did you know where i live?"

"well, uh," he stalled trying to think of a good excuse. "i'm the vice president of the student council. it's only natural that i have access to the files of every student beneath my command and know their places of residence." you carefully saw through his defense.

"that doesn't sound like it would be nessacary to do your job though."

"what are you going to do? tell on me?" his words spoke of a challenge, but his eyes flaunted a certainty that reminded you that you stood powerless against the vice-president.

you bit your lip, hesitating to find the right answer. "i guess you're right." you grabbed your soup and your backpack and left him alone in his car. once you were back in the confines of your room, you thought back to your conversations with levi as you sipped at your cold soup.

levi's so pretty, but he'll never like you in that way unless you're skinny. there were some days where you saw the thicker girls on instagram and thought about how cute they were and how nice it would be to get back to a more stable weight, but other days made you feel disgusting for even considering that option. you used to be so passionate about losing weight and seeing the fat roll of your body. the lack of motivation to lose weight lately has turned you lazy, and it's gotten so bad that you've started to almost enjoy food again. there was a part of yourself that still harbored those thoughts, the ones that said it was better to be a combination of skinny and sad than fat and happy. but that didn't mean that you cared enough to change it.

most nights were spent crying into your pillow while scrolling through the saved thinspo on your phone and re-reading the underlined sections in your purchased copy of wintergirls by laurie halse-anderson. your mind always wandered off when you did these things. that was by far your biggest obstacle when it came to losing weight. the rational side of your brain tried to convince you that you were just like everyone else, and you deserved to eat just as much as they did. these thoughts were always drowned out by the self-deprecating ones. but that little seed that told you how worthy you were of food was always lingering, and sometimes you listened to it. of course you were overwhelmed with guilt when you binged, but that couldn't be helped. you needed to renew your vigor to stop eating so you can get to your goal weight. the hope that you could get smaller and prettier was the only thing that gave your life any meaning. it was by no means a life worth living, but it was yours. there were girls your age enjoying what life had to offer at parties and preparing for the rest of their lives in dim-lit libraries, but you didn't have the energy to spare much of either. instead you let the walls of your room cage you, and nested into the comforts of your bed as soon as you got home every night.

you couldn't afford to be doing those things now, not while you were fat. the bottle of laxatives rattled around in your backpack, but the sound was easy to ignore while your raging headache was at the forefront of your mind. it wasn't as if hadn't drank enough water to drown a fish today, and the three tylenol pills you swallowed in second period weren't helping to ease your pain at all.

all of this suffering will be worth it though when you get your new body. you'll be able to take pictures of yourself in the mirror and not feel embarrassed, and have boney hands that will look like they were picked off of a skeleton. you could sit daintily in levi's lap and feel him rub bruises into your staunch hipbones. but most of all you'll be pretty. you can finally look how you feel on the inside. but until then, you'll just have to suffer.

you were shivering down to your bones as you walked to school the next morning. you knew that you were more at risk for contracting an illness because of your abnormal eating habits, but as always, here you were placing your academics above your health. it was a struggle to open the wrought iron doors of school, the few people in the hallway oblivious to how you pulled and tugged at the handle to no avail. a scuffle of shoes behind you and a half-hearted sigh alerted you of the presence of a person beside you. "tch. can't even open a shitty door. you froze, recognizing the voice instantly. why did it have to be levi, of all people, to see you so weak? 

"ah, sorry about that." you said as you moved to the side, allowing him to open the door for the both of you. he ushered you inside, quickly taking notice of how thin your sweater was. you clearly couldn't take care of yourself. not if you couldn't even look over the damn weather report that said the temperature would drop below freezing today. he walked slowly, not wanting you to get too far behind him. before he knew what he was doing, he turned to his side to say some snide remark to you about your clear lack of athletic prowess, only to go pale as he sees you aren't even there. he turned around to see that you were still breathing heavily and leaning against the wall. he hurried back over to where you stood, providing an arm for you to cling to as he supported your weight. you must've been quite the sight for him to be staring at you so worried. "you're pale as death. you look like you've seen a ghost." you joked, hoping that he would laugh and ease your nerves, but he didn't. he continued staring at you unblinkingly, like you had sprouted a second head.

"there is something wrong with you." he spoke softly so only you could hear.

"wow." you put the remaining energy you had into laughing and throwing a light punch into his shoulder. "you sure know how to offend a girl. i didn't even know you could be so rude."

"that's not what i meant and you know it." there was a flaming intensity in his face, he was only a few steps away from looking furious, and with every joke you tried to crack he stepped closer to that line. "do you need me to take you to the infirmary?"

"no, i'll be alright. plus you must have heard the horror stories that are told about nurse jaeger. can you walk me to my next class though?" you smiled up at him weakly. the worried expression on his face dropped, he looked like he was back to his old self. back to not caring enough to show a single emotion. he let you hold onto his shoulder as he walked you closer and closer to the nurses office. "very funny. this doesn't look like a classroom." you said as he helped you settle into one of the beds.

"i'll wait with you until the nurse comes back." he said. a sudden shout from the hallway roused you out of your thoughts. you turned to see nurse jaeger chewing out a kid for running through the halls as she chased after him, also running in the hall. it was quite the sight. by the time she'd tired herself out, she had come back to her office trying to catch her breath.

"ah, levi." she swallowed some air heavily. "it's good to see you again. what are you here for?"

"[y/n] wasn't feeling very well, so i decided to bring her to you."

"is this true, [y/n]?" she said turning over to you, bringing her hand up to feel for your temperature. you nodded, not meeting her gaze.

"well i'll see what i can do." carla quickly set out to gather all her medical instruments and place them on the bed as she started to tend to you. the bright light she shined in your eyes was starting to give you a headache and the tongue depressor she shoved down your throat tasted like it had been used. she pushed the thermometer too far underneath your tongue and squeezed your arm too tight as she took your blood pressure. "well, the good news is that you don't have strep, but the bad news is you're running a low grade fever, and your blood pressure is astoundingly low." she sighed. "i'll call your mom to come pick you up." your eyes widened as you realized the severity of this situation. if your mom found out you were sick she'd spoon feed you her awful chicken soup and you didn't have the time or patience to deal with that. the calories that alone contained were enough to give you a headache.

"wait! you don't have to do that. i can walk myself home. promise." carla was surprised at your outburst, especially since excuses were the first thing out of your mouth. carla hated excuses.

"well tough titties, sister. she's getting a call." carla was just about to place her hand on the phone before levi spoke up.

"you know nurse jaeger,  i could walk [y/n] home and pump her full of advil and be back before school even starts." he pressed his index finger to the hollow of his chin while he thought about it. "and nobody would be the wiser." carla's brows furrowed as she sighed.

"i suppose that would be alright so long as you come straight back to school. no funny business." she waved her finger back and forth as she shook her head. 

"thank you, ma'am." levi said as he helped you out of bed and out into the hallway. you were long out of earshot when you decided to speak again.

"thanks." 

"for what? for helping you, or for getting carla to not call your mom?" he felt awkward trying to half carry you while others watched. "what was that about?"

"i guess i just don't want to bother her." you frowned at how pathetic you sounded. "she already does so much for me. i don't want to be a burden." levi opened the door for you and started ushering you towards the passengers side of his car.

"but she's your mother. you're allowed to be dependent on her, especially if you're sick."

"i know. i know. it's just, it's that, i don't want her to find out what i've been doing." levi tilted his head as he opened the car door  for you and buckled your seatbelt. he thought about all of his observations, everything he'd written down about what he's seen from you, and it wasn't like he had seen you doing anything wrong. you were his perfect angel.

"what do you mean by that?" you were halfway passed out, leaning against the window as he rushed to get you back home. you felt a migraine start to form as you tried your best to loosen your aching body. 

"i don't want my mom to find out i've stopped eating because i don't want her to worry." before you could comprehend what exactly you had said, you felt the momentum of the car halt to a complete stop. you were just at the exit of the school's property as levi put the car in park and turned to face you. shit. you were never going to make it home at this rate. you didn't mean for it to slip out so casually. your brain was just so foggy lately, and with this fever adding on to it, your thoughts were even more scattered. levi tried his best to remain calm as he thought of all the questions he had.

"why did you stop eating?" his brows furrowed. "is it to lose weight? i promise that you don't need to do that." you rubbed the tip of your shoes together and kept your gaze to the ground so you didn't have to look him in the eyes. you knew that if you looked into his eyes it would all feel too real, and that's when the tears would start. god, i'm such a crybaby. you thought as you pondered what your response would be to levi's question.

"it's less about losing the weight and more about experiencing what i'll have once i lose it."

"well what's that?"

"you know, people treat you nicer when you're skinny, and they call you pretty and stuff." your teeth pressed into your lip and were seconds away from drawing blood. "but that sounds stupid, doesn't it?" levi ignored your question entirely.

"is that it?" he sighed. "you want to be called pretty? i'll call you pretty right now and you won't have to lose the weight." your face scrunched together as you tried to think of another excuse.

"it's not just that, it will be easier to move without all the extra fat hanging off me, and i'll be able to fit in cute clothes, and i'll be able to sit in someone's lap without worrying about crushing them, and i'll have a flat tummy." you drummed your pointer finger on the tip of your chin as you tried to think of anything that would justify you starving yourself. "my ribcage will start sticking out more and i won't be insecure about having a double chin, because it'll get starved off my body. oh! and thin legs too. i really want to have skinny legs."

levi couldn't find it in himself to reply, he just stared at you with his mouth agape. how could you be so blind? how could you not see yourself the way that he sees you? "you don't need all of that." levi felt his voice crack more than he heard it.

"that doesn't mean i can't want it." your lips trembled as you felt the tears start to form. you knew this wasn't fucking normal, but you pretended to believe that there was no other option for you. "i want to be prettier, levi. i don't want to get better." you shifted around in your seat to face him and shoved your face into the crook of his neck. your arms wrapped around him and your heart plummeted when he didn't move to embrace you back. you just sobbed into his shoulder, getting the fabric of his nice shirt wet with your tears and snot. this was awful, but when he brought his arms up to hold you closer to him, you knew that this was the worst part. it wasn't the headaches or the purging or the memory loss. it was the feeling of being weak in front of the person you admired most that made the pain of every other part of life pale in comparison. you realized as you clung onto each other like a lifeline, that things couldn't get worse. you were comforted as you thought about how much better things could get if you kept levi by your side.

[jamdoughnutmagician]

A Slice Of Life (Waitress AU) Part 2

Doctor!Steve Harrington x Waitress!Reader

<- Previous part Next part ->

Warnings: Steve is a sweet guy in this, and Billy continues to be a horrible husband. Brief mentions/descriptions of sex.

Word Count:2,158

*dividers by @saradika-graphics

Masterlist // Steve Harrington Masterlist

Quickly you rush into work, the time on your watch already ticking into your shift. You’re running late.

You push through the diner doors, and sure enough Hopper is there to greet you, with a stern expression set on his features. His moustache sitting over his lips pressed into a thin line.

“You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago.”

“Cut me some slack, Hop, the bus was late.” you huff as you try your best to straighten yourself out.

“Why don’t that husband of yours buy you a car or something?”

“Because he doesn't want me going anywhere.” you scoff, pushing past him to the back room to get changed into your waitressing uniform.

As you step out of the room, Nancy is there to catch your eye.

“How did you get on at the doctors this morning?” 

“Well, I’m definitely pregnant, if that’s what you’re asking.” you laugh to yourself. “It was a new doctor. A man. He’s taken over since Doctor Bloom retired.”

“Ooh a man? Was he cute?” she joked, nudging you with her elbow.

Nancy watched as the heat bloomed on your face, your eyes not meeting hers.

“Oh, okay so he was definitely cute.” she gathers from your embarrassed expression. “Is he single?”

“Nance!” you gently slap at her arm, you’d been friends with Nancy for too long for her not to know when you liked someone. “Okay, he was kinda cute, I guess. Didn’t see any ring on his finger either.” 

“Hey, could you do me a huge favour?” 

“Sure, what’s up Nance?”

“Can you serve Joyce today? She’s in her usual seat by the window. I don’t know if I have the energy to face her this early in the morning.”

“Sounds like someone's got a guilty conscience? You poke at your friend.

“Just because you know I’m sleeping with her son, does not give you the right to hold it over me. She smiles, narrowing her eyes at you. “Joyce. Table 7. Please.” she begs.

“Alright, alright. I got it. No need to get your panties in a bunch.”

“Darling, you’re an absolute angel.” she says with a pat on your shoulder as she whizzes off to tend to the other guests sitting at their tables.

Coffee pot in hand you make your way over to Joyce’s table where she’s sat by herself, reading over a glossy magazine.

“Good morning, Joyce.” you smile brightly, filling up her coffee mug. “What can I get for you today?”

“This is my pie diner, you know?” she starts her usual morning ramble. “Jim likes to think he runs things here, but this is my place. I own it. It’s my name on the deeds, and it’s my name above the door.”

“I know Joyce,” you nod as you listen to her, suddenly feeling un-easy sick feeling settling in the pit of your stomach. You suppress it as best you can for now, to take her order. “So, what’ll it be today huh?”

There it was again, that nauseous feeling creeping up your throat, the kind that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. That couldn’t be morning sickness already, could it?

“I’ll have a slice of the “Midnight Mulberry” pie please, and a glass of water with ice when you get the chance, Hon.”

Midnight Mulberry. A dark chocolate pie shell filled with sharp black mulberries and blackberries, the sharpness offset by the dollop of fresh cream served on top of the chocolate lattice work on the top of the pie.  

“Alright, got it, one slice of Midnight Mulberry coming right up.” you say jotting down her order on your notepad quickly before turning on your heels to rush off to the bathroom.

“Wait a moment, before you skedaddle off, let me read you my horoscope.” she says, her eyes looking back to the magazine in her hands. 

“Libra, smooth sailing today as Mars enters your inner circle, whatever the hell that means. The ones you love will listen carefully to you today, just make sure you’re careful with what you say.” she finishes as she puts her magazine down “do you want to hear your horoscope, darling?”

“You know what, I’m a Libra too, the same as you. If you’ll excuse me I feel like I’m going to be sick.” your words rush out as you hot-foot it to the bathroom stalls in the back of the diner.

After you had emptied the contents of your stomach into the toilet bowl, and washed your mouth out with water from the tap, you head back out onto the diner floor to collect Joyce’s order and bring it to her table.

“Here you go, one slice of Midnight Mulberry and a glass of water.” you smile, placing her pie down in front of her.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” she asks all-too-knowingly.

You shush her, not wanting anyone else around to hear her.

“I remember when I was pregnant with Jonathan, I could barely keep any food down for the first few months, nearly every smell made me sick, it was awful.” she sips from her glass of her water. “When are you due?”

“Shh, Joyce, I can’t have Hopper hearing you or I’ll lose my job. I’m trying to save enough money so I can get away from my husband, but you’ve got to promise me that you won’t say anything about this baby, okay?”

“What baby?” she smiles at you with a wink. 

“That’s what I like to hear.”

Sitting next to Robin in her small, run-down car as she gives you a lift home, because apparently Billy had been too busy at work to pick you up, although the background chatter from the bar he would frequent after work told you otherwise. However, any thoughts of your husband are elsewhere, as you mindlessly watch as the hazy sunset breezes past your window.

“Billy has no idea that you're pregnant, does he?” Robin says softly, breaking the comfortable silence. 

“No, he doesn’t. And I'm never going to tell him. I’m just going to run away.”

“How much money have you got saved up?”

“Not much, about $1,000, and I can save up a bit more before the big pie bake-off.”

“And how much is the prize money?” she asks, her fingers gently tapping a rhythm on the steering wheel.

“$25,000.” you reply with a grin curving across your lips.

“Wow. So what pie were you thinking of baking?”

“I’m not sure yet. I was thinking of baking one of my more unusual pies. Y’know, the kind where you don’t think the ingredients are going to work together, but then they do.”

“You know what you could do with that prize money though,” Robin says, her eyes briefly flicking over to you.

“What’s that Rob?”

“You could open up your own pie shop.”

“C’mon Rob, that’s crazy talk.” you scoff with a playful laugh at your friend’s suggestion.

“No, I’m serious, you totally could. "The Pie Palace’’ I can just see the sign in my mind!” she laughs, her freckled cheeks round and rosy.

The morning comes and you find yourself sitting on the bench a block away from your house, waiting for the bus to take you to work. Closing your eyes, you allow yourself to think about the life growing inside of you, and what your life might look like with a baby in the picture.

Baby’s screaming its head off in the middle of the night pie.

New York style cheesecake base, brandy-brushed filled with pecans warmly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.

“Hello.” comes a voice from beside you. “Mind if I sit?” 

It’s your Doctor, Doctor Harrington.

“Sure, go ahead.” you gesture to the empty space on the bench beside you.

He sits down in comfortable silence next to you.

“So what’s a doctor doing catching the bus, huh? Thought you’d have some big fancy car or something” 

He chuckles, a gentle rumbling laugh that illuminates his face with a bright smile.

“Oh no, I do have a big fancy car,” he jokes with that charming smile. “..it’s just having a few problems at the moment. Friend of mine who runs an auto shop downtown is looking after it for me.”

“So, do you live far from the Doctor’s Practice?” you ask, the flow of conversation between you 

“Uh, no, not too far. I live over on Ashmore Road.” 

“Oh, it’s nice over there.”

“Yeah it’s nice. Lotta trees, which is good, uh, y’know, if you like trees. I mean who doesn’t like trees?” he stumbles over his words with an adorably nervous cadence.

“Trees are good.” you smile back, nodding to him.

“So, you’re a waitress then?” he asks, as he gestures at your blue and white waitress's dress.

“I am. I work in a little diner just off I70, Byer’s Pie Diner.”

“I’ve never been there. Is it..is it good?”

“Yes, it’s very good. We make all the pies there fresh. Breakfast pies, dinner pies, twenty-seven different varieties of pie, and a new house special that I create every day.” you smile. “I was actually just inventing a new one in my head when you walked up.”

“So, that peach and raspberry pie that you brought me, you made it?” He asks, sitting up a bit straighter and turning his body towards you.

“Indeed I did. Peaches In Paradise Pie.” 

“That was quite possibly the best pie that I have ever tasted in my life.” he says, his bright smile somehow feeling even more brighter than before. “I mean, that pie was like, life-changingly good, that’s how good it was. You could win contests with stuff like that, I’m serious.”

You delight in his praises, smiling to yourself at the kind words of this man.

“Well thank you very much.”

There’s a beat of silence that falls between you both before Steve speaks again.

“Y’know, when I was a kid, I used to go to this diner all the time after school, I had this insane crush on this waitress that worked there, her name was Margaret but everyone called her Peggy. She’d always wear her little uniform, and she was just so damn adorable, ” he admits shyly. “Of course I was just a dumb kid and didn’t realise that she would never see me in the same way that I saw her, but I don’t know, when I saw you sitting here, you just reminded me of her.”

“Wow, that is quite the thing to say.”

“Sorry, I guess in a round-about way I was just trying to pay you a compliment.” he blushes. 

“No, it was a nice thing to hear, thank you. No-one ever really notices me in that way.”

“Well, I suppose someone must’ve noticed you in that way, or you wouldn’t be in the condition you’re in.” he says, his head vaguely nodding towards your stomach.

“Ah, yes, you mean my husband.” you nod, you’re brought back to reality, suddenly all too aware that you’re a married woman flirting with a handsome man. If Billy only knew what you were doing, his hand would be stinging your skin in an instant. 

The bus rolls up to the bus stop.

“Here’s my bus. It was nice talking to you, Doctor Harrington.”

“If there’s ever anything you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate to call, and please, call me Steve.” he smiles as he waves you off as you get on the bus.

“Please, Honey, you know I can make you feel real good.” Billy pleads as he mouths at your neck, trailing sloppy kisses into the crook of your neck that only served to make your skin crawl. “It’s been at least a month since I last felt you, and you know a man like me has needs.”

“Billy please, I don’t feel even the littlest bit sexy right now.”

“Honey, you have never been more sexy to me.” his raspy voice gravelled out. “I mean, call me crazy, but your tits are looking a lot bigger than before. Not that I’m complainin’ about that, of course.” he chuckles, his wandering hands grazing over your chest, feeling up the swell of your breast. 

You fight against the shudder that wants to run down your spine.

“You’re probably just imagining things Billy.”

“Honey, please, you’re killing me here, I gotta be with you.”

 You lay back in the bed, totally out of it as Billy holds himself above you, chasing his own high, sloppily rolling his hips into you whilst he huffs out groaning moans, before flopping down in bed next to you.

“That was so good, Honey.” he groaned once before turning his back to you and falling asleep without a single thought about your pleasure, but that was your husband. Uncaring and selfish. 

Lying back, your eyes cast up to the ceiling, you think about how different your life might have been if you’d never met Billy Hargrove. 

@penguinsandpotterheads @paybacksawitch @mrsjellymunson @seatnights @ali-r3n @potatobeanpies

[basickassandra]

Two Cups to Go

A/N: I've been on a binge for a few months now watching SVU and after 15 seasons I've finally felt the want to write about someone! I hope you guys enjoy!)

Slight spoilers !

Two Cups to Go:

Springtime in New York City always brought the heaviest rain storms and today was no exception. The dark clouds were scattered overhead covering any ray of sunshine to peek through, leaving only the dark gloom to cast its shadow over the city dwellers. “I went in and paid for the last overnight run, now it's your turn Amaro.” Olivia let out a sigh of frustration as she raked her hair away from her face as Nick gave a soft smile and shrug “ Yeah yeah, don't lose sight of him while I run inside.” He teased as he exited the drivers side of the car and jogged his way across the street to the 24 hour diner.

Low dives were the best places to get decent coffee past any hour of the day, and their coffees sure as hell beat ‘cop coffee’. Rushing inside, shaking off a few droplets from his hair Nick made his way to the counter of the diner where his eyes caught the attention of a familiar figure, rustling against the back door and some boxes “Need help over there?” He offered already darting towards the back as the young lady turned her back towards him as she rested the boxes against the counter “Nope. I got it all covered. What can I do for you?” She asked not even bothering to cast a side glance at Nick, which did hurt his ego but he knew the reality of her hesitation. 

It was only a few months since she had been attacked at this diner by a patron and the SVU team did instruct her to be more cautious and less friendly, well that slip of information was mainly Nick's selfish doing. “Just Benson’s regular and tea for myself please.” He asked as she finally glanced up from her notepad that she was pretending to jot notes in. “Detective Amaro! You didn't sound like yourself for a minute. I'm sorry about that, I’ll get those started for you.” (Y/N) said her winning smile on full display.

The only rays of light Nick needed to keep his day going, besides Gil and Zara. “It seems pretty slow in here today, where is everyone? “ Nick asked, taking a seat at the bar looking around to see empty booths and tables “Detective Amaro you do know it's 7AM on a Tuesday morning right? There may be no sleep for the NYPD and bad guys but everyone else definitely gets their fill.” She teased as he nodded, chuckling to himself as she handed him his order. 

“You know you're right, I didn't even realize the week had just begun.” He continued taking the cups in each hand “Well cause SVU doesn't believe in the magical words of ‘Day Off’.” Laughing at her own joke, only meant she was tugging on Nick’s heart strings more and more. “Right again. What are you going to school for ? To be a lawyer? I think you might have this ADA thing down packed.” He teased as a shy blush appeared across her face “ I’ll keep dreaming Detective. You have a good day, and stay safe out there.” She said wiping down the part to enhance its already shiny laminate. “You too (Y/N).” Nick said heading towards the door readying himself to exit the diner and just as he was about to open the door he remembered Gil’s voice in his head. 

“Hey, before I go, Gil wanted me to invite you to his baseball game, he said it would mean a lot to him if you would be on the sidelines cheering for him. “ Nick felt his throat swelling at the mere ask, he was a grown man not a love sick teenager and yet this girl had the power to make him break out into a sweat and become a nervous wreck at the flip of a switch and she didn't even know it.

“Well… sure, I wouldn't want to let Gil down, he's a sweet kid.” She replied softly, locking eyes with Nick as he cleared his throat, nodding “Okay, great so me and Zara will pick you up on Friday from here at 5?” He confirmed as she nodded. “It’s a deal.” She said as Nick nodded once more before opening the door and jogging back to the car to escape from the rain.  

Once he was back in the car and shielded from the rain he passed Olivia her cup and coffee and quietly sipped on his tea “What happened to you in there? Your whole mood changed.” Olivia teased knowing exactly what caused the shift in his mood “Nothing, got me some warm tea and energy to catch our prep. Any movement?” Nick asked, completely ignoring her statement, trying to minimize his smirk to not have to face Olivia's side eye as she refocused her attention to the door catching their prep trying to sneak off “It's time.” She commented as Nick placed the car in drive.

[papurgaatika]

I have many ideas so I’ll probably send them as separate asks to make things less confusing hahaha! So with today’s clip (Sunday) of Pedro as Marcus Acacius for gladiator 2 talking, I’ve been overwhelmed with thots of this man 😩😩 His voice is just soooo damn sexy I cannot jesus christ ☠️ Thinking of his voice reminds me of VA!Joel too! 🤩

elsie elsie elsie!!! this was so big beautiful brained of you. unfortunately im beyond busy and got about 50% of the way through something for this and NOW its kinktober SOOOOOOO without further ado, the ramblings of my mind:

featuring everyone's favorite VA!Joel

VA!Joel setting up a poll for the listeners to pick his next themed audio and it’s a historical romance. He’s bitching and moaning about having to do a stupid British accent and act all proper, but during a movie night with peaches, the idea of doing an ancient Roman gladiator comes to him. He props himself up on his chair, jots down a few ideas that come to him (a few that he stole from watching what had her biting her lip during the movie), and hits record. “Delicate little flower,” his voice is a rich honey, pulling them in as he croons out into the microphone “they have kept you so pure and perfect for me… I cannot wait to ruin you”  You, however, have to take off your headphones and pause for a moment when you take the time to beta his audio. You grab your phone and shoot him a quick text of you’re batshit insane, u know that right??? Joel, who hates texting with all of his heart replies with a very simple: What did I do? Everything alright, Peach? Always a dolt, or perhaps just feigning innocence, a groan leaves your lips at his reply. You don't even bother to send him a response, just take a breath and restart the audio that was calling out to you like the spindle in sleeping beauty, aware of how it would knock you on your ass.  “Do not fret, my little flower. I know how to take care of you” you giggle at joel, the next night when he comes over “joel, I love you, but that was cheesy” You had written down a few lines that you had wanted to have him take out of the audio, not that they were bad, but he wanted the criticism. That’s why he asked you and not another creator online.  He gives you a completely blank look. “It worked for the audio, dont be difficult” he scoffs, poking your side, making you squeak. You go to retort, something about the flow of the words already at the tip of your tongue, but he cuts you off before you get a word in “Sure as hell had your thighs pressed together real close when we watched the movie baby.”  Your cheeks flush almost immediately, the shit-eating grin on his face not making it easy for you to get away with it. “That's not even-” you sputter “I wasn't- shut up!” you huff, burying your face in the singular extra pillow he had on the bed. You hear joel let out a cackle beside you, his breath warm against the back of your neck as you grumble about him being mean to you.

[waklman]

Double Take

Chapter two: Rumor has it

synopsis: the hard-deck believes their prized solo artist needs to boost her social presence before a long awaited album release, with the help of a manager (babysitter). yet, you manage to ditch or chase away every artist manager that gets assigned to help you. as a last resort, the label contacts the only manager who was able to tie you down, the now retired Pete Maverick Mitchell, asking for a referral. lucky for you, the one person that comes to his mind is Bradley Bradshaw—who’s in need of a new job.

warnings: no use of y/n, mature themes 18+, explicit language, mentions of drinking/smoking. reader is 21 and bradley is 23.

word count: 3.2k.

previous chapter | next chapter | double take masterlist.

“What are you still doing here?”

You don’t mean for it to come off so harsh, but it does. “I know you’re lying about not being tired, Bradshaw,” you sigh, unsure of how you can usher him out of your apartment. “..it’s three in the morning.” 

By the other end of the couch, Bradley is wrapped up in one of your knitted blankets, fighting a losing battle. “Oh is it? I couldn't tell.” His speech is slurred and gruff, suggesting that he’s been up for longer than he should. 

This conversation has already repeated itself multiple times throughout the night. Bradley had been especially unrelenting today—not willing to admit to his clear exhaustion. He's been in your apartment ever since he 'overheard' you wake up this morning, the sound of your bed creaking apparently bled through the thin wall that binds your bedrooms.

And while you were in the middle of brushing your teeth, Bradley was already clawing at your front door, asking you to let him in. It was nearing 6 in the morning when you opened the door for him today. 

With pursed lips, you close the notepad you’ve been jotting ideas on, letting it gently drop into your lap. You considered yourself a great multitasker, but dealing with Bradley while drafting album concepts was no easy feat. He requires all your attention. 

Seeing that you’re now solely focused on him, Bradley slowly reaches for one of your throw pillows that lay by his feet, pretending to closely observe it while he slips out a not so discreet yawn. 

“Just because you're hiding behind a pillow, doesn't mean I can’t hear you yawning.” 

Bradley sighs defeatedly, not able comprehend how you’re not on the brink of sleep. The warm fairy lights sprinkled across your living room and the plush cushions swallowing his body were enough to send him into a sleep induced coma for the next ten years, yet you’re wide awake, trying to busy yourself with work as if you haven’t been doing it all day already. 

He’s sure it’s the relentless dating rumors he sparked—that keeps you up. Gossip about the alleged photo had spread like wildfire in the last few days, even with Andi and Graham’s feeble attempts at damage control. And Bradley knows that if the Hard-deck hadn’t wired “keep this under wraps” money to publishers, there would’ve been a swarm of baited articles posted about you two by now. 

Since then, he’s suspected you have been barely sleeping. Bradley’s even unsure of what time you go to bed—or if you do at all, because he’s been falling asleep to the sound of you shuffling around your apartment late at night. Not to mention, he hadn’t seen you attempt to rest once during the countless hours he spent around you either, which also means he hasn’t gotten much shut eye lately. 

“Why aren’t you tired?” he asks, using his forearms to push himself to sit up straight. 

You shrug. “I’m just not tired.” but your answer doesn’t suffice him. 

This was another thing Bradley managed to clock too–your loose-end responses. It usually didn’t take him much effort to get under your skin—Bradley remembers learning this through the one time he thoughtlessly drummed his fingers on your head, forcing Maverick to witness an squabble ensue from the simple exchange–with you blowing a fuse while Bradley’s grin just stretched wider at your displeasure. 

But now, your reactions to his provocations have diminished to either an uninterested face or zero acknowledgement. You must be angry with him for accidentally posting the photo��there’s no other explanation.  

Bradley pauses, roughly rubbing his lids to keep himself awake. You grimace at the way he has no regard for the sensitive skin around his eyes. “Can you just…let yourself be angry? I know you’re a polite little thing, Mouse, but you’re allowed to bitch me out. I know I fucked up, I can admit it.” he shrugs. 

“What?” You take a moment to grasp his sudden concern. “Why would I ‘bitch you out’, if I’m not upset with you?” his lingo sounds weird coming from your mouth, but you ignore it. 

Bradley’s more confused than he was before. He expected you to take the chance to lash out on him. Bradley knows he’s not the easiest person to be around–earning him endless complaints about being too exuberant or too clingy. But to his surprise, you don’t make a peep. 

“Why aren’t you sleeping then?” he asks, still not believing you. 

You suck in a breath, looking at him in the eyes to exhibit honesty, hoping it’ll subdue him. “Bradshaw, I have insomnia.”

He juts his chin at you. “How about you ignoring me?” The question catches you by surprise. 

“I’m just–a bit distracted, by this whole thing–it’s new to me, so..” you profess hesitantly. 

Bradley’s eyebrows knit together, confused by your answer, but he doesn’t voice his uncertainty–not in the mood to squeeze a long-winded explanation from you. If anything, a lengthy breakdown might just lull him to sleep, so he sticks to his straightforward questions. 

“You sure, you’re not mad at me?” he questions, eyes narrowed into slits to discern your answer. 

“Bradshaw, I’m not mad.” you state clearly. 

“What about the rumors?” 

“They bother me a bit, not because of you. I just–it threw me off guard.” You bite your tongue, slightly rattled by how easily the truth slips from your mouth. 

Your logical brain tells you it’s because you don’t really care about him, making his opinion of you void of importance. If anything, there wasn’t a point in lying to him– because he won’t be around for long. Especially once you get the chance to enact your ploy to get rid of him. 

Bradley gradually nods his head, accepting your answers for now. “Okay,”

You roll your eyes towards the direction of his apartment, silently suggesting he go back to his place and sleep. 

Bradley untangles himself from your blanket, understanding your gesture. But right as he’s about to get up, he stills and looks at you from the corner of his eye. “Will you sleep, if I leave?” 

“No, I said I have insomnia.” 

“Is he always like this?” you grumble into the phone. 

Natasha hums, pondering what you mean. “Like what?”

“You know..” You try to find the right word, staring off at Bradley who dragged you to the gym with him, watching him obnoxiously rack more weights onto his barbell. “..he doesn’t leave me alone for one second Nat. He’s like Bobby’s ratty dog–the one with separation anxiety.” 

It’s almost like he can hear the analogy you made about him–because now, Bradley’s trying to sneak a peek at you, lining his body up with the swole man next to him so you can’t see him.

But it’s no use, because as soon as he has his sights set on you, you’re already dryly returning his stare–catching him in the act. He shoots you a cheeky smile, trying to play it off. “..I hope you know–I’m sitting in a gym right now–he said paparazzi will never go looking for me in here.” you plainly report. 

Natasha lightly laughs from her end of the line. “Yeah, he’s pretty clingy.” Hearing you groan at her confirmation, she finds herself trying to defend Bradley’s behavior. “That idiot...he just–only remembers growing up with Mav.” Natasha begins. “And you know the old guy, he’s been breathing down Bradshaw’s back since his parents—y'know. I guess, it’s just learned behavior,” She pauses, recalling his usual demeanor. “..he’s like this with all his friends.”

“Friends? Yeah, right.” you reply cynically, watching as Bradley now makes conversation with the man he was previously hiding behind–enthusiastically pointing towards the protein shake that he made you try this morning, probably running his mouth about the new flavor he’s been raving about. It wasn’t even that good.

You listen to her clear her throat, trying to hide her amusement–but you know that tone all too well. “Aren’t you Bradley’s friend now?”

“He’s only my manager–for now.” you establish, coldly. You’d only been around him for a few days–not by choice. And Bradley’s already made himself at home with you, but you don’t plan on reciprocating. 

“I forget you’re no fun.” She says flatley. “Hey–you know you can be friends with your manager, right? Plus it’s not like you just met him recently.”

“Okay? Wait—Bradshaw’s done with his set, bye.” you lie to dismiss her, unconcerned as you end the call.

“Did she just..” Natasha whispers under her breath.

Bob’s makeup team all withdraw their hands from his face, letting him turn around in his wardrobe chair to face Natasha who pulls the phone from her ear, scoffing in disbelief at her screen. “She hung up on you?” he asks, curiosity piqued from listening in. 

Natasha nods, unaffected by the actor’s now bloodied face. “Like always.”

“Now turn back around Nosey Nancy, they’re filming your girlfriend’s death scene next.” she points an accusing finger at him. 

Bob’s grins at her affectionately. “She’s not my real girlfriend, you know.” 

“Yeah..whatever, turn around Floyd.” 

“Won’t you look at who it is, the infamous couple.”

You let out a huff, already recognizing the booming voice that calls out to you and Bradley. Getting called down the Hard-deck again was never a good sign, but for some reason–that being Bradley Bradshaw, you find yourself here for a second time in a span of a week. 

And seeing that Graham was sent down to speak to you two, there should be an impending storm of teasing comments, rather than a lecture lined up for today. All you can do is slump in your seat, deflated by your conclusion.

Next to you, Bradley is entirely lost in some other dimension–Graham making a show by the door doesn’t even exist in his sphere of awareness.

His jaw hangs loose–fully engrossed with the window view of a father and his son, eating ice cream across the street.

He’s most likely hungry, since you two weren’t able to grab a bite after his workout–being forced to abandon your quest for poke bowls when a group of teenage girls attempted to sneak unsolicited photos of you two standing in line together. 

“How’s the lovely couple doing this fine afternoon?” Graham sings, clapping two hands down onto Bradley’s shoulders. 

Bradley’s muscles tighten under his touch, startled by the sudden contact. But he’s quick to recover, grinning humorously at Graham who’s already pulling your frown into a smile with his hands as he makes his way over to the desk in front of you. 

“We’re doin’ great man” he gladly answers, unaware of the scolding look you’re giving him. Bradley licks his lips, wondering why you two have been called down today. “And don’t get me wrong, I’m glad it’s just you buddy–but why are we here exactly?”

You knowingly sigh. “..Media training.” Graham shoots finger guns in your direction, enlightened by your observation. “Ding Ding Ding! Three points to the main funder of the Hard-deck.” 

“Can I use my winning points to get out of here?” you suggest, making Bradley sputter out a loud laugh. Graham shakes his head, walking around to the front of the desk to sit on its cold surface, entertained by your remark as well.

You miss it but Graham eyes you curiously. You’re turning your head away from Bradley–hiding the faint smile generated by Bradley’s spurt of laughter. 

“This is great guys. Let’s keep this energy for the next two hours.” he sits up tall, puffing his chest. 

“What?” When did going through the manual take two hours?!” you squawk. 

“You see..” Graham scratches the back of his neck, beginning to laugh nervously. 

Bradley moves to the edge of his seat, oblivious to the impending bad news. His innocence to Hard-deck’s schemes causes you to pinch the bridge of your nose.

“We’re actually here to discuss a couple more things,” he stiffly smiles, knowing you won’t take this well. “Penny told us she wants you guys to play into the rumors just a wee bit.” He pinches two fingers together in display, trying to minimize your terror. But his failed effort is met with two horrified looks. 

“Hey! But guess what? You don’t even have to confirm anything.” He aimlessly flaps his hands around, breaking it down for you two. “..Just make a few public appearances together–so it keeps attention on you until the album release–it's great for press!” he finishes off, clapping his hands together–waiting for a response. 

Bradley swipes his mouth, trying to grasp the information thrown at him. After quick consideration, he figures that he doesn’t mind the idea–it wouldn’t affect him as much–but for you, it would probably cause a multitude of problems.

Out of curiosity, Bradley looks to his right, scanning for your reaction, but he can’t tell what you’re thinking. You’re absentmindedly staring ahead, with something unrecognizable glazing over your features. 

“..Let me know when my favorite duo is ready to go over their new schedule with little ol’me.” he shimmies, attempting to kill the tension in the office. 

Bradley tears his eyes off you, giving Graham a weary look. “Just give us a moment bud..” he nods once, offering him a curt smile.

“I know you’re nervous about this after party–but do you really have to make that face? You’re giving me anxiety too.” Bradley rambles, swapping his attention between you and the evening traffic. 

You’re not even that nervous for the party, because you plan on ditching it. But you can’t exactly tell him that since you’re too busy fighting off the bile that’s rising in your throat again. 

With clammy hands, you blindly paw at the interior of the door, trying to roll down the windows, unbuckling your seatbelt right as the glass slides down enough for you to fit through. 

Bradley tries to sneak a quick look at you, alerted by the ruckus going on beside him. He does an immediate double take, because he's greeted by the view of your butt in his face, with half your torso thrown out the side of the car. The glimpse of your white underwear peeking through the bottom frill of your dress, causes him to look away.

If Bradley had half the mind—which he clearly doesn’t, he would’ve realized you’re on the verge of throwing up the lazy sandwich he packed you for lunch—but to no one’s surprise, Bradley thinks you got the bright idea of turning yourself roadkill to escape the lousy event. 

“What do you think you’re doing?!” he shouts, flustered. In a stream of panic he tears one hand off the steering wheel–trying to stay in lane as he roughly pulls down the back of your dress, tugging at the fabric, insisting you sit back down, but you begin to protest. “Would you just—Bradshaw let go!” you complain, bringing back an arm to swat his hands away.

Bradley panics even further, alarmed by the truck driver honking behind him. “Can you just–behave.” he asks through clenched teeth, eyes still trained on the road. 

After finally ripping his large hands off your dress, you throw yourself back against the car seat again, roughly. “Behave?” you snarl, eyes twitching at his ignorance. “Yeah, behave.” he spits back. 

“I was feeling carsick.” you say–matter of factly, still coming down from your nausea. “So you throw yourself out the window?” he retorts, agitated. You whip your head to look at him. The skin of his cheeks are splotched in rosy patches and he’s trying to catch his breath–his shoulders moving up and down as his lungs expand. You click your tongue. “I needed air. It’s suffocating in here.” You look out the window, letting the cool breeze hit your face. 

“Is it my cologne?” His annoyance with you is quickly forgotten. Bradley frowns, concerned by his choice of fragrance. He should've never chosen today to try the new scent Jake bought for him. 

“Yeah, and your horrendous driving.” you bite.

“Oh really now? How about you get behind the wheel then?” he retaliates.

There's a pause of silence as you uncomfortably shuffle in your seat, “I can't drive.” you mumble under your breath. 

“Exactly, so–behave.” You can practically hear his smirk grow, without even having to look at him. 

“Maybe I should throw myself out the window.” you murmur to yourself.

You can’t remember the last time you attended an after party–almost forgetting how flashy these events were. Bob and Natasha were usually at these occasions with you, especially since Bob had been booking job after job this year–his career has been at an all time rise, thanks to Nat’s hard efforts.

But today, you’re accompanied by Bradley–who lingers closely behind you, fingers shielding the top of your drink in his hands. He’s supposed to be here as your date–under Graham’s clear instruction.

You start to feel queasy again, profusely sweating under the stream of purple lights being haphazardly casted across the venue, shooting from one corner to the other. The night club visibly shakes from how loudly the DJ blasts his dreadful music, and the mix of cigarette smoke and vape clouds fogging your vision doesn’t help either. 

Currently, Bradley’s talking to some big-time actor next to him—too starstruck to notice your discomfort. It’s disorienting seeing how everyone has to yell over the music to have a conversation. 

And though you’re dressed like everyone here–body lined in some overly expensive designer piece, you can't help but to feel like you stick out like a sore thumb.

Everyone in the industry can be found at this party, the ones close to your age essentially ignoring your presence as they group together in their respective circle of friends, swaying to the music together. You want to get out of here–eyes desperately scanning for an exit, not wanting to be reminded of your inability to socialize. For some reason, it bothers you more than usual tonight.

Finally, your eyes lock on an exit by the VIP section. You look over your shoulder, to see Bradley still buttering up the older man. Taking your chance, you quickly stalk across the dance floor, arms protectively wrapped around your own body–heading towards the exit. 

“Shit–yeah. I’m here with her right now actually. Say hi, she’s nice.” Bradley leans in, practically shouting in the established actor’s ear. He directs the man to look where you’re standing, pointing with the cup in his hand–but you’re nowhere to be seen. 

After a succession of rapid blinking, Bradley’s eyes shoot towards the exit he made note of earlier. 

You somehow snuck across the club, politely smiling at one of the venue’s security guards, as the massive man opens the door for you to leave.

"Shit."

note: thank you reading! please tell me your thoughts on double take so far, i would love to hear! :) that being said, reblogs are very greatly appreciated!

join the taglist for this series here or follow @waklman-library and turn on notifs to be notified when i post!

taglist: @bethbunnyy @averyhotchner

[coraworatime]

Birdcalling

A/n: I needed a quick break from Monster!Twst on my main, and this guys looks cool so here you go! Oc is from @plumipal! Also since he’s not my oc, forgive me if he’s ooc 😞

Summary: Edens loved birds, yet there’s something he lives more than that.

Warnings: Hints of Possesion & Obssesion, Jealousy,

Eden has enjoyed birdwatching ever since he first arrived in this new world with you, his eyes wandering from fledgling to fledgling in pure adoration. Yet, there is one thing he enjoys watching more than such animals of the sky.

You.

As of the moment, you’re sat on the grassy plain as Grim lays in your lap, your hands diligently sprawling across paper with pen, jotting down quick notes of alchemic make ups of different potions to appease Crewel in your next class. The more he looks at you, the more he feels like he’s devouring each details on your person, your eyes, your hands, the way you breathe even.

He already knows each fact by heart, yet the yearning to want more chews at him intensely, each bite only getting harder and harder as the seconds go by.

“Eden, Do you think tsunotaro is going to come by the dorm again today?”

… Again? He thought he finally chased him away—

“He showed up at my window so he might appear over there again” ah, that’s how.

“If he’s bothering you I can make him leave.” before you know it he’s leaned over, his face close to yours, the wings of his face shielding your visage. If anyone else had seen such a sight, they’d believe it to be a deep intimacy in the making.

To you it’s just Eden being himself.

To him, it’s much more.

Even though it’s only you two in Grim, you resort to making your voice a low whisper, he finds it cute.

“No no, it’s okay, he’s not bothering me.” but it bothers him.

The grass under his fingertips crinkled at the crushing force that impedes it’s space. The destruction dissipates though as his eyes make contact with the current figure of his troubles.

Malleus Draconia, is stood under a tree, watching from afar as you’re practically in kissing range of your fellow dormmate. You’re left wondering why Edens suddenly smiling, but caught off guard when he takes your hand in his, intertwining fingers in sensuality.

“Then, if it doesn’t bother you, maybe I should stay in your room, to make sure you stay safe, okay?” his free hand slowly grooms a slumbering Grim, a smile never failing to leave his mouth.

“I mean, if that’s what you want—”

Before you know it, he;s dragging you both back up, pulling you to the dorm in broad daylight, waking Grim up in the process. You’re left running in confusion as your notes and textbooks are strewed across the grass, but caught off guard by Edens sudden yell.

“Then lets sleep together Y/n!”

“Huh—?!”

You won’t know it, but the thunderstorm that happens later through the day may as well be caused by the man playing with your other dormate in your bed.

[justatiredghost]

Collapse ch6

They are Somewhere Else, and Jon didn’t expect to make it. But now that he has, he has to try to figure out how to keep living. Martin helps. But how is this going to affect him and his connection to the Eye?

AO3 Ch1

Jon wasn’t exactly making any progress. He was sitting on the couch surrounded by piles of books, a notebook close at hand for him to jot down any notes, but he was pretty sure he’d spent more time dissociating than actually reading. It was frustrating, coming to only to realize he hadn’t turned a page in several hours, and the notes on the differences in history here seemed inconsequential and pointless. Maybe this was all a waste of time. 

Martin was helping too, of course, and making much quicker work of the stack of books in front of him. They were both used to this kind of work. But he wasn’t coming up with anything useful either and, after several days of this, Martin was spending more time hovering, no doubt worried Jon was working himself too hard. 

And maybe he was, but it was just so aggravating making so little progress down a path that might not even lead anywhere, and he didn’t want to leave all the work on Martin. He was already doing so much with Jon mostly out of commission, sleeping most of the day with how exhausted he always seemed to be now. 

Even if he was struggling, at least it was something to focus on and provided a distraction from his injuries as he poured over books, except when he reached too far or moved in just the wrong way. He tried to remind himself that the pain meant he was human and that was supposed to be a good thing. Wasn’t it? Switching to the cane just to prove he could probably wasn’t helping. 

“You look exhausted,” Martin said, breaking the silence as he put his book aside. “Please come to bed.”

“Not now, Martin,” Jon snapped. He took a deep breath, knowing it wasn’t fair to take this out on him. He tried again in a gentler tone. “In a bit. I haven’t made enough progress today.”

“We both know your ‘in a bit’ just means ‘no,’” Martin huffed before considering him for a moment. He appeared undeterred by Jon’s temper and instead looked like he was scheming. “What if I picked you up?”

“Excuse me?” Jon demanded, finally looking up at him. 

“I could just carry you to bed,” Martin said, smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 

“You wouldn’t dare—“ He was cut off by Martin sweeping him up into his arms, yelping in surprise as he grabbed at him to steady himself. “This is ridiculous, put me down.”

“You’re right, it is ridiculous,” Martin said. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Jon demanded, feeling a bit winded by his surprise. What had they been arguing about? It was a bit distracting, how easily Martin was able to support his lanky form as he carried him to their room. 

“You’re obviously tired, why are you forcing yourself to stay up?”

“I’m not,” Jon objected, wincing at how petulant he sounded. “I’m not tired.”

“Seriously?” Martin said with a bit of a laugh. “Have you seen yourself? I’m pretty sure you’re only awake from sheer force of will. Just talk to me.”

Jon scoffed, but it seemed Martin wasn’t going to drop it. “Fine, what do you want to talk about?”

“No need to be an ass, come on. I think we’ve been dancing around it long enough.”

“I don’t know how much time I have left.” He didn’t mean to say it so bluntly, with no lead up or softening, it just sort of slipped out. He never had much tact. 

Martin stumbled at his words, taken off guard, clutching Jon tighter against his chest. They reached the bed, then, and he lowered him onto it but stayed close, unwilling to pull away, hands still resting on his arms, as if ready to pull him into a hug. He didn’t look surprised, but the devastation on his face made Jon almost regret his words. 

“You know me better than anyone,” Jon continued. “You’ve seen me at my lowest, my most monstrous. I think the best I can hope for at this point is fading away as the Eye feeds off me. I’ll probably last longer here than I would have otherwise, just because it’s weaker, but—“

“No, we’ll find something,” Martin said, cutting him off, looking somewhere between desperate and afraid. “Without the Archives, we’ll have to find somewhere else to get statements from, but there has to be something. Maybe people will post about their experiences online? I know they don’t transfer to computers very well, but there was that one guy who ran a website for Annabelle Cain and people sent her stories. I know you don’t want to take statements directly, or—or compel people, but maybe you won’t get the dreams if we find—“

“Martin-Martin,” Jon said, taking his face in his hands as he grew more frantic. 

”No, Jon! We’ve come so far, you can’t just give up—“

“I’m not, I won’t, I just—“ Jon took a deep breath. ”What if— what if this is all I am, now? What if I never get better? I shouldn’t, I can’t, because if I do it means they’re back and I can’t, I’m not strong enough—“

He cut himself off and covered his mouth, the grief and horror and guilt threatening to crush him all over again. 

“I know,” Martin whispered as he hugged him tight. 

”I just need you to understand,” Jon continued after he managed to compose himself, drawing away so he could look at Martin. “This? This might be all that’s left of me. I might never be able to stay awake for a full day. I might never be able to walk farther than to the bathroom without getting winded and needing a lie down. I love you so much, you deserve so much better than having to look after me.”

“Jon,” Martin said severely. “I’m here because I want to be. I love you too, and it isn’t fair, the hand we’ve been dealt, but I’m not going to just abandon you. We’re in this together, remember?”

“I don’t know what you see in me, I feel like there’s so little left of me after everything. And I’m afraid— the Web has been manipulating me for so long. What if it was the only reason I kept what little of me there was? Because my guilt was useful in manipulating me? And if the Fears do get stronger, what if I lose whatever humanity I have left?”

“That’s stupid.”

“Wh-what?” Jon said with a startled laugh. 

“That’s ridiculous,” Martin continued, and he actually rolled his eyes. “You would have been so much easier to manipulate if you didn’t have your humanity. You probably would have worked with Annabelle willingly.”

“I guess, maybe,” Jon admitted. ”I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Because you’re too busy feeling guilty about literally everything,” Martin huffed a sigh, rubbing a hand across his eyes. “Can you just— Can you trust me to help you?“

“What?”

”I know you want to shoulder this burden on your own, but I love you and I won’t let you do that to yourself. We’re in this together. If you won’t let me take on some of the blame, at least let me help you get through it.”

Jon sighed and buried his face in Martin’s neck, breathing in his scent, trying to focus on anything but the sick feeling trying to claw its way out of his throat. He hated making Martin feel this way, and he hated that he couldn’t just fix all this. And he hated knowing that he could only make things worse for Martin. 

“I’m just scared,” he said after a long pause, like he was admitting to a secret. 

Martin didn’t exactly look happy, but he looked proud that he’d been able to say it. Jon just hated feeling so small and helpless. He knew he wouldn’t have made it this far without Martin and he was so thankful he was here, as selfish as that was. 

”Just talk to me, okay?” Martin said, placing a kiss to Jon’s temple as he began soothingly running his fingers through his hair, holding him close. “The last time we tried to do things on our own, I ended up having to stab you. I don’t want to have to do that again. I don’t want to lose you.“

Okay,” Jon said, voice choked with emotion. 

He wasn’t sure he knew how to put down this guilt, and he wasn’t sure he deserved to be free of it. He did trust Martin and his judgment, though. Maybe he was right and he wouldn’t lose what remained of himself. Whatever happened, he wouldn’t let any of the fears touch Martin. He wouldn’t let anything hurt him, even if Jon himself became the danger. Whatever the cost. 

[stories-of-the-nrm]

The LNER's Tea Express

AN: This takes place in the 1930s before Scott reached 100 mph when he had an amicable brotherly relationship with Gordon. Thank you for requesting this @jayde-jots.

Narrator: It was a hot summers day in England as the LNER’s business booms. Despite the depression impacting the United Kingdom, London seemed to be thriving as many businessmen require their services.

(We see the sheds where the passenger engines are resting.)

Scott: How was your train today, Gordon?

Gordon: On time as usual. And your train, Scott?

Scott: Oh it was excellent. My passengers would be all over the platform talking about how they really loved the changes made to our travel services. Especially the food.

Gordon: Ah yes. My crew was raving about it as well. I quite frankly fail to understand it as we engines of course only need coal and water.

Scott: Yes yes that’s true, but it’s quite fascinating to hear humans get so excited. I would love to see what the fuss is all about.

Gordon: You are not going to leave your engine just to consume human food meant to be for our passengers. It would be a disgrace to the LNER if you were to cost them money just to prepare more.

(Scott sighs knowing Gordon is right.)

Scott: I understand that, Gordon. But I was just thinking that if there was food to spare and would otherwise be thrown out, then sampling it wouldn’t hurt would it?

Gordon (groaning): I better not get a tongue lashing from Sir Nigel Gresley because you took some of the passengers food!

(Scott smiles sheepishly.)

Scott: Of course not, brother. I know we have our reputation to uphold. I won't let you or Sir Nigel Gresley down.

Gordon (sighing): This railway still has difficulties navigating this "depression". I just worry that the slightest slip up by any of us could cost them money. Money they use to maintain us. The last thing I would want is to see any of us scrapped because of it.

(Scott takes a breath.)

Scott: Please don't worry, Gordon. I know better than to steal food from the dining car. I won't even bring it up to my crew.

(Gordon closes his eyes.)

Gordon: Well I believe we should stop talking about this now. I can see the moon is getting high which tells me we need to get some sleep.

Scott (yawning): You're right brother. Good night.

Gordon: Good night, Scott.

(They fall asleep for the night.)

Time Skip

Narrator: One evening after he pushes the coaches back into their shed a group of women who work in the dining car approach Scott.

Scott: Yes? What do you need?

(They all look young and seem to be attracted to Scott as they try to explain their need to finish all of the left over food.)

Scott: I see. I'll need to get my brother. This is a lovely opportunity he just can't miss.

(Scott leaves his engine and practically runs to look for Gordon who's still in his engine form.)

Gordon: Scott what are you doing here?

(He stops to catch his breath.)

Scott: Gordon. These lovely ladies gave me a brilliant opportunity that I just. Have to share.

Gordon: And what is that?

Scott: They work in the dining car and-

(Gordon groans.)

Gordon: I thought I told you not to bother the staff about this food nonsense?

Scott: But I didn't Gordon. These lovely ladies came to me and wanted me to help them.

Gordon: And what on earth would they need you for?

Scott: They have a lot of food left over and can't store it over night. If no one eats it, it'll all have to be thrown out. Didn't you say you don't want the LNER to waste money and food?

(Gordon sighs.)

Gordon: So you mean to say that you want me to help you eat human food that would otherwise spoil and be discarded?

Scott: Why yes. I don't want these ladies to possibly lose their jobs because food was wasted and all.

Gordon: In that case, I have no choice but to help you. If this is for the benefit of the railway, then I will do it.

(Scott smiles.)

Scott: Splendid! Why don't you leave your engine form and follow us to the dining car. Who knows maybe you might like what humans eat.

(Gordon rolls his eyes leaves his engine.)

Gordon: I highly doubt that human food would hold any meaning for me. We are machines, Scott. All we need is coal and water. If we were designed to eat human food our railway would save a lot of money on coal.

Scott: Oh Gordon we aren't just machines. Look at us! We can take on a human form so we have to have some ability to eat. Don't think of it as a chore but as an adventure!

(Gordon sighs and just follows Scott as the group of ladies lead them to the dining car.)

Scott: Watch your step brother! I know you're not used to being able to walk.

Gordon: Yes, yes I know how to walk just fine Scott.

(They're lead to a table in the dining car that's covered in food.)

Narrator: There was a bottle of champagne, bread rolls and curled butter on the table. The ladies also gave them left overs from the 1st class menu which included various types of meats, halibut and numerous pastries often served during Afternoon Tea.

(Scott's eyes widen and takes a seat.)

Scott: Why thank you ladies. I'm sure this will all taste lovely. Don't you think brother?

Gordon (scoffing as he sits down): I still think this is all a waste of time. We are not humans, Scott. Their food will do nothing to sustain us.

Scott: And how would you know that if you never even tried? None of us know for sure how these human forms work. Times are changing Gordon. We no longer have to hide away in our engines for our entire existence. The depression's ending and the LNER is as successful as ever. Why if we keep growing we might even buy out the LMS.

(Gordon shakes his head.)

Gordon: Do not make such extreme sentiments. The driver told me that some parts of the kingdom are suffering in poverty and are dealing with higher levels of unemployment.

Scott (sighing): You're right. But I want to have hope that things will get better.

(Gordon tries to change the subject.)

Gordon: Well we better get started on eating all this food. We simply can not allow food waste.

(They start to dig into the food as the women watch and giggle.)

Narrator: As Scott and Gordon begin to eat and drink the champagne, Gordon quickly realizes he was wrong about human food being nonsense.

Gordon: My goodness! This lamb is delicious.

Scott (stuffing his face with cold cuts): See! I told you, brother. Human food's the best thing there is. It's little wonder they value it so much.

(Gordon is a little disgusted by Scott's lack of table manners.)

Narrator: The two of them slowly start to feel the effects of the champagne.

Scott (hiccuping): Let's get into these... pastries.

(They start eating the pastries that can be picked up with their hands.)

Gordon: These are not... better than... that lamb.

(Scott looks like he's in heaven.)

Scott: You're wrong! These.. are the best! How can you not appreciate these.... creamy pillows?!

(Gordon shushes him.)

Gordon: We need to keep it… down. Sir Nigel Gresley will punish us if we’re… not at our best for our morning… trains.

Scott (huffing): More creamy pillows for me then.

(Gordon gets up from the table.)

Gordon: I… must go back... to my engine. Goodnight… Scott.

(Scott’s now red faced and tipsy.)

Scott: Night Gordon!

Narrator: As Gordon leaves, Scott finishes eating his cream puffs and pastries.

(It’s really late at night and Scott’s belly is now bulging out of his suit jacket.)

Scott: What a meal! I just… want to sleep here. (A pause.) No. Sir Nigel Gresley would scrap me if Gordon doesn’t… yell at me first.

(He sighs and tries to get up. Some of the ladies in the dining car are still there watching.)

Scott (smiling a little flirtatiously): Hey? Care to help... a poor ol' engine... like me?

(They all practically jump out of their seats to help Scott.)

Narrator: After getting some help, Scott stumbles his way out of the dining car.

Scott (winking): Thanks ladies! See you all… in the morning!

(They blush despite themselves as Scott tries to control his laughter on the way back to his engine.)

Scott (trying to whisper): I need to do that again soon.

Narrator: As soon as he gets to his engine, Scott shifts back into it and falls asleep. He starts to dream about what it be like to live as a human.

Time Skip

Gordon: Scotsman wake up!

Scott (snorting awake): Huh? Oh Gordon I had such a wonderful dream last night!

(Gordon rolls his eyes.)

Gordon: You need to get it together fast. Sir Nigel Gresley is going to be very cross if he finds out you’re “hungover” and late!

(Scott temporarily shifts out of his engine form to wash his face before going back.)

Scott: It was such a lovely meal Gordon. You have to at least admit that can't you?

(Gordon sighs in defeat.)

Gordon: I suppose the lamb was delicious enough to reconsider.

Scott: Excellent! Don't you want to hear about my dream last night?

Gordon: But we can not continue this habit. I have no time to hear about your dream now.

(Gordon's crew starts to drive him away to the station.)

Scott: I understand and I won’t be late. I’ll tell you all about it later, Gordon!

Narrator: As Scott’s crew starts to drive him to the station he tries to prepare himself to work. But deep down he wishes to eat human food again and hopes the dining car has leftovers again.

THE END

Tagging: @bluy1206, @klein-sodor-bahn, and @nlliah. To those who have been loving my content, I thank you all so much. I can't wait to see what future requests will look like.

[angelsvoice1love]

Running man adventure (pt 1)

You walked into the dining room, seeing food all prepared for every member of today's episode.

Still sleepy, you rubbed your eyes and sat down between Haha and Jongkook your two oppa's. Once you were seated you instantly laid your head on Jongkook's shoulder as you closed your eyes. Not bothered by this, Jongkook was talking to Gary, when Ji-hyo, Jae-suk and Suk-Jin brought over trays with hot drinks and juices.

Gently shaking you awake Haha, gave you some orange juice causing you to smile. Smiling back, Haha pinched your cheek lightly causing Gwang-soo to laugh.

Gwang-soo: What was that about?

Haha: Leave my yeongdongseo alone.

Shaking your head, you sat up ready to eat the pancakes, bacon, eggs and some berries. That Suk-Jin placed before you.

Suk-jin: Eat up.

Y/n: Thank you, Oppa.

Just then Jongkook, put a cup of tea infront of you as he said.

Jongkook: 2 sugars, strong tea, very hot barely milk.

Y/n: You remembered?

Gary: Why wouldn't he? You've been around for a while now, it's fun to have another girl around.

Ji-hyo: Yah. I thought I was your Monday girl.

Gary: You are my Monday girl. I meant, it'll just make it more fun for you.

Ji-hyo: I guess.

Jae-suk: y/n, you okay? You don't look so good.

Y/n: Just tired. I didn't sleep well last night. You replied, as you swallowed the pancake that was in your mouth.

Gwang-soo: If your not better later, you should sit this one out.

Y/n: I'll be fine in a while, promise.

Flashback (middle of the week)

You took a deep breath in as you pulled away from the kiss, opening your eyes as you looked into his beautiful brown ones. He smiled, as he rubbed his thumb over your cheek.

Jongkook: You okay?

Y/n: I'm not hurting you right? You asked, look down at his legs that you were sitting on. Legs on either side of him.

Jongkook: No, not at all. He smiled, as he leaned in for another kiss.

Before he could kiss you, you pulled away biting your bottom lip as you looked down at his covered chest.

Jongkook: Y/n? He questioned, as he gently placed his large strong hands on your hips.

Y/n: Mmm? You asked, snapping back from your thoughts.

Jongkook: Is something bothering you?

Y/n: N...no, not at all. You replied, trying to fake a smile.

Jongkook: Don't lie to me y/n, tell me what's bothering you. Please, I'm here to help. He said gently, worry written on his face as he held you in his arms.

Y/n: Does it bother you?

Jongkook: Does what bother me?

Y/n: That age?

Jongkook: The age? What do you mean?

Sighing you got off Jongkook's lap, and sat beside. Tears started running down your cheeks which instantly made him react.

Jongkook: Y/n, no...please don't cry. Are you worried about the age difference between us? Because I'm not. He tried, to reassure you as he wiped your face.

Y/n: Your 47 and I'm 27...what will people say? Think, or even do? Your one of the most popular running man hosts and-

Jongkook kissed your lips gently and soft as he pulled away, he kissed your nose, cheeks and forehead.

Jongkook: People, can say and do whatever they want. I don't care about their opinion on the matter, al I care about is being with you. So, are we okay now?

Y/n: Maybe...i guess. But...I'm still jot ready to go public with us just yet, is that okay?

Jongkook: Okay? That means I get to have you all to myself for a little longer. He replied as he hovered over you as he kissed you.

Y/n: Kook-

Jongkook didn't let you finish as he pushed his tongue in your mouth causing you to moan as the feeling. Breathing in, your hands traveled to his hair as you ran your fingers through it this time causing him to moan.

Jongkook: Mmm...i...really...don't...want to...do this...on...a couch. He said, in between kissed making you break the makeout session to look at him. I would really like to finish this in the bed room if that's what you'd like.

Nodding, Jongkook smiled as he got up from the couch and picked you up carrying you bridal style to his room. Gently placing you down, he unzipped your dress and pulled it off as he threw it to the side of the room.

Pulling him by his shirt, you connected your lips as you flipped the two of you over so that you were sitting on his lap as you took off his shirt. Biting your lip as the toned chest he had, you ran your fingers gently on his stomach and chest.

Jongkook: If you want to, we can still stop.

Y/n: What? No, I'm fine. You replied as you kissed his lips quick and moved to his neck, as you started to suck on his neck and bite gently.

Jongkook: Ah, ha...ah...

You started to move forward and back, starting to create friction which made you both groan in delight.

Y/n: M...maybe we...should...ah...move this...a..along.

Jongkook: Agreed.

And in an instant, you were on your back looking up at Jongkook as he undid his pants and kicking them off fast. Climbing on top of you, Jongkook started kissing your neck as his hand traveled to message your breast making you feel bliss.

This here was purely amazing, how could he make you things you've never experienced before? Make you want things you've never wanted before?

Just then you felt something hard tough your clothed area, making you push Jongkook away as you sat up quickly.

Jongkook: Y/n. Did I do something wrong?

Y/n: No. Not at all. It's me. I...um...ugh...how do I say this.

Jongkook: Y/n, you know you can tell me anything.

Y/n: I'm still a virgin. You said, as you pushed your face between the cushions hiding away.

Jongkook: And your ashamed of that?

Y/n: Wouldn't you prefer-

Jongkook: Y/n, I don't prefer anyone but you. No, I don't care if your still a virgin, and if your still a little unsure we could stop.

Y/n: Isn't this what you want?

Jongkook: Yes. But only if your ready. I'm not going to force you to do anything.

Y/n: To be honest...i just got a little overwhelmed. Believe me I do, I really do want this. Could...could you be gentle?

Jongkook: We can go at any pace you want. He said as he got closer. Promise. He whispered, in your ear as he kissed it gently.

Biting your lip, you felt turned on and grabbed him locking your lips as you pulled him down onto you.

Running his hands up your bare stomach, he undid your bra, and discarded it as he kissed your chest.

Jongkook: Your so beautiful. He kissed you in your neck, marking you.

Y/n: Jongkook...ah...ah. G...i can't wait...any longer.

Just like that, Jongkook slowly pushed into you making you feel no discomfort at all. Pulling him closer you held onto him for dear life, as he held still for a while so that you can adjust.

Y/n: I'm ready. You said, waiting for his movements.

Slowly Jongkook started moving in and out, slowly adding more speed to it which made you moan at the feeling. Jongkook put his face between your neck and started breathing heavily as he licked and suck your neck. Moaning load, you scratched his back which caused him to grunt.

Y/n: Jong...kook. Move...f...faster.

Complying Jongkook looked into your eyes as he started moving faster, and faster making you both moan out together. Bending down, he connected your lips as you started a tongue battle for dominance. Winning Jongkook started sucking your tongue making you breath even harder as his thrusts became faster and harder.

Holding out your tongue he pulled away ever so slowly, as he finally stopped sucking on it. Jongkook licked your lips and captured the bottom one between his teeth as he pulled it gently making it bounce as it was released.

Y/n: Jongkook...i...ahh...y...yes...im...

Jongkook: Me...tooo..ahhh...mmm...ugh...

Both: AHHH! After you both came from your high, Jongkook still trusted a few more times before collapsing on you making you kiss his forehead. Your breath still heavy, you moved slightly to suck his neck which made a dark red mark.

Y/n: There...now...we...both have...matching sets. You said, causing Jongkook to laugh.

Pulling away, he pulled out of you and threw the condom into the bin as he covered you both with the covers and pulling you to lay on his chest.

Jongkook: Are you okay? Do you need water, or something to eat?

Y/n: No. I'm fine.

Jongkook: Do you want-

Y/n: Jongkook, can we just lay here together?

Jongkook: Yes. Sorry. He said, as he kissed your foread. Did i hurt you?

Y/n: No, not at all. It was incredible. I mean, I feel a little sore...but that's normal I think for the first time. You said with a giggle.

Jongkook: How about we both, go and take a nice hot bath together?

Y/n: Or, we could have round 2.

Jongkook: You want to have sex again? Now?

Y/n: Yes. Why...don't you?

Jongkook: No, it's not that. Believe, me. But how about we both just relax a little before we have sex again.

Y/n: Could...could we have sex in the bathtub? It's a huge bath, there'd be mire than enough space for you and me to have a lot of fun in there.

Jongkook: Y/n-

Y/n: Please. You said, as you straddled his lap.

Jongkook: Jagi-... Ah-

Y/n: O...or i could just do this. You said, grinding on him which made him buck his hips up. Ah...y...

Jongkook: Just do it like this.

Nodding, you allowed Jongkook to guide you as you started to have sex yet again. Punching up and down on Jongkook, you closed your eyes, as you held onto his chest squeezing his toned chest as he squeezed your hips harder.

Jongkook: Faster. He demanded, which made you go as fast as you could.

Y/n: Jongkook...i...i...love...yoouu...ahhh! You yelled out, as you came and fell onto his chest.

Breathing hard, your eyes closed and a very shocked Jongkook beneath you. Blinking you sat up again, as you kissed him from his stomach working your way up to his lips where you captured them in a rough kiss. After the kiss you moved up to his ear, as you sucked his earlobe before whispering.

Y/n: That was incredible.

Rolling off Jongkook, you laid on your back turning your head towards Jongkook that just laid there without moving.

Frowning, you thought back on the moment you just had and tried to think if there was anything you could've done wrong.

Flashback a few seconds ago.

Jongkook: AHH....mmm...ughh....AHHG!

Y/n: Jongkook...i...i...love...yoouu...ahh.

End of flashback.

Y/n: Oh no. You said, as you turned and ducked under the covers your back facing him.

Jongkook: What are you doing.

Y/n: Hiding my embarrassment.

Jongkook: Why? Because you said you loved me?

Y/n: Jongkook. You said, his name as you came up from under the covers and you were met with a sweet kiss.

Jongkook: I love you too.

Y/n: So I didn't make a fool of myself in the moment?

Jongkook: Sometimes the thing we don't expect to hear happen in the moment, and in this case it was I love you.

Y/n: Could I...could we cuddle for a while?

Jongkook: A while? No. We can cuddle the whole night. He replied, pulling you into his strong muscular chest as you both fell asleep.

[willow-lark]

not most people (but it's you) - wheelclair

took a break from my byler week fics to try something new and jot down a quick wheelclair drabble!! this one is dedicated to @booksandpaperss (💕🫶) who i was talking to a bit ab wheelclair aus the other day,,, ngl i'm becoming obsessed w these 2

As Mike watches, Lucas lifts his hand in a gesture that Mike knows all too well, with an uncertain smile on his face as he wiggles his fingers every-so-slightly in a wave.

Mike is tempted to reach up and pull down his window shade to cut off the interaction, to ignore Lucas and feed into the hurt lodged deep within his gut that he’s never actually let go of, and nursed for all these years. But—Lucas isn’t doing anything to hurt him, in truth. Did he really ever? Intellectually, Mike remembers the barbed words, the harm both he and Lucas caused each other. But it doesn’t feel like those things matter so much right now. It didn’t seem to matter this morning, when Mrs. Harmon paired them together for their new history project, and Lucas stuck his hand out in the aisle between their desks and Mike took it in truce. Somehow, even surrounded by meatheads and having assimilated into the ranks of all the thug-headed jocks that leech off the walls of Hawkins High, Lucas has retained the good faith that Mike remembers in him, putting loyalty above all else, and trusting those he cares about.

Lucas was always a lot nicer than Mike was, he thinks. Lucas doesn’t snap at people unless he has a good reason. He’s only got a bone to pick with people if they hurt someone he loves. Not like Mike, who gets angry at the people he cares about for no reason, uncompromising and mean even when he doesn’t mean to be, demanding that everything goes exactly his way.

Once, Lucas was Mike’s closest friend. Once, Mike would have reached for his walkie to radio Lucas, and they would look across at each other in their windows and talk late into the night.

Now, though, Mike lifts his fingers in response, and sends across his own tentative smile.

...

“Hey!” calls a voice behind Mike, who slams his locker shut and whips around. He didn’t sleep well last night, staring up at the ceiling with a pounding heart, mind all caught up in thoughts of what was and what might have been. It is only Lucas, leaning casually against the row of lockers in his crisp letterman jacket, grinning at Mike with that same easy smile he’s always had.

“Hi,” says Mike, grumpy, sudden butterflies in his stomach doing their damn best to flap all the way up his esophagus. He doesn’t look nearly as put together as Lucas does right now. The Hellfire t-shirt he’s wearing definitely needs a wash, and so do the jeans that he’s worn every day for the past two weeks.

“You want to come over to mine after school today and get started on this project?”

“Okay,” Mike says before he can fully think it over, but as he does he realizes he doesn’t really have an excuse not to. Corroded Coffin was supposed to get together and rehearse tonight, but Gareth’s home sick with a violent flu and Eddie called yesterday that he wasn’t going to be able to make the drive out from Indianapolis to visit like he had planned. “I was going to have rehearsal today, but I don’t anymore.”

“Corroded Coffin, right? That’s a sick name, man.”

“Oh, I, uh, I play guitar now.”

“Awesome,” Lucas says, and claps Mike on the shoulder. “I’m driving Erica home today, too, so let’s meet in the parking lot after class lets out. See you later!” and he strides off to whatever class he’s supposed to be at next period. 

Mike stands there, noise of the bustling hallway swelling around him. He can still feel the warmth of Lucas’s hand on his shoulder, an old and familiar touch. Mike’s not that touchy of a person. Most people, he’d snap at. 

Lucas isn’t most people.

hm. i May have to write more of them bc wheelclair is quickly shooting up my list of fav rarepairs. high school au wheelclair is something that can be so personal. like. they're so???? n e ways if u read this far i hope u enjoyed it!! mwah. xoxo.

[observeowl]

Right By Your Side | Chapter 5 - First Day In School

Summary: In the world where wearing glasses makes you a different person. You were forced to swallow a pill that turned you into seven years old. Now, you're living with your crush in a small form, what would you do? Who were the ones who brought this to you? And, can you change back?

Chapter summary: Meeting new friends in school, getting a scare that Bill is dead and potentially one who is part of the Organisation you were trying to track. Just your normal day, right?

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Days passed quickly and it was soon my first day of school, again. Bill chose a school slightly further away so I could drop by his house on the way back whenever I feel like it.

"Urghh...." I groaned and turned off the alarm before going back to sleep again. Why do I have to go to school when I'm 30 years old...

I drifted off to sleep with ease before jolting up when the cold hit my body. Nat was standing by my bed with the duvet in her hands and I instantly went to find my glasses. "Hurry your ass up. If you eat your breakfast in the car, you can still make it on time."

"Okay..." I did everything quickly and went to find Nat who was already waiting for me with the sandwich. I sling my bag on my shoulder and went to take a bite of the sandwich before rushing to get my shoes on.

"If you woke up on time, you wouldn't be rushing." Nat said when she saw me struggling to tie my shoelace while looking like a mess.

---

I have finished my sandwich and we still have some distance to go. I rested my head against the window since I could hardly see out of the window.

"Where did you get that bracelet from?" Nat said, referring to the one on my left wrist. It was originally a necklace from Nat for my 27th birthday, but it's too big for me now so I twist it once to fit my wrist.

"Oh this? My mum gave this to me on one of my birthdays." I lied.

"Do you have the same one too?" I asked, wanting to know how she would answer. Nat didn't answer the question. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"No, it's not a big deal. I have a matching pair with Y/N." She showed me the necklace that she's still wearing.

"It looks beautiful on you." I complimented her. Ever since we helped each other put it on, I hardly ever get to comment on it since she hides it very well with her clothes. I could see the chain sometimes but never the art so I never got to say anything.

"Thanks. Have a nice first day in school." Nat said when we reached the gate.

"Thank you." I closed the door and waved through the window.

Nat winds down the window and I listen to what she has to say. "I'll pick you up after school. Sorry I didn't pick you up the other day."

"No worries. I know you're a busy person." Especially looking for the person who's right by your side.

---

The first class of the day was English. The teacher was our homeroom teacher and apparently there are two other students who were joining today. We didn't get to know the rest of the class since it wasn't the first day of school. I introduced myself as Allison Bright while the other students introduced themselves as Anita Hailey and Edogawa Conan.

Hailey has chestnut hair that reaches her chin and she looks to be a bit serious, closed off. Conan, on the other hand, seemed more like a child with a smile on his face. I assumed the both of them knew each other before this since they were whispering something before entering the classroom.

"Alright, Edogawa, you can sit next to Amy. Bright and Anita can sit at the empty table at the corner." Ms Smith instructed.

The class started but I was doodling on my notebook, jotting and mapping out what I know about the current case. Judging from what they call each other, their code names are based on alcohol. Since Gin was instructing Vodka, he is likely to be in a higher position. The question is, how many people are there?

I wrote 'Organisation' at the top of the notebook and circled it. How am I going to bring it down?

"Ms Bright, do you mind answering this question?" Ms Smith pointed to the board. I looked at the board before answering her.

After I sat down, Anita opened her mouth and spoke, catching my attention. "Y/N Y/L/N, part of the Avengers, powers unknown..." She stated as she continued to look towards the board. "Unknown relationship with parents. Blood type B+. Went to find Bill when you shrunk, who's staying at 606 Green Lake St. New York, NY 10040."

How does she know so much about me? Was she sent here to kill me? How does she know where Bill stays?

I looked at her and she just smirked at me. Who is she?

I rushed out of the classroom, ignoring the calls from Ms Smith and immediately dialed for Bill. "Come on... pick up your phone... of all the times you chose to not answer your phone, you chose now to do it." I mumbled as I ran to his house. I should really bring some cash the next time I head out.

I kept calling Bill all the way until I reached his house. He didn't answer the doorbell and I'm too anxious to think of a solution. I climbed over the gate and went round to the backyard where he doesn't bother to lock.

I searched and called for him all over his house but received no answer. Was he really killed? I went into the basement and saw him in front of his computer with red all over him. Fuck.

"Bill!" I shook him but received no answer. Suddenly the can on the table dropped, startling me. I took a quick looked at it and realised it was tomato juice.

"Wake the hell up." I slapped the back of his head. "How many times do I have to tell you not to drink tomato juice when you work at night. You always spill them everywhere."

Bill groaned as he rubbed the back of his head. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"Who the hell is Anita Hailey and Edogawa Conan, why does she know where you stay and so much about me?"

"Ohhh." He slapped his forehead. "I forgot to tell you, Anita stays with me and Edogawa stays with his crush too." He wiggles his eyebrows.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes!" I raised my voice. "This can be dangerous." I reminded him who we're up against.

"Don't worry, I know Edogawa. His real name is Jimmy Kudo. He stays next door." I looked over to the huge mansion next door. His parents are famous author and celebrity. "And... I found Anita lying on the floor in front of my gate the other day."

"You were the one who named her?" Bill looked at me shocked. "Yeah, that is a pretty lame name."

I sighed at the situation we're in, suddenly there're so many factors coming in that aren't accounted for. How can I trust them?

"Aren't you going back to class?"

I didn't want to but since Nat is coming to pick me up after school, I have to be there by the end of the day. "You're driving me back."

He took the keys for his yellow beetle.

"It's time you change your lousy old car, it breaks down all the time." Bill has it for as long as I know him. I'm pretty sure he got it second hand since no retailer was selling it anymore.

"My uncle gave it to me."

"Remember to update me next time. You gave me a fright." I got out of his car and tried sneaking back in class during lunch break. I wasn't sure if Ms Smith was going to notify Nat about it.

"Where have you been Ms Bright?" I got caught entering the classroom through the back door.

"I went to the washroom."

"For two hours??"

"I had a really bad stomach ache." I acted as if I was still slightly sick, holding onto my stomach. Ms Smith let it go this time and continued supervising the lunch break. The bell sounded and the next subject teacher came to take over.

---

After school, I looked at Anita who was nonchalantly packing her bag as if it was a normal day. "Who the hell are you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" She challenged me. I pulled the backpack off her and slammed it on her chair. Edogawa came over after seeing I was getting rough with her.

"Hey hey hey, we are your allies. We are in the same predicament as you... Just tell her, it would be better for all of us." Edogawa encouraged.

"My real name is Shiho Miyano, code name Sherry." I looked at her with widened eyes.

"You're one of them!" I raised my voice feeling anxious that one of them managed to get so close this quickly. Edogawa quickly shushed me and looked around to make sure no one heard anything.

The people students here are too innocent, they were too busy interacting with their friends to listen in on us.

"I am the creator of the drug or my father was. After realizing that they killed my sister, I stopped all production as a protest and they cuffed me to a pole. I swallowed the APTX4869 to kill myself but I ended up becoming small like you."

"You... you..." I have too many questions in my mind. "Then can you turn us back?" I asked the most critical question.

"Don't you think I would have done so if I could?" She said, making me sigh as all hopes shattered. "I can't remember the formula."

"And you?" I turned to the boy.

"I'm just a normal victim who used to be a high school detective. You can call me Conan." He crossed his hands behind his head. He fits the description of a 1st grader/primary school student more than Anita.

"You can call me Hailey."

I looked at the skeptically before pulling out my phone to exchange contacts. "You can call me Allison."

"The Black Organisation is what they're called. They always wear black." Hailey said as I left the classroom.

---

I spotted Nat's car at the corner. "You took a while to come out. I was about to barge in." Nat said as I buckled my seatbelts. I wouldn't be surprised if she does.

"I was just talking to my new friends..." I considered them more as classmates for now. It would definitely help tremendously if we have the scientist on our side. Once we get our hands on the formula, I should be able to get back to normal size. The good thing is they are unable to make any more APTX4869 since their lab was destroyed.

"Are you alright?" Nat asked as I was deep in thought. What should be our next course of movement? Should we lure them out or wait until we get more evidence and resources? Three of us, four if we include Bill, are not able to do anything...

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Nat nudged my shoulders, bringing me back to reality.

"Just- about... about dinner!" I jumped in my seat, acting as if it was the simplest thing to make me happy. I cringed internally as I did that. Nat could only chuckle and shake her head at my actions and childishness.

---

Back in the compound, I slumped in bed after a tiring day.

The room darken all of a sudden and thunder cracking could be heard throughout the sky. Ominous feelings filled the compound as everyone looked out at how quickly the sky changed. Soon, rain started to hit the windows and everyone went back to their business.

"She's useless." Strucker spat at me. The scientist that he got injected me with powers but there was no result. No matter how much stress testing they did, they weren't able to get a reaction from me.

They took my blood and tested it. There were traces of DNA alteration, indicating the serum in me was doing its job but it just wasn't showing.

They needed to keep me alive so they didn't increase the dosage, but they kept torturing me, breaking me and at this point I just wished I could evoke my powers to stop all this.

"Send her to cell 4." Strucker waved for his agents.

"No... I don't want to... No! Please!" I tried to break free from their grip but with two men holding each of my arms, it was hardly a challenge for them to force me there.

Another bulky man was waiting with an empty chair and his tools spread out on the table. They cuffed me to the chair before walking out.

He started off light with a small parry knife, licking it before slitting my body, he would move onto bigger tools gradually and my body littered with cuts. On days when he was mad, he would dive in straight with a gun, making sure he didn't hit any vital spots. Shots and screams would be heard throughout the cell, if I could just move a little and direct the shot towards my head, I would have done so.

Second POV The rain was still coming down heavily as Natasha heard your blood curdling scream coming from your room and rushed to check on your room. You were whimpering in your bed and covers thrown on the floor, clearing in distress.

"Allison!" She said, trying to wake you up. She tried a couple more times but it wasn't working. Through your hectic movement in your nightmare, your shirt lifted up slightly and Nat was able to see your cuts and bruises.

"WAKE UP!" She screamed this time. It worked. You jolted up in bed panting heavily. You placed your head in your hands trying to calm down until you remembered what situation you're in.

"Are you okay?" She used her cold hands to wipe off the sweat on your forehead.

Now, the life you're living in, is built on lies upon lies. One day it's going to come crashing down on you.

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