#Advantages of a Microwave in a Truck

[digitalcombination]

8 Advantages of a Microwave in a Truck: A Truck Driver's Best Companion

Advantages of a Microwave in a Truck: If you’re a truck driver, you know life isn’t always on the road. Long hours behind the wheel, days away from friends and family, and limited hot food options all take their toll. But there is one device that makes a driver’s life a little more bearable and helps them stay energized during a long drive – the microwave. Select from the best microwaves for semi…

[waterbottlemanufacturer]

The Best Hot Case Lunch Box: Your New Best Friend at Work and School

The favorite part of the day we all are looking forward to—until the realization that the food is cold, just like the coffee consumed this morning. Worry not, as the hot case lunch box rescues lunch time from disappointment. This gadget can easily become the new best friend to a busy professional, a hungry student looking forward to success with food, or anyone else with a taste for a hot meal.

What is a Hot Case Lunch Box?

This essentially means a portable meal warmer. It is sort of a mini kitchen for lunch. It would be perfect for anyone who needs to enjoy hot food without resorting to microwaves or spending money on an office cafeteria's food. Simply plug it in, and you get hot food in your hands. It's almost like magic but real and more delicious.

Top Features of a Hot Case Lunch Box

Portability: No one wants a lunch box that weighs a ton. Hot case lunch boxes are designed to be easy to carry around—whether you're hopping from meeting to meeting or running late for class. They're light enough to toss in your bag or keep in your car.

Water Camper Included: Some of the best hot case lunch boxes have the advantage of offering you a water camper. Yes, it does exist. You won't have a depressing, crusty lunch because a water camper keeps the moisture in your food from drying up. You know, like that bread you forgot about in the pantry for a month.

Most of the hot case lunch boxes come with multiple compartments so you can store different dishes without them getting all mixed up. You can have your rice, curry, and salad all living peacefully together, like a happy family.

The Advantages of Using a Hot Case Lunch Box

No More Lukewarm Meals: Gone are the days of pretending your cold pasta is actually "chilled" on purpose. Your food will remain hot and fresh in a hot case lunch box until you're ready to eat. Additionally, it eliminates the need for you to awkwardly microwave your food in a communal office kitchen.

Save Time: Think about never again standing in line at a food truck or hours spent searching for somewhere that actually serves good food. Your hot case lunch box is a gourmet meal every time you open it.

Eco-Friendly: Imagine the plastic disposable containers that you are not going to throw away anymore. A hot case lunch box makes it easy to become "green" in a tasteful manner.  

Conclusion: Why You Need a Hot Case Lunch Box

It's the best hot case lunch box; it is very practical and efficient. But the best part is that when you're ready to eat, your meal will always be at the perfect temperature. You may take it on any excursion, including work and school. It's your perfect companion, so why accept soggy sandwiches when you could have a piping-hot meal because of your new best friend—the hot case lunch box?

[ktdmecc]

Understanding Commercial Microwave Ovens: A Must-Have in Every Busy Kitchen

When running a business, especially in food services, efficiency is key. That's where commercial microwave ovens come in. Whether running a busy restaurant, café, or catering service, having the right equipment can make all the difference. A commercial microwave is designed to handle the fast-paced demands of a commercial kitchen, providing convenience and speed while ensuring food is cooked or reheated perfectly every time.

What is a Commercial Microwave Oven?

A commercial microwave oven is specifically built for high-demand kitchens where large quantities of food must be prepared or reheated quickly. Commercial microwaves are designed to be more durable, powerful, and efficient than regular household microwaves. These ovens can withstand continuous use, making them perfect for restaurants, hotels, and food trucks.

Why Should You Invest in a Commercial Microwave?

Speed and Efficiency

One of the biggest advantages of a commercial microwave is speed. In a busy kitchen, time is precious, and every second counts. Commercial microwaves can quickly reheat or cook food, saving valuable time compared to traditional ovens. This is especially crucial when serving large volumes of customers during peak hours.

Consistency

Consistency is key when it comes to cooking in a professional kitchen. Commercial microwaves offer uniform heating, ensuring your food is always cooked evenly. This consistency helps maintain the quality of your dishes and ensures customer satisfaction.

Space-Saving Design

In many commercial kitchens, space is limited. Commercial microwaves come in compact designs that fit into tight spaces without sacrificing performance. Their stackable options allow you to maximize kitchen space, which is a huge advantage for smaller kitchens.

Versatility

Commercial microwaves can handle a variety of tasks. These ovens are versatile enough to manage many different cooking needs, from reheating prepared food to defrosting frozen items. Some models even come with pre-programmed settings for specific dishes, making them easier to use.

Types of Commercial Microwaves

There are several different types of commercial microwave ovens, each designed for specific needs. Let's take a look at the most common types:

Countertop Microwaves

Countertop commercial microwaves are a popular choice for businesses with limited space. These microwaves can be placed on a countertop and are ideal for smaller kitchens or establishments with lower food output. Despite their compact size, they still offer the power and features needed for fast cooking.

Over-the-Range Microwaves

These microwaves are installed above the stove or oven. They are a great option for kitchens with limited counter space. They offer powerful features while freeing up valuable counter space.

High-Power Commercial Microwaves

For larger restaurants or high-output kitchens, high-power commercial microwaves are essential. These ovens are designed to cook food faster and handle larger volumes. They have advanced features such as programmable cooking times and multiple power levels for perfect results.

Microwave Ovens with Convection and Grilling Features

Some commercial microwaves offer additional features such as convection or grilling. This added versatility allows you to not only microwave food but also bake or grill it, expanding your menu options and improving overall cooking efficiency.

Key Features to Look for in a Commercial Microwave

When choosing a commercial microwave for your business, here are some key features to consider:

Power Rating

The power of the microwave is crucial to its performance. Commercial microwaves typically range from 1000 to 3000 watts, depending on the size and type. Higher power ratings mean faster cooking times, essential for busy kitchens. Be sure to choose one that suits your kitchen's needs.

Durability and Build Quality

Commercial microwaves need to be durable to withstand frequent use in high-demand kitchens. Look for microwaves made from sturdy materials like stainless steel, which can resist the wear and tear of daily use.

User-Friendly Controls

In a fast-paced kitchen, ease of use is important. Many commercial microwaves come with user-friendly controls, including programmable settings and touchscreens. This makes it easy for your staff to operate the microwave, even during busy hours.

Safety Features

Commercial microwaves should have safety features such as automatic shut-off, child safety locks, and door sensors. These features help reduce accidents and ensure your kitchen remains safe for staff and customers.

Capacity

Consider the size of the microwave and the amount of food you need to cook. Larger microwaves can accommodate bigger dishes, essential if you're running a busy kitchen. However, be mindful of available kitchen space when choosing the size.

How to Maintain Your Commercial Microwave

Proper maintenance is crucial for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of your commercial microwave. Here are a few tips to keep your microwave in good condition:

Regular Cleaning

Cleaning your microwave regularly is essential to prevent food buildup. Wipe down the interior and exterior with a damp cloth, and avoid using harsh chemicals that could damage the microwave.

Check the Magnetron

The magnetron is the part of the microwave that generates the microwaves. Periodically check this component to ensure it's working properly. The magnetron could be faulty if the microwave is not heating food properly.

Avoid Overloading

Overloading the microwave can strain its motor and affect performance. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines regarding the maximum load capacity for your specific model.

Professional Servicing

Consider professionally servicing your commercial microwave annually to keep it in top condition. This will help address any minor issues before they become major problems.

Visit here for the best quality product.

Conclusion

Investing in a commercial microwave oven is a smart decision for any food business. It provides speed, efficiency, and versatility that can help improve the overall workflow in your kitchen. Whether you need a small countertop model or a high-powered oven for large-scale operations, a commercial microwave fits your needs. Be sure to choose one with the right power, features, and size for your kitchen. By keeping your microwave well-maintained, you can ensure that it continues to serve your business for years to come.

With a commercial microwave, you can enhance the efficiency of your kitchen, reduce waiting times for customers, and deliver high-quality meals consistently. Consider the options available and make the best choice for your business today!

[ecolatess]

Why Bagasse Food Packaging Is the Future of Eco-Friendly Dining

As consumers and businesses alike shift toward sustainable options, the demand for eco-friendly food packaging is higher than ever. One innovative solution leading the charge is bagasse food packaging—a sustainable, compostable alternative to traditional plastic and Styrofoam containers. Derived from sugarcane waste, bagasse packaging offers a unique combination of environmental benefits and functionality, making it a popular choice in the green dining movement. Here, we’ll explore why bagasse food packaging is not only a trend but a transformative solution that’s shaping the future of eco-friendly dining.

What is Bagasse and How is it Made?

Bagasse is a fibrous byproduct left after sugarcane is crushed to extract juice. Traditionally, this material was either burned or discarded, adding to waste and environmental impact. However, technological advancements have allowed bagasse to be repurposed into durable, biodegradable packaging. Bagasse is processed, cleaned, and molded into various shapes, creating plates, bowls, cups, and containers that are both sturdy and eco-conscious.

The Environmental Impact of Bagasse Food Packaging

Bagasse packaging stands out in the world of sustainable options because it addresses multiple environmental challenges:

Biodegradable and Compostable Nature

Unlike plastic, which takes hundreds of years to decompose, bagasse food containers break down within a few months in composting facilities. This compostability means that bagasse packaging returns to the earth as organic matter rather than contributing to landfill waste.

Reduction of Carbon Emissions

Creating bagasse packaging produces fewer carbon emissions than manufacturing plastic or Styrofoam. Moreover, by using an agricultural byproduct, bagasse production minimizes the demand for raw materials, leading to a smaller environmental footprint.

Alternative to Deforestation-Based Products

Since bagasse is derived from sugarcane waste, it doesn't contribute to deforestation, unlike paper products sourced from virgin wood pulp. By choosing bagasse, businesses can support conservation efforts and reduce the strain on natural forests.

The Functional Benefits of Bagasse Food Packaging

While environmental benefits are essential, bagasse packaging also offers practical advantages that make it ideal for both businesses and consumers:

Heat and Water Resistance

Bagasse food containers are naturally heat-resistant, making them suitable for both hot and cold foods. They can safely withstand microwave heating, and they don’t warp or leak with hot liquids—qualities that make them highly functional for various food service applications.

Sturdy and Durable

Though biodegradable, bagasse packaging is remarkably sturdy. It holds its shape and strength even with heavy or saucy foods, which gives it an edge over many other eco-friendly options. This durability makes it an attractive choice for restaurants, food trucks, and catering services looking for reliable green alternatives.

Safe for Food and Non-Toxic

Bagasse is non-toxic and chemical-free, unlike some types of plastic and foam packaging that contain harmful chemicals. It provides a safe food storage option for consumers, and its natural composition ensures that no toxins are released into food, even when heated.

How Businesses Can Transition to Bagasse Food Packaging

Switching to bagasse food packaging is easier than it might seem, as these containers are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and designs to suit diverse food service needs. Here are some practical steps for businesses interested in making the transition:

Evaluate Your Packaging Needs

Assess the types of containers your business requires, whether they are for hot foods, cold items, or liquid-based dishes. Bagasse packaging offers diverse options to fit most food service requirements.

Partner with Reliable Suppliers

Look for reputable suppliers specializing in eco-friendly packaging. This ensures that your bagasse products are high-quality, certified compostable, and ethically sourced.

The Future of Bagasse and Beyond

The future of dining is undeniably leaning toward sustainability, and bagasse food packaging represents one of the most promising advancements in eco-friendly materials. As innovations in green technology continue, we can expect to see even more sophisticated and versatile options for bagasse packaging, making it a powerful tool in the global shift toward sustainable practices.

Conclusion

Bagasse food packaging is more than just a trend—it’s a forward-thinking solution that addresses both environmental and practical needs in the food service industry. By choosing bagasse, businesses contribute to a cleaner planet, support a circular economy, and provide customers with a greener alternative to conventional packaging. As the world moves towards more sustainable choices, bagasse packaging is setting the standard for a future where eco-friendly dining becomes the norm.

[rakka-kasahara]

2024-11-4

Dream:

Had a few kind of like usual.

The first one started at Walmart. I think I am in the back with the employees. I go out to start stocking shelves maybe? Somehow, I end up outside in a field next to my high school. So, I think I am missing some parts here. I believe Chroniko is there, and there are a lot of other people. We are playing a game of some sorts and have to get to the other end of the field. Maybe she was leading the game? There are several chain link fences in the way, so I am climbing them. At the end of the field is an alleyway in real life. When get there, it is an alleyway, but it is the one next to my parents' house. We go down it when the ground starts shaking. A large chasm opens up and I fall down it. There is just a flat plane at the bottom and I smack into it. I think I woke up a little after that.

The second one is at a church in my hometown's downtown. We had a lot of meetings and such in the basement of this church. They also did free lunches for students on Wednesday, so a lot of students would walk the three or four blocks to go eat there. I am in the basement with several other students. I don't remember all the details, but one girl asks another girl something along the lines of, "What sea creature, when it undergoes mitosis, is referred to as the Solar Eclipse?" What the heck that means is beyond me. The other girl responds with belga ray, but I think we all knew she meant beluga ray (which I don't think is a real animal, but is some sort of manta ray that divides itself in the dream). The girl who asks the question kind of waits for her to correct herself, but eventually gives it to her since her answer was close enough. After that, we are doing some clean up and there are a lot of kids down there. I accidentally refer to a friend as Carlos instead of Tristan, and he was kind of hurt.

I forgot to update my alarm clock, so I woke up a bit earlier than expected and managed to fall back asleep for another dream. I am at Grandma M's house (my Mom's mom). I have been there for a bit and am packing up to head home that day. My Grandma says she has made some breakfast for me. It is in the microwave in the living over the fireplace, and I can see some sort of pastry in there. I head up to the kitchen, and there is more food and pastries in the microwave in there and on the counter. I guess I will be taking some of it home. I leave the kitchen to go the entryway to start packing my bags. I see my aunt coming downs the stairs with a little orange kitten, and she says she has been keeping it a secret from Grandma. I think there was some trash on the stairs as well. I go back to the kitchen and look out over the living room. There is a cheese stick on the floor and what looks like dog poop smeared across the floor. There is other trash on the floor. I exit the kitchen to the back porch, and it is now my parents garage? I sort lead a truck out of the garage by standing outside and holding the steering wheel of the truck as it moves. It almost hits my dad's truck. At this point, the truck is now backwards and the tailgates are right next to each other. There is a book shelf in my truck that I am transferring to my dad's truck.

Analysis:

Dreams at Walmart or involving high school are pretty common, so I don't think there is too much to read into that one. Chroniko is, of course, my favorite artist.

Since I spent a lot of time at that church, it is no surprise it shows up in a dream, though I don't remember if it had before. Most likely it has and I don't remember it.

For the third, well ... My aunt and her daughter (my cousin) has been living at my Grandma's for about ten and two years respectively. I sort of feel like they are taking advantage of her. They don't really help with much housework, and despite being in her 80s, she still has to mow the lawn and shovel snow, something they could and should do. My cousin also has her own food and doesn't like when other people eat it, so she has her own drawer in the fridge. She doesn't eat much of what Grandma makes, so Grandma usually just cooks for herself. My cousin has a dog as well. It doesn't poop all over, but it has sort of commandeered the basement for itself and is just trapped down there most of the day. My aunt also apparently was thinking of getting a kitten behind Grandma's back according to my Mom. Her house is actually fairly clean, though my aunt's cat does make bit of a litter mess. As for the bookshelf, I am thinking of buying one.

[kelownajunkremoval]

Effortless Residential Junk Removal Services in West Kelowna: Clear Your Space Today!

Keeping your home clutter-free is essential for maintaining a peaceful and organized living environment. However, getting rid of unwanted items can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to larger pieces of furniture, old appliances, or accumulated household junk. Fortunately, with professional West Kelowna residential junk removal services, clearing out your home has never been easier. Whether you’re decluttering, renovating, or just making room for new items, expert junk removal services can help you regain control of your space in a hassle-free manner.

Why Opt for Professional Residential Junk Removal?

Hiring a professional junk removal service offers several advantages over handling the task on your own. From convenience to eco-friendly disposal, here’s why choosing a professional service is the best choice:

Time-Saving Convenience: Sorting through your junk and transporting it to the appropriate disposal sites can be time-consuming. Professional junk removal services handle everything from loading and hauling to proper disposal, allowing you to focus on more important things.

Safe and Efficient Disposal: Lifting heavy items and handling potentially hazardous waste can be risky. A skilled team knows how to safely remove junk without causing injury or damage to your property.

Eco-Friendly Practices: Reputable junk removal companies often prioritize environmentally responsible disposal. They sort items for recycling or donation before sending anything to the landfill, ensuring that your unwanted items are handled in a sustainable manner.

Stress-Free Experience: Letting professionals take care of the junk removal process eliminates the stress of managing the task yourself. With just one call, your home can be free of clutter without any effort on your part.

Types of Residential Junk We Handle

Residential junk removal services are designed to handle a wide range of household items. Whether you’re dealing with broken appliances, old furniture, or general clutter, a trusted service provider can help you get rid of it. Here’s a closer look at the types of items typically removed:

Furniture: From worn-out couches to broken beds, bulky furniture is one of the most common types of residential junk.

Appliances: Disposing of old refrigerators, washing machines, or microwaves can be tricky. Junk removal services can transport these large items for you and ensure they are disposed of properly.

Electronics: Outdated electronics, such as televisions, computers, and other gadgets, need to be handled with care. Professional services can ensure that your e-waste is recycled correctly.

Yard Waste: Whether you’re trimming trees, cutting back hedges, or clearing your lawn of debris, junk removal services can handle all types of yard waste.

Construction Debris: If you’re renovating or building an addition to your home, construction debris like drywall, wood, and old fixtures can pile up quickly. Junk removal services can haul it away efficiently.

The Junk Removal Process: How It Works

Using a residential junk removal service in West Kelowna is straightforward and easy. Here’s how the process typically works:

Get a Quote: Contact your local junk removal provider and explain what you need to be removed. Many companies offer free estimates based on the volume and type of junk.

Schedule an Appointment: Choose a date and time that works best for you. Professional junk removal teams are often flexible and can accommodate your schedule.

Removal Day: On the appointed day, the junk removal team arrives at your home, evaluates the items, and gets to work. They’ll quickly and safely load everything onto their truck.

Eco-Friendly Disposal: After removing your junk, the team will dispose of it responsibly. This often includes recycling or donating usable items before sending anything to the landfill.

Benefits of Decluttering Your Home

Decluttering your home offers numerous benefits that go beyond just having a clean space. When you remove unwanted junk, you create a healthier and more organized environment, both physically and mentally:

Improved Focus and Productivity: A clutter-free home can improve your ability to focus, reduce distractions, and increase productivity, especially if you work from home.

Reduced Stress: Studies show that a clean, organized environment can reduce stress and anxiety. By clearing out unnecessary junk, you can enjoy a more peaceful living space.

Better Aesthetics: Removing old and unused items opens up space, making your home appear more spacious and inviting.

Enhanced Safety: Reducing clutter lowers the risk of accidents or injuries in the home, especially for households with children or elderly family members.

Why Choose a Local Service?

Choosing a local West Kelowna junk removal service provides you with the benefit of working with professionals who understand the area and its regulations. Local services often have faster response times and can accommodate your needs more quickly than larger, non-local companies. They are also familiar with local recycling centers and donation facilities, ensuring your items are disposed of properly.

Whether you’re moving, downsizing, or just decluttering, residential junk removal services make it easy to clear out your home. With trained professionals managing the entire process, you can avoid the hassle of lifting, loading, and hauling away your unwanted items. So, take the first step towards a clutter-free home today!

When it comes to business needs, Kelowna commercial junk removal services are equally efficient, helping companies maintain clean and organized workspaces with minimal disruption.

[rvpostings01]

Class C RVs for Sale: Your Compact Adventure Awaits at RVPostings

RVPostings welcomes you to explore our fantastic selection of Class C RVs for Sale. These versatile motorhomes offer a perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and mobility, making them an excellent choice for a wide range of travelers. Class C RVs for Sale, often referred to as "mini-motorhomes," are designed to provide a comfortable and self-contained experience on the road. We are built on a van or truck chassis and typically feature an overhead sleeping area, which is a hallmark of Class C design. This space-efficient feature allows you to maximize the interior living area while maintaining a manageable size, making Class C RVs ideal for couples, families, or small groups of travelers.

One of the key advantages of Class C RVs is their flexibility. We are nimble and easier to drive compared to their larger Class A counterparts, making them suitable for navigating both highways and winding back roads. Whether you're planning a cross-country road trip or a weekend getaway, Class C RVs provide an ideal balance of mobility and comfort.

Inside, you'll find well-appointed interiors with all the essential amenities. These may include a kitchen with a stove, refrigerator, and microwave, as well as a bathroom with a toilet, shower, and sink. The living and dining areas are comfortable and often convertible into sleeping spaces, ensuring you have everything you need for an enjoyable journey.

Class C RVs are also a cost-effective option, both in terms of purchase price and operational expenses. We are more fuel-efficient than larger RVs, and their smaller size means lower campground fees. Additionally, you can often use standard parking spaces when exploring towns and cities, eliminating the need for additional transportation.

We offer a diverse range of Class C RVs to cater to various preferences and budgets. Our listings showcase different manufacturers, sizes, and features, allowing you to find the perfect RV that suits your unique needs. Whether you desire a cozy, compact RV for intimate getaways or a larger Class C with more amenities for extended travel, we have options that will match your criteria. When you shop with RVPostings.com, you'll benefit from our user-friendly platform, allowing you to browse, compare, and select Class C RVs that align with your specific requirements. We are committed to helping you find the ideal RV that opens the door to countless adventures. Explore our selection of Class C RVs for sale today and embark on your next journey with confidence and comfort.

[seltzer-tastes-pretty-good]

I imagine BF will beep along to anything else that also beeps

Aforementioned scanned items as cashier? Beeps

Using a microwave? Beeps

Alarm clock in the morning? Beeps

Truck backing up? He's definitely not allowed to operate a machine like that but if he just hears it out in his daily life? You know he'll beep along

This man just beeps constantly and always, and will take advantage of anything that happens to also beep

I feel like BF would just beep himself when scanning things as a cashier.

[pigeontheoneandonly]

Laser Weapons

@awhellstothejoe as requested :)

Caveat: I am not an expert in directed energy weapons.  (I don’t tend to write tumblr posts about technical subjects in which I am an expert in for various reasons.)  Consider this a layman’s understanding, which may contain unwitting errors.  This is also based in American technology, because I’m mostly unfamiliar with military technical development programs in other countries, but suffice to say that the US is not the only country developing these weapons.  I’m also not here to argue the ethics of these or other weapons, or of the US military in general; those are worthy subjects, but entirely separate posts.

So, one of the traits of the US Dept of Defense (DoD) is they are categorically unable to call anything by its common name.  Missiles are “expendables” (meaning they are aircraft that only fly a single mission).  Helicopter flight is “VTOL” (Vertical Take-Off and Landing).  And laser weapons are “directed energy weapons”.  Directed energy (DE) can take several forms (microwave, particle, even sonic) but is most often meant as laser.  

DE weapons have been in development for decades, but in the past ten-fifteen years-ish, have become not only practical but operational, if not yet widely deployed. They consist (at a simplified level) of a power source, a cooling system, and of course the laser itself.  The laser is specifically a “high energy laser” (HEL), which is a kilowatt or megawatt class laser.  (For comparison, a laser pen is typically a few milliwatts, though incorrectly rated laser pointers are rampant.)  “Ray guns” are also very much still the stuff of science fiction; a “compact” military directed energy weapon is still the size of a truck.  There is currently a lot of active work to make a versatile system that will be small and light enough to be carried by an aircraft smaller than a transport.  

The main advantages of a DE weapon vs a conventional weapon are the speed (obviously lightspeed for a laser), range, and the “deep magazine”—a DE weapon can fire single or multiple pulses for as long as it has power, which functionally means as long as it has either battery power and/or fuel.  Ground-based laser weapons are often powered by turbine generators (basically airplane engines), often tied into a battery.  The battery allows for faster startup and also allows the weapon to operate in “quiet mode”.  As a Mass Effect fic writer, obviously this is not a concern in space; however, on real-world Earth, while there’s been a lot of attention devoted to stealth (low-observability in DoD parlance) in the visible and infrared spectrum, sonic is also a serious concern.  Your stealth aircraft isn’t very stealthy if everyone in the vicinity can hear it and in fact this was a significant telltale in recent conflicts.  DE weapons also have a relatively low per-shot cost.

The goal of most laser-based DE weapons is to damage or destroy its targets, destroy meaning “disable completely” rather than “vaporize”.  Operating at lightspeed is an important attribute in a world where very highspeed weapons (ex. hypersoncis) are re-defining the battlespace.  (The point of certain varieties of hypersonic weapons is to defeat missile defense; typically, if you can’t avoid detection, your alternative is to outrun whatever defensive measures are available, and/or out-altitude them if you happen to be ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] rather than offensive.)  In a fictional world like Mass Effect, conceivably most space battles take place at lightspeed, which would mean that human operators are simply along for the ride, and computational systems (VI, AI) are making most of the important decisions mid-battle.  Operating at lightspeed in that kind of space would also mean that you can only react once you’ve chosen your initial positions.  By the time you know something is coming, you’ve already been hit. You’d need to also react at superhuman speed to even attempt to avoid the next hit.  Most ships that chose their initial positions poorly would be disabled or destroyed in the initial exchange.

This demonstrates how disruptive to standard tactics a speed of light weapon can be.  In a next-generation “near-peer conflict” (a military conflict between two powers of roughly equivalent technological capability, ex. US and China), it’s thought that capabilities like large numbers of attritable drones (unmanned aircraft you can afford to lose) will be critical. If you’re able to severely degrade your adversary’s drone fleet before they’re able to react, while protecting your own, you have a significant advantage.   Likewise, if both adversaries have this capability, it becomes both a detection and a numbers game.  

I want you to imagine for a minute a real-world scenario where both adversaries are fighting with lightspeed weapons, and the need for computers to make decisions in a battle becomes real rather than fictional.  That’s the level of disruption we could be facing.  (It remains to be seen whether that will ever be considered; there are a huge number of factors shaping what next-gen warfare will look like.)

If (when) the technology can be made small enough to be carried on, say, a fighter jet or an armed drone, it also reduces the reliance on low-observable technology, which is very very expensive as well as temperamental; if you can simply shoot down anything fired at you, who cares about being seen?  (Again, assuming that your adversary lacks similar capability.)

All this said, the entire human history of military technology involves inventing new threats followed by inventing new counter-threats.  DE weapons are a response to new threats; inevitably, their deployment will be followed by new technologies to counter their efficacy.

I also want to touch briefly on the military-industrial complex in the US. The whole idea behind it is that a) maintaining military superiority is crucial to national defense, and b) advances in military technology will eventually result in advances in civilian/commercial technology.  (There is a lot I could say on whether this is a good or effective arrangement, but again, another post.) So, for example, the IPTMS (integrated power and thermal management system) required for DE weapons can also apply to requirements for hybrid-electric power systems.  High-powered lasers have industrial and scientific applications as well.  So there are potential benefits to this technology beyond its military applications.  

[fanficparker]

A GAME OF DIAMONDS AND HEARTS // H.O.

>> CHAPTER FOUR

“The life that you seek you shall never find. For when the Gods made man, They kept immortality to themselves.” - The Epic of Gilgamesh

(Frenemies to Lovers! Mob AU! ) Harrison Osterfield x Fem!OC

Word count: 2.47k words

Warning: Swearing, knives, anger issues, guns, handcuffs, kidnapping (kind of?), Harrison Osterfield (Yeah, that's a legit warning)

Synopsis: After the sudden death of his uncle and the eccentric multi-millionaire mafia king Lufian Clarke, Harrison Osterfield’s almost decent life is mostly devastated especially when half of what should be rightfully his fortune is transferred to their immediate rival for reasons he doesn’t know. What’s remaining is him trying to figure out how to deal with this collaboration of two rival corporations that don’t belong together and work on the side of the woman he never knew would ever be referred to as his partner in crime while they are dragged into a mess bigger than what they were trained to handle.

<< THREE [ MASTERLIST ] FIVE >>

Sandhya parked the car at the rear side of an autobody workshop next to a white pickup truck that resembled closer to junk than any actual mode of transportation. It was past ten when she pulled there, and the three people Harrison spotted in the shop were on their way to shut it down for the night's call. He had managed to keep a careful eye at what turns she took as the roads forked or what landmarks she crossed on her way, only to achieve practically nothing. He was a stranger to this place and she being the wicked witch she was, had driven in circles so many times that he was sure, she had managed to complicate the path for him in manners that his head failed to unravel.

"We are here, homies." She announced, yawning at the last part, tapping her palm over the dashboard, tugging the keys from the ignition and then pulling the hand brakes.

Kevin groaned, shuffling in his seat, eyes half-lidded, voice groggy with sleep. The women sitting beside him plucked off her earphones, shutting her laptop. Harrison, on the other hand, chose to inspect the unfamiliar surrounding in the comfort of the car, eyes sceptical and narrowing. He ignored the thud of car doors opening and closing only to be disturbed by a sharp noise of metal keys hitting the window on the other side.

He squirmed at the unpleasant sound and turned to look at the intruder as she leaned across from him, on the opposite side of the car, the neon signboard of the car workshop flashing red light over her face. She looked like an angel from hell.

"Are you moving out? Or should I rather lock you up here?"

Harrison tamped down the urge to roll his eyes and stepped precariously out of the car, rolling up his sleeves and buttoning them near his elbows. He followed the three people as they walk down a slope that connected to an underground parking lot. There were a few cars and motorbikes parked there, most seemed to be in a dire need of repair. It took him roughly two minutes to figure out that it was no underground parking. It was a whole ass hideout disguised on the front with unused motors. They walked into a narrow alleyway, passing through several closed doors of what he assumed were rooms to a living area attached to a kitchen. It wasn't well furnished but furnished enough for a stay. Gray unpainted walls, sofas, tables and chairs, fridge, microwave, a small but flattering shelf full of wine bottles and a CCTV monitor to the top corner that covered the outside of their hideout, all the necessities one needs to survive.

"Hey, we will need your phone and your watch." The other woman he didn't know the name of yet, matched his pace, her laptop tucked below her arm, her green hair shorter than his with a cool undercut to the sides. She looked equally chill and nerdy in her baggy checked shirt, a mixture foreign to him.

He paused on his way, casting her a scathing glare, a bored look wiping over his face the next instant, "And why would I give you that?"

"Because Holly needs to encrypt them," Sandhya replied for her, standing beside the taller girl.

"So that it isn't traceable." Holly reluctantly but quickly added. She was younger than them, probably around Harry's age. Harrison could feel an undercurrent of fear floating through her voice.

"Thank you very much, but..." Harrison replied, not missing a beat, shooting a bitter smile at Sandhya before facing Holly, uttering: "No," his lips forming a proper 'o' as he took a step away only to be stopped by Sandhya's hand grabbing his wrist.

"It's not a choice, Harrison." She asserted.

An order.

Something sour lathered at the back of his tongue. A vein in his forehead twisted. Anger? Resentment? Malice? You just name it. He felt all of them at once.

He jerked away from her grip, releasing his arm. When he turned to face Sandhya again, his entire aspect had changed. His shoulders were square and broad, posture imposing, features stone, eyes icicles. They exchanged a long, threatening glare, eyes never wavering. He took a step ahead, expecting her to step back but she didn't recoil, holding her ground. She had the sort of personality you associate stereotypes with: high cheekbones, tall stature, sharp features but she somehow managed to defy most of them. Without her heels and now wearing some flat running shoes, she barely reached his chin, there was something warm about the softness of her features hidden beneath her belligerent attitude. The little baby fat her genetics had blessed over her face, provided her preys with false hopes of mercy. Betrayal at its finest.

He looked down at her and she looked up at him, their shoes bumping, faces inches apart. Realisation ticks through her mind when she looked a second deeper into his eyes.

He was, perhaps, stalling.

Her neck snapped to the monitor embedded at the top corner of the living space.

Shit.

A car had stopped outside their hideout and two armed men emerged from the car, strolling towards the basement.

She identified one of the men. His men.

"Look ou--" She tried to yell but Harrison didn't allow even an ounce of air to escape from her lungs. He'd grabbed her shoulders swiftly, taking advantage of her diverted attention, squeezing her shoulder blades and twisting her body. Her back flushed against his chest.

Both Kevin and Holly grabbed their pistols, the clicking sound of safety pins dropping echoed in the enclosed space. They pointed the weapon at Harrison but he already had a pocket knife pointed at Sandhya's throat while his other arm was pressed beneath her neck, holding her still.

"Keep your guns down or this floor would bathe in her blood." He warned, poking the tip of the knife into her skin, eyes focused on the pistols.

Kevin and Holly hesitated, their eyes flickering at Sandhya's face. Something passed between their eyes, some sort of permission and they threw their guns down, sliding them away from their reach.

"Hands above your head, quick." Harrison added, "And place them on the wall, face the other side."

Holly and Kevin obeyed without questioning, pressing their palms to the walls, while Harrison bent to pick up their pistols, shoving them at the back of his pants, holding Sandhya on a chokehold.

"I'd warned about your men's involvement in Clarke's murder," she whimpered when he placed the blade near her skin again, getting to his feet, "Yet you let them trace our location," she somehow managed to finish the sentence.

"You speak a lot for someone millimetres apart from dying."

"You won't kill me." She said, gritting her teeth.

"Yeah, but I can hurt you," he whispered near her ear, "And we both know how much I'd like that." His warm breath fanned over her cheek as he dug the pointy edge of the blade to the pulsing side of her neck, pressing not enough to cut her but enough to terrify her.

"Arsehole." She muttered, sucking in a breath.

"Tell me something new." His lips twisted into a devilish grin as he dragged her outside, her loose hair tickling under his chin, his arms clenched so tightly around her that she was sure she would still feel them tomorrow.

"I am telling you..." She tried to breathe and speak.

"Sssh..." Harrison interrupted with a shush, the vibrations moving through her flesh, echoing through her bones.

She tried to ignore the effect of his voice on her spine, suppressing the chilling sensation. "We are on the same team," she whispered softly and carefully as if trying to lull a toddler into handling back their parents' important work files.

"Oh well, then I should be the one giving orders."

They walked to the front of the basement. She could spot the shadowy outline of the two men waiting.

She started trying to resist, wiggling her body in his grip.

"Hey, Hey! Behave. This blade won't spare. Don't blame me."

"Let go, Harrison. Your life is on the edge!" She wiggled harder.

Edge.

He couldn't stop but laugh at the irony in the metaphor she chose.

They reached his men and she stilled in his grip. A white man, she identified as Tom (as Harrison had previously pointed out) and the other man she didn't identify was black and taller than all of them, both standing like soldiers in front of her.

"This is Tom. And this is Tuwaine," he introduced his men.

"This could be dangerous for both of us." She was almost pleading now, eyes pooling with tears of irritation and of failure.

"We don't want to kill her," Tom said, passing Harrison a pair of handcuffs.

And here she thought she had the lead.

"Why do y'll keep telling me that?" Harrison groaned at Tom's advice. He had repeated it over, even Sandhya has said the same thing, twice.

"Do I look like a psychotic killer on a killing frenzy?" He grabbed her wrists, fastening the cuffs behind her back, gripping her upper arm. "I know well who and whom I am supposed to hurt, how and where." He clarified, gently pushing her to sit on the back seat of the car. She obeyed this time, having no choice.

"It's not easy to trust you," Tuwaine added.

Harrison nodded, trying to look offended, "Thanks Tuwaine, I needed that," getting into the car, along with her, keeping a good distance between them. He snorted when she swirled her neck to the other side, refusing to look at him.

Tom settled himself on the driver's seat and Tuwaine sat beside him as the car drove off.

***

The giant gates of the mansion she'd only seen from far away opened like butterfly's wings, welcoming the car where she sat as a hostage.

"Aren't you delighted seeing this place?" Harrison asked in a tone that was closer to mockery than curiosity.

She still refused to look at him yet could hear the smirk in his voice.

"The place you won in the lottery? Or shall I say, cheated--"

"Fuck off." She interrupted but he went on like a guide, ignoring the cuss—

"The second luxurious property in England, just next to the Buckingham Palace."

She chose to ignore too. The main doors to the estate were wide open. Two women came rushing out when the car came to a halt. One of them opened Sandhya's door, pulling her out, holding her forearm, the other pulled a pistol and a knife from her dress.

"Release her," Harrison said nonchalantly, tossing the keys of the cuffs to the first woman. She unlocked the metal and Sandhya pulled her hands from the woman's grip, rubbing her fingers around her wrists.

She walked in, eyes in the front as Harrison and the crew accompanied her.

"Take her to the guest suite." He said and the same woman nodded.

Before she could grip Sandhya's arm, she moved it away, rushing to Harrison, grabbing his shirt collars with both her hands.

"I'd planned everything so intricately and you... You just ruined it all." She spoke with clenched teeth, eyes glistening with emotionless tears. "Do you--Don't understand the gravity of the situation? We are literally playing with fire." She exhaled forcefully.

He chortled.

Playing with fire?

He had committed various mistakes today, more mistakes than he could recount, more mistakes than he could afford. He had let his emotions get the best of him. He had not inspected Clarke's body, then went to beat Dino's men without even being careful of the various other dangers he could cross paths with, then chose to accompany Sandhya alone, got into a life-threatening car chase, had a sniper pointed to his head.

On top of that, he had also failed to consider the disastrous change the mafia world would go through upon the King's death. Damn, he had already played with fire and it was enough for him.

With Clarke's death: The mafia world has never been so free and so trapped. So vulnerable yet so lethal.

Harrison had discovered that for himself. He fucking knew the gravity of the situation! And that's why he chose to take matters into his own hands. He could trust nobody. Especially her.

"You really need to stop with your habit of holding collars." He held her hand in his, thumbs tracing circles over the back.

She continued to search his face, dark eyes filled with disbelief.

"We will work my way. And..." his face hardened at the conjunction, his thumbs stopped their ministrations as he squeezed her hands tighter. "And when I find your involvement in Clarke's murder, I would not hesitate to put a bullet through your skull."

She snorted this time, pulling her hands back.

"This is what you concluded? This? After everything?" She burst out into a peal of bitter laughter, the one that twisted Harrison's gut.

Her eyes hardened again as she jabbed a finger into his chest.

The next words came out as an unchecked storm out of her mouth, "The life you want, you will never get." Her words were merely whispers but worked their way through his gut, burning his chest, crawling through every fibre of his body and she never seemed to stop.

"You'll never be the next Clarke, you'll never even be half of him. Maybe," she hiccupped, "Maybe, he knew that and that's why he chose me, he chose me over you because he knew how incongruous you were."

She took a step forward, her chest pressing against his, standing on her toes, directly meeting his eyes and raising her voice beyond the point of normalcy, "How you were an insult to his legacy!" Pausing to exhale, she continued, her voice back to low, "It was a pity that he gave you half of his kingdom. You didn't even deserve that. You'll never be him. You are nothing like him."

Harrison bit back his tongue, his icy eyes burning from the lack of blinking. The mansion was dead silent, no one had dared to speak or react. He clenched his fists tight, feeling his nails digging into his palms.

"Take her to the room." He instructed, voice barely above a few decibels. He didn't wait for his words to turn to actions, rather he turned on his feet, striding towards his room, jaws tensed, nerves popping through his burning flesh.

His footsteps echoed behind him.

____________________

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…TO BE CONTINUED…

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[moldisgoodforyou]

the fire alarm

warnings: cursing & sex - just pure smut. this is (kind of) for those of you that asked for taking control with charlie - i tried my best! 

wordcount: 2.6k

“I have a surprise for you.” Charlie mentioned offhandledly as they both laid on the bed in his room at Beta, just finishing up their studying. “Yeah? Did you bring me cookies or something?” JJ replied, glancing up from his textbook. She grinned and tugged down on the hem of her t-shirt dress. “Or something.” 

He shut the book, pushing it aside. “Is that why you’re all dressed up? Do you have a date planned?” She shook her head. “Nope.” 

“Hm.” He looked her over, trying to figure it out. “Want me to show you?” She offered as she stood, trying her best to hold back a smirk. 

“I get it that easy? Normally you make me work for this kind of thing. Whatever it is.” He leaned over and grabbed his water bottle, completely clueless. Charlie grinned and took the opportunity, pulling her dress over her head just as he took a sip. JJ choked on his water immediately. 

She wore a sheer, lacy, black bustier with a matching lace thong and gave him a little twirl, proud of his reaction. “Jesus Christ, Charlie.” JJ coughed out, his eyes trailing up and down her body. “You like it?” She had a smug smile and giggled as JJ reached out, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her down to the bed. “You’re so fucking pretty.” He murmured before meeting her in a heated kiss. “How long have you had this on?” 

“Um...since I came over? Three hours ago?” She went to unbutton his shorts straightaway, wasting no time. He leaned back slightly to pull his shirt over his head. “And we’ve just been sitting here studying?!” He exclaimed before crashing his lips back onto hers. She laughed against his lips and rolled them over so she was on top, then nipped at his lower lip with her teeth teasingly. “Kind of a waste of time, right?” 

“I can’t even - holy shit.” JJ mumbled, his hands going to her waist. “Can I take a picture of you or something? I don’t want to forget this.” She pressed open-mouthed kisses along his jawline, then sucked at a tender spot on his neck. “Absolutely not. Don’t worry, I’ll wear it again.” 

“Thank god.” He breathed out, his grip on her waist tightening.

Just as Charlie was about to slide one of the straps off her shoulders, the sound of the fire alarm rang out through the house. “Fucking hell.” JJ cursed, dropping his hands from her waist. “Is that real?” She asked as she rolled off him, crossing her arms across her chest to cover up. 

“Yes, it’s real, it’s probably some idiot pledge - god, I’m gonna kill whoever it is.” He grumbled, then grabbed a large shirt out of his closet and tossed it to her. “Put this on.” He grabbed his robe for himself, the only thing that had enough fabric to hide his obvious boner. Charlie pulled on the shirt, hesitating, then took out a pair of her shorts that she kept in his dresser and pulled those on too. 

Someone knocked on their door as they passed. “We’re coming!” JJ called back, annoyed, then took her hand and they headed outside to the parking lot with the rest of the boys. Elliott noticed them immediately - it was 11pm on a random Tuesday, and Charlie was unfortunately the only girl out in the group. “Whatcha up to, Walker?” He asked with a shit-eating grin. 

JJ flipped him off in response, wrapping both arms around Charlie from behind. “Who pulled the alarm?” Elliott shrugged. “Not sure yet. Might be real though, someone probably fucked up their microwave popcorn or some shit.” JJ groaned in response, pulling Charlie closer. 

Charlie smirked, resting her head against his shoulder and pressing her ass against his hips. “You good, Maybank?” He grit his teeth, keeping his voice low. “Don’t try it, Charlie.” She only grinned, turning to whisper in his ear. “So hard for me, baby. Are you thinking about what I have on, under your shirt? Barely covers a thing.”

He rested his forearm across her waist, pinning her in place against him. “Charlie, stop.” Elliott wandered over again. “Guess we gotta wait for the fire truck to came, typical protocol. Were you guys awake?”

“What do you fucking think?” JJ bit back, with zero patience. Elliott nodded in recognition, then laughed. “Were you - oh, damn, that’s unfortunate.” Charlie rolled her eyes. “We weren’t doing what you’re thinking. We were just about to fall asleep.”

“Yeah, sure.” He grinned, clearly not believing it. “Hey, Charlie, did Joe ever text you? This pledge, I gave him your number because he had questions about kinesiology.” She nodded, about to speak until JJ curled his fingers around her hip.

“You’re just giving out my girlfriend’s number?” He asked Elliott, frowning. “He’s just asking about my major, that’s it, J.” Charlie reassured him, slipping her hand behind her back and slowly trailing her hand down against his stomach (and further). JJ jerked his hips back, tightening his grip on her hip. “Just like Jacob was asking about the group project?” She laughed and retracted her hand. “Not quite.” 

Thomas strolled over, hands in his pockets. “Hey, Walker. Did you come over for a house tour at this fine hour?” He teased. JJ groaned. “Great, we got the whole goon squad over here. Can we just go inside?” Thomas shook his head. “Nope. President’s orders. They’re doing the fire inspection now, should be soon though.” Elliott eyed him curiously. “Why are you in such a mood, Maybank?” 

Charlie grinned, glancing up at her boyfriend - her shirt falling off her shoulder as she shifted, exposing the lacy strap of the lingerie. “Yeah, J, why are you in such a mood?” JJ clapped a hand over her shoulder to hide it, grimacing. “Just tired, is all.” 

She tilted her head up to whisper in his ear again. “You didn’t seem tired earlier. But if you really are, I guess we can just go to bed...” 

“Hell no.” He replied lowly, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. A couple firemen came outside, gesturing an all clear, and all the boys shuffled back inside in a line much too slow for JJ’s liking. 

He practically sprinted after her up the stairs, immediately locking the door shut once they got into his room. “What was up with that stunt you pulled?” He growled, trapping her against the wall.  

“Uh uh, I want to be in charge.” She argued, reaching up and grabbing his wrists. He twisted them out of her grip easily. “Not fair when you tease like that.” 

“Not everything is fair, Maybank. Sit on the bed.” She pointed, giving him a little shove. He grumbled but did so. She grinned. “I can’t take you seriously in that robe.” 

“Well are you gonna strip for me or not?” He raised his eyebrows, challenging her. “I don’t think you deserve it, with that attitude.” She shot back, crossing her arms. “C’mon, Charlie, I can’t take it.” He pleaded, shrugging off the robe. 

Charlie smirked, reaching for the door and turning the knob. “No. I think I’m gonna go get -” She was cut off with a squeal as JJ sprung from the bed and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her backward. “Don’t you fucking dare, Charlotte.” She scowled as he dropped her unceremoniously onto the bed, knowing exactly what the use of her full name meant. “Maybank.” She warned. 

“No. You took too long.” He tugged her shirt over her head, tossing it aside, then leaned down to hover on top of her. Charlie kicked off her shorts too, revealing the lingerie once again. “Let me.” She argued, trying to roll them over. “No.” He pinned her wrists to the bed in one hand above her head and she took a sharp inhale, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment. 

“Come on, JJ, play along.” She protested. “I had a plan and everything.” He laughed, trailing a finger across her collarbone. “You can never take yourself seriously when you try to be in control.” 

“I can! The fucking fire alarm ruined my plan, because you wouldn’t come to my house to study.” She complained, flinching under him as he traced his finger along the side of her bra top. “We never end up actually studying at your place.” He countered with a grin, then ducked his head down to skate his teeth along her collarbone, keeping her wrists pinned in place. 

“I study better at the library. You just get too distracted.” Charlie retorted, only for JJ to glance up with a smirk. “I wonder why.” He made a point to scan his eyes down her body. She scowled. “If you’re gonna be in control, you have to do something.” 

“With all due respect...Charlotte,” JJ started, loving the way she slightly wrinkled her nose at the name, then the way she gasped as he pinched her nipple hard. “Just shut up.” He cut off any sassy retort of hers with a deep kiss, threading his fingers through her hair. With her hands free, she wrapped an arm around his waist, pressing her hips against his. 

“So hard for me, Maybank.” She teased, running her tongue against his lips. “Think of how many times I could have come by now without the stupid fire alarm. Under you...moaning your name...” He groaned, reaching behind her to undo the bustier. He fumbled with the long clasp. “How do I get this fucking thing off?” 

Charlie grinned, amused. “I thought you liked it.” 

“Yeah, I like seeing your tits better. Sit up, I can’t figure it out.” 

She rolled her eyes and reached behind her, undoing the clasp in a couple quick pinches. “Not really in charge if I have to be the one undressing myself, hm?” She challenged, lifting her chin. 

He huffed and tossed it aside. “Watch your mouth, Charlotte.” She grinned and reached down, palming him through his boxers. “I want these off.” He nodded and pushed them down and she took advantage of the moment to push him onto his back. “Walker, I -” 

“Shh.” She replied, ducking her head down to lick a small circle on the head of his cock. “Fuck.” He hissed out, gathering her hair aside. She then took her time teasing, leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses up his inner thigh, anywhere but where he really wanted it. JJ shifted uncomfortably underneath her for a moment. “Charlie, please.”  

“What was that?” She asked with a smirk, running one finger down his length. “Come on, you’re not going to make me do this.” He protested, pushing his hips up against her hand. “You make me do it. Ask for it, J.” She encouraged him with a smile. 

“Walker. Please.” 

“Please what?” 

He sighed, frustrated, before giving in. “I want to see your pretty lips on my cock.”  

“There, that wasn’t so difficult.” She grinned before taking him completely in her mouth, hearing JJ’s strangled cry out. He tugged on her hair gathered in his hand as she hollowed out her cheeks, starting to bob up and down on him. JJ pressed his head back into the pillows, a string of curses falling from his lips. “Fucking hell, Charlie.” 

“Look at me, Maybank.” She told him before going back to work on his cock, not being shy in any sense. She gripped his hips to try and pin him down as he bucked them into her mouth, mumbling a quick apology. He kept his eyes trained on her, his lips slightly parted as he panted out. “God, you’re so beautiful.” 

His breathing quickened as he neared his release. She could tell and drew her lips off of him before he could come and he groaned, tugging at her hair still in his fist. “Really?” 

Charlie smirked. “Yeah, because I can tell you’re not gonna last and I want to fuck you.” She kicked off her panties and he grabbed her wrist once they were off. “But you didn’t - I want to make you feel good.” 

She raised her eyebrows. “Then let me on top.” 

He grinned, gesturing for her to come closer. He reached over and pulled a condom out of the nightstand, rolling it down his cock. “You gonna complain about walking tomorrow?” 

She rolled her eyes - but blushed all the same. “Shut the fuck up, J.” She straddled his hips and slowly sank down on him, letting out a soft moan at the feeling. “Fuck, you feel so good.” JJ praised, hands going to grip her waist. After taking a couple seconds to adjust around him, she started slowly rocking her hips, biting her lip hard. 

“So fucking pretty, sweetheart.” He told her, thrusting up his hips to match her pace. She could hardly think enough to get out words, focusing on him instead. He reached up to roll her nipple between his fingers as she reached her hand down, rubbing slow circles on her clit. He groaned as he watched her, committing every inch of her body to memory. 

“Charlie - I’m -” he warned through pants, eyes fluttering shut as he kept jutting his hips up to meet hers. “I know.” She nodded and steadied herself with two hands on his chest to quicken her pace. It only took a few more rolls of her hips for him to come undone. “Holy shit - fuck, pretty girl.” He groaned out, his fingers digging into her hips. 

She got off him, whimpering a little at the loss of contact. “Did you..?” JJ trailed off, frowning when he realized. “No, it’s fine. Wanted to surprise you.” Charlie excused it, moving to lay down by his side. “No, wait. Come here.” He grabbed her waist, pulling her back up. 

“J, I can’t just -” 

“Sit on my face.”��

Her eyes went wide and she blushed red, hesitating. “You’re sure?” 

He grinned and hooked his hands under her thighs, pulling her forward. “Don’t be all shy now.” He teased before licking a flat stripe up her pussy, loving her moan. “So wet for me, Walker.” 

Charlie gripped the headboard for stability, slowly starting to rock against his face - he only pulled her closer as he buried his face into her cunt. “Oh - fuck, JJ, right there -” she got out through high-pitched moans. He kept tongue-fucking her, nose occasionally nudging her clit. “J, please.” Charlie whined, pushing her hips against him more. 

He lifted his head a little and took her clit between his teeth, then sucked hard. She gasped in surprise, finally feeling her orgasm wash over her. “Fuck, J!” She whined a little, hips flinching away as he continued to lap at her pussy, unable to  handle it. He slid his hands up to her waist, setting her aside with a smirk. 

She let her head fall back against the pillows, breathing hard as she came down from her high. “How have we never done that before?” He laughed and nudged her side with his elbow. “Dunno. Liked it?” 

“Liked it - JJ, I think the whole fucking house heard me.” 

He chuckled, tracing a finger across her stomach and grinned when she shied away. “As they should.” 

“It’s embarrassing.” She countered, knocking his hand away lazily. He only wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close and resting his chin in the crook of her neck. “Nah. Need the whole house to hear that you’re mine.” 

[everyhowlmarksthedead]

❛ RAINY DESERT ❜

with Hank ‘Tranq’ Loza.

Request: HERMANA acabo de ver que estás taking requests for tranq, and maybe is too late pero por si acaso how about tranq x younger reader (25 or so) having a soft day or a nice date, like cuddles, watching films together... Thank youuuuuuu💖💖💖💖

BY @aquamento

Warnings: none.

Word count: about 1.3k

Aurora says: this writing hasn't been edited, you may find some grammar mistakes, I'm sorry about that!

Gif credits: @angels-reyes

Masterlist.

📱to Bish✨:

“Hey, prez. I was thinking about stealing you my man. It's gonna rain and I already finished at the hospital, so I would like to spend the afternoon on my sofa doing nothing, but cuddling as fuck till it hurts”.

📱 from Bish✨:

“Don't you want to level up to El Presidente? Maybe, adopt me?”

📱 to Bish✨:

“I change you my man, for a delicious lunch tomorrow”.

📱 from Bish✨:

“I already kicked his big ass outta my club, querida. But now that you said so…”

Leaving your phone over the passenger's seat, with a triumphant smile drawn on your lips. You have the window down, with an elbow nailed there and the other over the steering wheel, thanking to have taking the automatic car this morning, because your hands are a little sleepy after a long, long day. But your reward is coming, and you can't ask for anything else. Turning to the left on the main avenue of Santo Padre, you slow down the velocity, as if you had all the time in the world, stopping some minutes after for a red light. Palming your lap following the rhythm of the song playing through the radio, while you sing it so concentrated, the strong buzz of an engine pushes you back to reality. Resting both arms on the door and your chin over them, you can't help but smile like a teen in love with a soft sigh escaping out from your lips.

“You kill me every time you do that”. Stopping his motorbike next to your car, he takes off the sunglasses for a second.

“Hm…” You just say, so absorbed that you can't even talk.

“That smile”. Hank points at it, before poking your nose, making you wrinkle it.

Leaning towards your car, you stick your head out of the window to reach his lips with a smooth kiss that pushes you to heaven. You met him almost four years ago, but it wasn't until two years after that you dared to tell each other about your feelings. Since then, you are inseparable. And his brothers consider you one more of the Mayan family, so you can take some advantage with it sometimes. Like this one.

As soon as you are at the porch of your shared house, you step out from your car taking your phone and your bag, and walking to your boyfriend with both arms raised so it's easier for him to lift you up between his. Wrapping his waist with both legs, you can hear him chuckling while you fill up his face with kisses, leading his steps to the main door. Four years, and you are still falling for him a little more every day. Sometimes you wish to not have been such jerks, hiding what you were feeling because of the fear of the age difference, being almost twenty years between both. But age is just a number, and you couldn't ever regret being together.

In the meantime Hank takes a shower, you change your clothes for one of his big shirts, wrinkling the neckline of it between your fingers to have a soft sniff of the scent. You love to wear them, mostly when he's out of your hometown. Coming back to the kitchen, you tuck in the microwave the popcorn packet to set it for three minutes, putting whilst some beers to get cold in the fridge. Making sure that the big window in the living room is open and the fluffy blanket is already over the back rest, you look for some action movie on Netflix. All you want to do is to lie down on the sofa, and spend the rest of the day and the whole night eating junk food and curled up under Tranq's strong arms.

When the microwave dings, you're careful taking off the popcorn to put them inside a big bowl, grabbing two beers and some chocolate bars, to bring them all to the coffee table close to the sofa. Sitting there, you wait for your boyfriend to join you, hearing the first drops of water falling from the clouds.

“Make me some space”. Hank says then, standing you up to lie down and welcoming you after between his arms, stucking his chest to your back.

Throwing the blanket over you two, accommodating it to cover your bodies, he places a leg above yours sinking his nose into your neck. Moving backwards a hand to his nape, you feel him hugging you tightly leaving some kisses on your shoulder.

“I couldn't ask for a better plan”. He mutters.

“I only have good ideas, baby”. You chuckle, caressing his tattooed forearm with your fingertips.

“Like being my girl”. Sighing then, the mexican leans forward to loudly kiss your cheek, while you press play to start the movie.

Actually, you never focus too much on the tv, getting lost in your thoughts because of his strokes in your hair, neck or belly; always being so gentle and dearly, that you don't care about anything else, ending up falling asleep under his grip. You have needed it since some days ago, when you had to attend a multiple accident with four cars and more than a dozen badly injured people. And he never complains about it, without stopping his caresses to make you feel more relaxed.

Next time you open your eyes, Netflix has paused itself. Raising your sleepy eyes to the huge window, you see how much is raining for the first time in months. Obviously, it's not a common thing living in the middle of the Calexico desert. The smell of wet sand floods your lungs, giving you some nice chills down your backbone, it reminds you of those years studying in Los Angeles and the good moments there. Stretching a hand over the table to check the hour in your phone, you start to feel somewhat hungry. It's almost dinner time and you know that you're not going to sleep too much tonight after such a long nap. Turning under Tranq's arms, you find him peacefully sleeping yet. His warm breath colliding against your face, while you set an arm under his neck, stroking his cheek with your free fingers. You can't help but stare at him for some seconds, before leaning to peck his lips with soft kisses, until he starts to return every one with a smile growing on his face.

“You feel better than earlier?”

“Yes”. You simply reply, non stopping kissing him.

“How is that?” He teases you, slowly opening his eyes.

“My man's arms are my safe place”.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, really”. You nod, raising up both eyebrows. He puckers up his lips in concordance, listening to you so convinced of your words. “I was thinking about going to Paco's food truck and taking away some dinner, what do you think?”

You are too lost on the way your forefinger roams his bottom lip, that you don't hear him agreeing until he bites it and repeats what he said.

“I think I'm going to have to drive…” He laughs, feeling your cheeks burning a little. “What's up with rainy days, ah?”.

“They just turn me a little fluffier than normal”.

“Yeah, I see that, and I like it”.

Pressing his lips over yours, tightening his arms around you, he tucks his tongue into your mouth, gently caressing yours for some long seconds until you two are out of air. Resting your head on the cushion, you lean just a little to kiss his forehead, before hugging him. It's true. His arms are your safe place, always making you feel better, always making you feel loved. You don't know a better place to be in, because it doesn't exist.

“I love you, Hank. So, so much”. You whisper then, with your eyes fixed on the dark ones.

“I love you too, mi amor”. He says back without hesitating, holding your chin with one of his hands to push you closer. “I can't explain how much, but I'm going to show it to you every day”.

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[northcarolinanative]

𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗  / 𝙲𝚑 𝟷𝟺

Chapter 14: On Your Side 

A/N: Hi guys, it’s me, I know it’s been ages but I’m back, I have finally started to feel a little revived about this series so we’ll see how it goes. I feel low-key like a Riverdale writer because there are so many of my season 2 predictions that I want to put into this, but I don't really know how to. Anyway as always my requests/ask/messages are always open. I hope you enjoy:) 

Description: John B’s Sister comes home from staying with their mom, only to find out that her brother is missing and her dad was murdered. JJ may have just lost his best friend. Her and JJ have to figure out what to do and how to pick up the pieces.

Need to Catch Up? Previous Parts

I woke up to the sound of thunder cracking through the house. I turned to the other side of the bed to see JJ’s back. I saw the movement of his shoulders, rising and falling with his breathing. I got up making my way to the kitchen and fixing a glass of water. I leaned my back against the cool counter looking over the papers that sat there. The clock on the microwave read 4:45am I had a lot to figure out moving forward. I sat down, flicking on a dim lamp for some subtle light. My early bedtime making it impossible for me to go back to sleep. I reached over to the counter for my phone. The light was bright enough to make me squint before looking at the messages on the screen. 

The top message from my mother, asking how I had settled in with John B. I lied, of course, telling her that things were fine and that we were getting along great. I knew that she could say that she kept up with John B all these years, saying that she cared, but I knew the truth. This even further proves that evidence. She wasn’t meant to be a mother, she tried her best but being tied down and in the same place just wasn’t for her. I can’t help but think that if my father had won custody of me if she would have turned away from me too. 

I shook my head, trying not to fall down that rabbit hole in my brain. JJ was turning over in the bed. He rolled over, bunching the blanket up in his arms and holding it into his chest. I smiled to myself as I turned back to my phone. I have no idea what is going on between the two of us right now but I know that I am thankful for him. During my sleep, I missed a text from Kie. She told me to be at the Wreck around 7:30 to help open the breakfast shift. I texted her a quick I’ll be there before, beginning to pull out the papers and maps of John B’s possible whereabouts. 

I shuffled through the papers, trying to find as much information about the ship that I could with the info on the ship maps, as well as a binder that I pulled from my dad’s office. It detailed the kind of ships and had basics for each one. I was not sure how this could help, but I was doing something to move forward. The lack of internet at the Chateau was proving to be an issue as I needed more information. I thought about the few things that I need to look up and jotted them down in my notebook. I folded the maps and the lists into the book before pushing into a bag with my old laptop. The Wreck had the internet, so I was hopeful that Kie wouldn’t mind me using it after my shift. 

My research seemed to do the trick as it killed enough time for me to begin getting ready for my first shift at The Wreck. I quickly showered and got ready, wearing the light blue shirt that read “The Wreck” in obnoxiously large letters across the back. I was slipping on my shoes at the edge of the pull out when a voice started me. 

“Why are you ready?” It was JJ’s rough voice, obviously just waking up. “The sun is barely out.” 

I laughed at him before pointing to the logo on the back of my shirt. “Work calls my friend,” I said with a laugh, but JJ just rolled his eyes falling onto his back. “Feel free to stop by and entertain us?” I questioned. 

“Haha Y/N, I have to get at least 9 hours of beauty sleep, but we’ll see.” He said rolling on his side to face me. His face and tone shifted before his next sentence. “Be careful, okay? That place may be for the tourists, but the Kooks love to stir up trouble over there alright?” I just nodded and smiled slightly before turning to head for my car. 

-- 

My shift at The Wreck was nothing special. All the same as the country club, serve with a smile, a pretty self-explanatory menu, but the only difference was the overwhelming amount of tourists. Not that I minded, as they had no idea who I was, which I liked.  I wasn’t worried about the work, more so the people. I knew JJ was overprotective of the rest of us and meant well, but his words were in the back of my head the whole shift. The last thing I need is a kook making trouble and Mr. Carrera letting me go. 

Kie had me rolling silverware and working in the bar area. She said it was a good intro place before being put out on the floor. It also meant that we could chat and catch up. I liked Kie a lot, she was the closest thing I had to a best friend, even when I was back home. I was still hurt by her words, and hesitant to tell her anything, but I still love her. We were chatting while she went about her side task when I decided to ask about staying around. “Hey, is the Wifi back up here?” I asked, but kept my eyes trained on the task in front of me. 

“I think so?” She answered. 

“Do you think I could use it after my shift? I mean I brought my own computer and I’ll stay outta the way?” I bargained. I just got the job and didn’t want her father to think I was taking advantage of his offer, even if I was. 

“Sure!” She smiled. “We can sit outside at one of those tables when we get off. Pope is coming by and I’m sure JJ will be here before you leave.” I didn’t miss her wink at me after her last statement, the blush more than obvious on my face. Kie was super observant, of course, she noticed something going on between the two of us. 

“Okay yeah,” I said, sighing as she left to carry out an order. While I wanted to spend time with her and Pope, I don’t want to tell them what we’re doing. She’s made her feelings about John B’s accident completely known, and I didn’t want to give them false hope. 

“You look really familiar.” a voice spoke. I looked up from the silverware that I was rolling to be met with blue eyes and frosted tips. 

I’m sure he could see the confused look on my face as I just responded with an “interesting” and a soft smile. I could totally tell that he was a kook by the way that he was dressed. He was dressed in a pastel polo that was only halfway buttoned up and the styling of his hair that no doubt had too many products in it. 

He picked up a menu flipping through it before trying our conversation again. This time being more upfront. “Maybe a name would help you remember me, Y/N?” He said looking directly at me. I felt my skin go cold as he spoke my name. My only run-in with the kook being Rafe and his friends when Kie went full kook. I studied his face as he seemed to laugh a little. He seemed familiar. “Relax, I am on your side here. I figure you heard about your brother and my girl-” He coughed quickly before correcting himself, “my ex-girlfriend.” 

Then it all clicked. “Topper” I breathed out. I hadn’t known him well enough to meet him but had seen him with a few of the other kooks hanging around the boneyard in the past. I remember JJ telling me about the way that he was led out of the church disguised as John B. “What exactly are you doing here?” I asked.

“I figured that you know what happened by now. I’m sure the pogues told you, but I need to talk to you if anyone knows anything it has to be you.” He spoke. I looked up to see Kie trying to get away from her table to come help. Topper seemed to notice. “Meet me outside after your shift? I really need to talk to you.” He said before getting up. “Oh and a stack of pancakes to go please.” He flashed a smile before walking to the side. I quickly wrote up his ticket and pinned it to the wheel as Kie came up beside me. “Don’t worry about Topper, he’s been pretty harmless lately. He keeps asking a lot of weird questions and showing up here. He’s like so obsessed with Sarah it’s crazy.” She paused rolling her eyes. I was hoping that you could get out without an awkward kook visit.” She laughed and nudged my shoulder. 

I let out a sigh. “Yea and to think in the last 5 minutes of my shift. Are the boys on their way?” I questioned. If I was going to go meet with Topper and JJ saw, he would without a doubt start a fight. Something about the way that Topper spoke seemed serious. Also, he helped John B getaway, took whatever the consequences are, so I had to at least give him that. 

“Yea. Pope has to finish up some work with his dad, then they’ll be here.” She said with a smile. “You can go ahead and clock out, I’ll finish up here.” 

I nodded and said a quick “thank you” before making my way to the backroom to put everything away and clock out. My hands shook as I punched in the numbers, turning and putting tips away in my front pocket. I ran my hands over my head, letting out a shaky breath. Just gotta go get it over with. What's the worst that could happen? 

I walked out the back door to see Topper leaned against the front of his Jeep. I looked around for any sign of JJ, Pope, or Heyward’s old beat-up truck. “Okay Topper, this is weird. What the hell is going on?” I said walking to stand in front of him, crossing my arm over my chest. I could feel the way that my glare was harsh on him. 

“Look, Rafe’s losing his shit. I know he’s lost it before but he has really lost it.” He spoke, his tone heavy, almost panicked. 

I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “You're kidding right?” He just shook his head obviously. “Why the fuck do you think I’d care?” I started to get angry, turning to walk away. 

“Y/n! Wait, please!” He said, stepping forward to follow me. I turned to look at him with my eyebrows raised. “Look I believe y’all, that’s why I helped John B.” He admitted. “The way that Rafe has been acting I believe it too, he’s lost it. I think he’s dangerous.” 

I scoffed again. “Really?” I pointed to the now healing split on my cheek and motion to my neck. “I had no idea, Topper.” My voice was laced with sarcasm and anger. “Get to the point please.” I sighed. 

“He’s literally going crazy. I mean he says that he’s seeing Peterkin like he’s hallucinating her. He is dead set on pinning this on John B, saying that’s the only way that she’ll leave him alone. Ward tries to keep him locked up as much as possible, but you and the pogues” He sighed running a hand through his hair, messing it up, “need to watch out for him. You don’t know what he might do.”  

“Well, he is a murder.” I retorted coldly. 

“I know the pogues, they haven’t given up on John B or Sarah. You probably haven't given up on your brother either. I think that they are the last chance at putting this to rest. I wanna help you find Sarah, and your brother” He finished with a heavy breath. 

I tried to keep a poker face and the best way to go about this situation. “Topper, there is nothing we can do,” I spoke slowly trying to think of exactly what to say. I didn’t want to push him away in case we ended up needing his help later, but like the others, no need to involve him in something so uncertain. Not to mention that I had zero intentions of trusting him. “The police have given us nothing to work with, we’re just as in the dark as you.” 

Topper dropped his head to look at the ground. “Right.” He nodded. ”I guess I was just hoping that it wasn’t real, ya know?” His voice was quieter than before. His tone was soft and sounded broken. “Hoping that she wasn’t really gone.” 

I felt bad for him, even if he was pining after my brother’s girlfriend. He lost his girlfriend, to a pogue, then she might have died and his best friend, Rafe turns up to be a murder in a matter of a week. “Trust me, I know Topper,” I said, causing him to look back up and nodded before turning back to his car. “I’ll let you know if we find something though?” 

He smiled as he pulled himself into his Jeep as I headed to my car to get my bag before going back to the restaurant to meet with the pogues. 

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Masterlist 

[here4theheartbreak]

Shared Souls and Snake Scales

AO3 Link Here!

Relationships: Jimin x Jin Genre(s): Smut, Fluff

Rating: Explicit Tags: smut, fluff, soulmates, soulmate marks, demigods, tentacle monsters, human/monster romance, Nagas, shapeshifting, side Hoseok x Taehyung, double penetration, tentacle sex, come inflation, rough oral sex, dirty talk, unrealistic sex, aftercare, multiple orgasms, barebacking, bottom!Jimin, top!Jin

Summary: Jimin worries he'll never find his soulmate. It's rarer and rarer in today's world. So when his soulmate mark appears without him ever having knowingly touched someone, confusion abounds.

Word Count: ~14.1k

Hoseok let the heavy box of books drop to the floor with a thud, wiping sweat from his brow. “That’s the last one.”

Jimin bounced in, adding a smaller box and an armful of bags to another pile in the wide living area. “Thank you so much, Hobi; it would’ve taken me all day to do this myself.”

“It still took us all day,” Hoseok joked, letting Jimin wrap him into a hug.

“Okay, it would have taken me a week. Are you hungry? I ordered enough – it should be here soon.”

“Starving.” Hoseok looked around the mostly empty apartment. “It’s big… You got it for so cheap. Did you ask why?”

Jimin shrugged, turning to begin assembling a bookshelf lying in pieces in the corner. “I didn’t really ask. She just said they were eager to rent it out and folks never seemed to stay long enough to complete their leases.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea. It’s gorgeous. I could never imagine leaving early. I might renew the lease even, as long as nothing major comes up.”

“It’s kinda…” Hoseok shrugged, rubbing his hand over his forearm quickly. “Kind of a creepy feeling in here, isn’t it?”

Jimin paused, looking around himself. His brows furrowed. He could feel something… There, but it wasn’t creepy.

“No. I like the feeling.”

“Feels like we’re being watched,” Hoseok complained. He crouched down to begin helping Jimin assemble the shelf.

“Sort of… But not a bad thing. Like someone watching over you, right?”

Hoseok cocked a brow. “Feeling like you’re being watched in an empty apartment on the third floor should be uncomfortable, Jimin.”

Jimin shrugged again. He didn’t know how to explain it to Hoseok, really. Something felt right about this place. And sure, it was in a great part of town, it was spacious and adorable as hell, and it was super affordable, but there was something more. Jimin had felt like he was home the second he stepped beyond the threshold. There was a sort of tingle in the base of his spine, and an ease that slipped over him, like warmth on a cold winter morning.

He knew the stories of soulmates – the warm fuzzies someone gets when their missing piece is close, the tingle of sensation. Jimin wondered if maybe his soulmate was nearby, another apartment? Another building near? He knew it was silly. Irrational fairytales meant to soothe the ache of those in his situation, those without their complete souls. With the population of the world and no guarantee that your soulmate was on the same continent, let alone the same country or city, finding a true soulmate was like hunting for a needle in a haystack. Maybe it was an evolutionary advantage, or maybe it was a punishment from a past life; whatever it was, Jimin hated it. No matter how happy he was, he felt… Empty. Hoseok tried to understand, but he couldn’t. He’d been one of the lucky ones. He found his soulmate two years prior; a sweet guy by the name of Taehyung. He went to the same college that Jimin and Hoseok attended, and had actually become fast friends with Jimin first.

Jimin glanced down at the beautiful tattoo of shimmering black and silver film strip that wound its way around Hoseok’s forearm. Taehyung had a similar one, though his was sheet music of a tune Hoseok had written as a teenager. Jimin longed to see his own tattoo. Feel the comfort it brought, sharing an intimacy greater than any shared with a non-soulmate. Fairytales. Jimin knew he’d end up settling for a random person – or nobody. He’d never find his soulmate.

The two unpacked and ate, then unpacked some more, deciding a mattress and the television and a few electronics were the key things needed on this first night in the new apartment. As the darkness grew deeper and the cool chill of night set in, Hoseok tugged on his hoodie.

“Are you sure you will be safe here?” He asked for the fortieth time.

“Yes, Hobi. It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ve never lived alone…” Hoseok said softly.

“I know. And that’s why I have to do this. I’ll be okay. You’re only a few blocks away and phones are a thing.” Jimin shoved him playfully. “Time for you to let your Jiminie go.”

Hoseok laughed, ruffling Jimin’s hair.

“Well fine,” he conceded, “I’ll be over tomorrow morning to help you unpack more.”

“I’d like that. Goodnight, Hoseok.”

“Night, Minie.” Hoseok waved as he walked down the hall to the elevators. Jimin shut the door and turned to face the apartment, now faced with the deafening silence of solitude.

Jimin unpacked a few boxes, exhaustion hitting him like a truck now that he didn’t have Hoseok to keep his mind occupied. He managed to find a bowl and chopsticks, plugging in the microwave and making himself a bowl of ramen for a late-night snack before curling up on his mattress in his new bedroom. Now that the darkness had settled in, the creepiness that Hoseok had mentioned was beginning to creep into his bones. The apartment was settled just right so the city night lights didn’t really enter through the window. Instead, the pale moonlight filtered through, casting humanoid shadows from the stacks of boxes piled around the room. The closet door was ajar, and the deep darkness seemed to creep out onto the wood floor further and further the longer he stared. Biting back a shudder, Jimin rolled onto his side, staring at the wall until he was unable to keep his eyes open further.

The following week was a bustle of activity for Jimin. His friends came over often, helping him unpack and set up his apartment just right. This was the first time he’d been truly on his own, and despite his brave façade, he knew his friends could see the truth…. He was a bit terrified. But they did their best to make him feel like he was comfortable and going to be alright. Nights were the hardest; it seemed like no matter what Jimin did to make his room (and entire apartment) feel comfortable and homey, there was a thin layer of unease that churned his stomach into a nervous bubble. The unease – strangely enough – was often combatted with a sense of heavy calm like nothing Jimin had ever felt before. It settled into his bones and helped him find sleep despite the dark cloud of worry threading through him. A bizarre feeling, but one that – after three weeks in the new apartment – Jimin had simply come to accept as natural.

It was the morning exactly three months after he’d moved in – and the morning after the landlord had knocked on his door at six in the evening inquiring if he’d decided to move out yet (“no, why?” had cued a nervous laugh and a “no reason” from the landlord before the reminder that the rent was due in a week). Jimin woke up more refreshed and relaxed than he had in months. A tingling sensation seemed to cover his entire body, starting from his spine and radiating outward as he laid in bed. But it wasn’t uncomfortable or painful – rather it was relaxing, like the softest touch of a masseuse or the breath of a sleeping lover. The relaxing sensation had him drifting in and out of sleep far too long than he should have, and he was forced to rush through his shower and morning routine to make it to his Friday classes on time.

The day passed in a whirlwind despite there being nothing major happening. Jimin felt the strongest urge to go home and curl up in his room, warm under his covers and ready to nap with his partner. Partner. Lover. Boyfriend. The words echoed in his mind all day despite him having been all but celibate for the past six months. Oddly, the words didn’t leave that sullen ache in Jimin’s gut like they had for so long. Rather, that comforting tingle from that morning returned, running a glissando from his neck down to his tailbone and back up. He wondered if his gut had been correct the month before. If somehow – by some fateful twist of luck, his soulmate was somewhere in the same building. Of course, Jimin hadn’t met any of his neighbors to that point. He’d heard someone below him moving around at one point, but everyone seemed to keep to themselves, which was excellent for a quiet apartment building… Less excellent if one of them happened to be an elusive soulmate.

Despite his urge to head home as soon as his classes let out for the day, Jimin allowed Hoseok to convince him to go to the apartment they used to share (that he now shared with Taehyung). Once there, he was roped him into an evening of drinks and games.

Jimin stretched out on the floor, his eyes closing of their own will. They opened when Taehyung giggled, and a pang of longing struck his heart. Hoseok was nosing his way along Taehyung’s throat, placing gentle kisses on the tanned skin.

“I should get home,” Jimin said softly. It wasn’t that his friends made him feel badly on purpose; they never complained when he was with them and they did their best to include him as more than a third wheel. But they were soulmates and it showed. And it stung.

Taehyung leapt off the couch and tumbled onto Jimin, knocking the wind from his lungs. “You’re going nowhere,” he argued. Jimin laughed, trying to push his large friend off him.

“You’re drunk.”

“Am not, I’m contentedly tipsy.”

“Sure. Get off, I can’t breathe.” Jimin shoved at Taehyung’s side again. This time the other rolled off, but grabbed Jimin and forced him to roll along with him. Jimin squawked and pushed at him, giggling helplessly when Taehyung began to tickle his sides. The two rolled around on the floor a moment, ignoring Hoseok’s pleas to watch out and not break anything.

They couldn’t ignore him, however, when he shot up and grabbed the back of Jimin’s shirt. “When did you get a tat— Jimin!” Hoseok shouted.

Jimin scrambled up, surprised. “What are you talking about?”

Taehyung rose as well, circling behind Jimin. He gasped. “That’s no tattoo… Jimin, how could you not tell us you met them? What are they like? Are they a boy? Girl? Non-binary? What the hell.” Taehyung shoved Jimin a little. He shook his head and turned.

“Who?”

“Your soulmate.” Hoseok said, crossing his arms. Both he and Taehyung looked a bit stunned, and a bit hurt. Jimin scowled.

“I haven’t met my soulmate, what are you guys on about. I’d have told you both first off.”

“Then explain your soulmate tattoo.”

“Honestly, it’s sort of weird. I feel like you’d know if you met him,” Taehyung argued.

“I don’t have a soulmate tattoo!” Jimin cried, his heart clenching in panic. Taehyung turned him and yanked his shirt up over his head. He heard the flash of a phone camera and Taehyung let it drop before handing the phone over.

On the center of his back, starting at the base of his hairline and stretching down approximately a quarter of his spine, was a beautifully detailed heart made of what looked like octopus tentacles. It was a rich purple-black with tiny speckles of pinkish.

“It’s so uniquely colored. It shimmers like oil in the light,” Taehyung said.

“And the sparkles are like… Glittery. I’ve never seen a soulmate mark that intense… Who is it, Jimin?”

“I—” Jimin tried to speak, unable to take his eyes away from the photograph. His back tingled like it had been all day, radiating from that spot on his back. He reached back, touching where it started on his neck. “I have no idea,” he whispered.

“I wonder if he’s some kinky freak or something,” Taehyung joked. Jimin looked at him, horror painting his features.

“You know, because of the tentacles,” Taehyung grinned, but a knot of grief and worry wound tight in Jimin’s belly.

“I—”

The smile slipped from Taehyung’s face. “I’m sure he’s not. He’s probably an ocean lover. Marine biologist maybe? Oh, that cute guy that does music with you, Hobi – Isn’t he a huge marine animal fanatic?”

“Namjoon? Yeah, but… This is new, isn’t it, Jimin?”

“Yeah. I didn’t have this last week.��

“And Namjoon’s been away visiting family for nearly two,” Hoseok said. “Do you have any idea who you touched this week? When this might have happened?”

Jimin shook his head. He backed up, slumping into a sit on the couch. Involuntary tears blurred his vision and he shook his head again. “I don’t know. I… Finally get my soulmate mark and I don’t even fucking know who he is.” He dropped his face in his hands. His heart seemed to shatter at the realization, a sharp twinge of pain in his chest and a wave of nausea rushing over him. Taehyung hurried to his side, wrapping an arm around him and pressing a kiss to the side of his head.

“You’ll find him, Minie. If you got your mark then he got his too. I’m sure he’s looking everywhere for you. And you don’t travel a lot places, right? I mean – the school, back to your apartment, here. I mean you do your job on campus, but that doesn’t have a lot of face to face student contact. There’s only a few people he could be.”

“Or she,” Hoseok suggested. Jimin glanced up and chuckled without much humor. “Wouldn’t that be a riot. I’m a gay man and my soulmate’s a girl.”

“It’s happened. I’m sure you two would figure it out.”

Jimin slouched back against the couch, sighing. “How did I miss it? I thought when I found my soulmate it’s be some amazing, mindblowing thing. The way you two discuss it… It seemed like it was so beautiful.”

“I mean, it was,” Taehyung agreed. “But we were able to see the tattoo appearing on each other’s arms, that was half of it. The seeing and knowing what it meant. If we hadn’t been able to see it, I don’t think it would have been near as mindblowing physically.”

Jimin shrugged halfheartedly. His mind was running a mile a minute, trying to think of everyone he could have potentially even brushed hands with in the past week. How long had it been there? When was the last time he actually looked at his back in the mirror? Would someone else have noticed it appearing suddenly? The questions flooded Jimin’s mind, but one thing remained clear. He had his soulmate. Likely in his very city, even potentially someone he saw daily. But he had just as little clue as to who it could be than before.

“Why don’t we help you hunt him down tomorrow?” Hoseok asked suddenly, breaking Jimin out of his rabbit trail of thoughts.

“Huh?”

“Your soulmate. I bet we can track them down if all three of us really put our minds to it. There’s only so many folks it could be in our area, right?”

“I guess so.”

“I know it’s disappointing… But be happy, Jimin. You have a soulmate. We just gotta find them,” Taehyung said, pushing Jimin playfully. He tried to smile, but knew it came off as flat.

“I think I should just head home for the night. It’s late.”

“Let me walk you,” Hoseok said. Jimin shook his head, rising and tugging his hoodie on. “I want to be alone right now. Just to think, okay?”

Hoseok nodded. He and Taehyung both hugged Jimin and bid him goodnight, requesting a text when he reached his apartment safely. Jimin headed out into the cool evening air, his heart heavier than it had been all day.

Strangely, as he walked, he seemed to feel a sensation of peace come over him. Like he was going someplace he needed to be. It was reasonable, he figured, since he was heading home. But his home had never felt this way. That subtle thread of dread and fear had always kept him from feeling entirely at peace, but now it seemed like that was gone. Maybe he’d finally realized he enjoyed the apartment. Maybe it was something to do with the soulmate mark. Jimin was rightfully too drained to bother dwelling on it. He’d worry about it all tomorrow, he figured as he stripped out of his coat and shoes once in the apartment.

In the bathroom he couldn’t help but twist to admire the intricate tattoo on his spine. A perfect anatomical heart made entirely out of what looked like octopus tentacles, the one matching the vena cava snaking up almost into his hairline. It was larger than his fist and the outline shimmered in the light like it had been tattooed with iridescent black ink. The colors of the heart itself shifted, deep shimmering purple-black making up most of it, reminiscent of an oil slick, but highlighted in areas with a rich, vibrant, metallic magenta. The entire piece was stunning. Reaching back, Jimin traced the outline as he looked at it, his heart both swelling with the pride of finally having a mark… And aching that the person who gave it to him was not in his arms.

Jimin flopped into bed in his shorts, staring up at the dark ceiling as he thought about who his soulmate might be. Was he a kinky guy like Taehyung had implied? Jimin wouldn’t mind. A sea animal lover? Marine biologist? Sushi chef? The possibilities were endless. And what did his tattoo look like? Jimin’s passion was music – how did the two work together? Was it even a guy? A girl, a nonbinary or genderfluid person maybe? Jimin didn’t think he’d mind. He’d always been into guys, but knew soulmates didn’t always follow those rules. Jimin drifted off to sleep, wondering if he would ever find the one that had left the mark on his back.

Jimin woke with a start to the whisper of his name. He looked around the pitch black room, dread settling onto his chest like a weight. It was far too dark. He glanced up to where his window should have been opened a bit, letting in the cool night air and the light of the city. Instead he was met with nothing but shadows, creating a blackness on top of a blackness. He pulled his blanket a little higher up his chest. He had to be dreaming.

“Can’t run,” the voice was right in Jimin’s ear, cold and chalky. Jimin screamed, shooting up into a sitting position. An unseen pressure landed on his chest, knocking him back flat onto the bed.

“Can’t run!” The voice shouted again; almost taunting him as he struggled. Something cold, slimy, and thick wriggled up Jimin’s bare chest. He screamed again and grabbed it, feeling it squish under his fingers like the body of a particularly slimy eel. Two more eel like appendages wrapped around his wrists, squeezing and forcing his hands down to the bed. The one on his chest was joined by a second, and both moved up and curled around his throat. Jimin shouted when they began to squeeze, closing his airway. He struggled, bucking off the bed with all his might in an effort to loosen the grip of the things on his throat and wrists. Instead, he felt two more wrap around his ankles, pinning them to his bed. Another slid over his chest, pressing down with an inhuman strength. Jimin screamed brokenly once more, his voice cracking with lack of air. His vision began to grey around the edges as consciousness slipped away.

Jimin shot up in bed, his entire body soaked and tense. He clawed at his chest and throat, the memory of the slimy things still fresh in his mind. With panicked eyes, he looked around, relieved to see his room in its normal state, the soft filter of the city lights illuminating his desk and bookshelf, dresser, and television. He slumped back down in his bed, now uncomfortably cool and damp from the sweat as he struggled to control his breathing. He hadn’t had nightmares in months, and couldn’t recall ever having one so vivid and disturbing.

Every time Jimin closed his eyes he could feel the slick, wet things running over his body, the squeeze of their grip on his neck, and the terror that his life was in danger. It wasn’t until the sun had already begun to lighten his room that he finally found the will to drift off to sleep once more.

Jimin flailed, swinging his arms out when Taehyung nudged him. He’d nearly fallen asleep at the table, his cheek smushed against his hand as he stared mindlessly at the people passing by in the college cafeteria.

“You okay?” Taehyung worried, grabbing Jimin’s shoulder to keep him from falling out of the chair.

“Hm? Yeah.”

“We’ll find them, Jimin. I promise,” Taehyung said.

“I know. I mean, I don’t know, but I’m not stressing. Honestly I’m just so tired I can barely focus.”

“Not enough sleep?” Hoseok asked.

“Not at all. Terrible nightmares.”

“What about?”

Jimin chuckled, stretching and shaking his hands out in an attempt to wake up a little bit. “Don’t laugh… But tentacle monsters.”

Taehyung and Hoseok both burst into laughter.

“I said don’t laugh,” Jimin deadpanned, smirking after. He reached across the space and grabbed the coffee Hoseok was sipping on, taking a swig. “It was horrifying. They were pinning me down and choking me, it felt so real.”

“I wonder if it’s a manifestation of missing your soulmate?” Taehyung theorized, tapping his finger on his chin. “I mean we don’t know what the tentacles signify, and obviously you don’t know who your soulmate is, so I wonder if it was a manifestation of your stress about it?”

“Why aren’t you a philosophy major?” Hoseok asked, and Taehyung chuckled.

“Probably because he’s fuckin’ crazy,” Jimin said, shaking his head. “But you’re probably right. It just sucked. And I didn’t sleep well because of it.”

“We could try again tomorrow,” Taehyung suggested. “We’ve been sitting here for a few hours with no luck. Maybe this isn’t where you bumped into him.”

Jimin’s shoulders sagged. He looked desperately around at the emptying cafeteria, as if his soulmate would magically reveal themselves to him.

“I know it’s disappointing,” Taehyung whispered. He wrapped an arm around Jimin’s shoulders. “Wanna try another location today before giving in for the day?”

“No,” Jimin whispered. “It’s pointless. I’m never going to find them. They probably haven’t even noticed it. It’s on our backs – Who actually stares at their own back? They aren’t looking for me.” Jimin clenched his lips against his teeth, struggling not to say more. Even if they were looking for him… Was he worth finding? What could he offer a soulmate? After all these years longing for one – did he even deserve one?

“Jimin.” Hoseok’s voice was soft. “Don’t beat yourself up for this.”

“’M not.”

“You are. Wanna come to our place tonight? Stay over maybe?” Taehyung offered.

Jimin shook his head. “I’m tired, honestly. I think it’s time to call it quits… I should go try to rest.”

“Jimin—”

“I’m okay,” Jimin said again, gathering his belongings and stuffing them into his backpack. He offered what he hoped was a convincingly comforting smile to his friends before hurrying out and off the campus toward his apartment.

When he reached his apartment, he settled in to work on some of his homework that had built up, brewing a pot of coffee far too strong to be healthy to keep him awake at least a few more hours. Going to bed this early in the evening would do nothing to help in the long run. The house felt almost suffocating in its silence. Jimin watched the sun set through his window, normally soothing to him; tonight, he felt an uneasy weight on his chest, as if he was being watched. He was used to a general ‘watched’ feeling in his apartment, but not like this. This felt like his nightmare. Dark and big and sinister.

Despite the unease he felt, he crawled into bed, unable to keep awake even with the aide of caffeine. “No bad dreams tonight,” he whispered as he scrolled through his phone. Hoseok had texted him a few times, as well as Taehyung once, so he sent a quick text letting them know he was okay, and headed to bed. Despite his bad attitude that day, he was very grateful for his friends being there, willing to help out. He set his phone on the bedside stand and sighed into the darkening room.

“No bad dreams.”

Jimin’s eyes snapped open. He looked around the pitch dark of his room, watching the way the shadows of the passing cars filtered over his belongings. It was his room, not a weird space like last night. He touched his nose, lightly pressing his nail against it just enough to hurt. Okay, likely awake… So, what had woken him?

A creak from the doorway caught Jimin’s attention. He sat up, sheet pooling around his middle. “Hello?” He called out instinctively, wondering if Hoseok or Taehyung might have come by. They were the only ones with the key to his apartment. Did Jimin remember to lock the door? Panic clenched a fist around his heart.

Another creak, and his half-shut bedroom door squeaked open slowly. Jimin’s breathing picked up and he kicked his legs up, trying to push himself to the top of the bed, as far from the door as he could. He glanced around the dark room, wondering if he could reach anything that could be used as a weapon.

“Who’s there?” He called again into the black hallway. The silence as absolutely deafening. Jimin could hear his heart thudding in his chest.

“Hobi? This isn’t funny.” Jimin tried to keep the shaking from his voice. The floor creaked again, and his door pushed open the rest of the way. The temperature in the room immediately dropped low enough that Jimin could see his breath. The darkness from the hallway seemed to grow and expand, oozing into Jimin’s room like some sort of goo.

The first tentacle came from his right, just out of his vision until it wrapped around his arm, yanking him nearly off the bed. Jimin screamed. He grabbed at the thing on his wrist, so black it looked like shadows. It was wet and thick, and Jimin could feel the pressure of small suckers like an octopus against his skin. Another wrapped around his left arm, yanking it away. Jimin screamed for help, his eyes bulging as the dark creature fully entered the room. It was huge and black, almost invisible in the dark room. But every speck of light seemed to be swallowed by the thing; the lights of cars, the glint of the moon. The only clear thing on the creature were its eyes, rich and blood red.

And its teeth, Jimin realized, when he saw a glint of eerily white, sharp fangs. He screamed again.

A tentacle jammed itself into his mouth. The wet, slimy feeling on his tongue tasted of oil, blood, and dirt, and Jimin gagged. He bit down as hard as he could, feeling a spray of something warm and coppery. The creature reared back, making a noise akin to a record scratching. It withdrew from his mouth, but another wrapped around his throat and began to squeeze. Jimin continued to scream until the ability to draw air for breathing was more important than screaming. Still he struggled, and each time he did more tentacles wrapped around his body, squeezing, bruising, and pinning him.

Jimin’s vision began to grey out at the edges, his heart stuttering in his chest as he struggled to breathe. This was it – this was how he was going to die. He wondered about the soulmate he’d never found. And his friends, they would be devastated. Just before the blackness of unconsciousness swallowed Jimin up, he heard him.

“Let that human go!”

The tentacle around his throat loosened momentarily and Jimin forced his eyes open wider. A towering figure stood in the entrance of his closet. A man – sort of – with a bare chest and broad shoulders. Where his legs should have been was a tail, melding into the flesh of his waist. It was thick and scaled, thinning out at the end like that of a gigantic snake. Even in the low light Jimin could see the way it shined almost iridescent black and purple.

“I said let him go!” The snake-man roared again when the tentacles stayed put on Jimin’s body.

“You can’t give me a command and expect me listen, you freak.” The voice from the creature holding Jimin hostage was thick and deep, almost sounding like he was speaking underwater. It sent chills down Jimin’s spine.

“This is my house,” the snake-man said. “That is my human!”

“You haven’t so much as raised the hair on his arms! You’re a pathetic monster! They sent me to do what you can’t, weakling!”

The tentacle began to tighten around Jimin’s throat again. The snake-man snarled. Six tentacles burst from behind the man, the same iridescent shimmer as his tail. They wrapped around the shadowy figure suffocating Jimin, yanking at the tentacles holding him down. The tentacles released, allowing Jimin to scrambled upright. He snapped the light on as the two figures fought in the center of his small bedroom, overturning things on his dresser and desk. He looked around, desperate for an escape route to the door, but found the way blocked by the snake-man’s tail. He was stuck. He grabbed his blankets and pillows, trying to put as much of a barrier as he could between himself and the creatures. With the light on he could see his attacker – a tall lean figure covered in what looked like matte oil from head to toe. He had at least eight tentacles, but the movement made it hard to count, even if Jimin had wanted to. Tears flowed freely from Jimin’s eyes as the snake-man got his arms involved, grabbing and twisting two of the tentacles of the other. It screamed in pain, swearing at the snake-man. One of his tentacles, a thicker one than the rest, twisted around the attacker’s throat, squeezing hard until his tentacles – and body – began to sag.

“I told you this is my territory. This is my house. You, nor any one else from this realm, will enter. If you do, I will kill you on sight. You know I have the strength to.”

“You—” The creature choked out, “You’re done for, freak! I’ll see to it you’re never welcome back in our realm!”

“I hate that place anyway. As long as you keep away from my home, we’ll be fine.” He lifted the creature easily with the tentacle around his throat and threw him into the closet. Jimin squeaked in surprise when a doorway seemed to open, swallowing the creature before closing and leaving nothing but the closet wall and Jimin’s clothes.

The snake-man turned. His face was strikingly beautiful, even with the light smattering of ridged scales along his cheekbones and brow bone, trailing down his nose.

“Are you okay?” He asked, slithering toward Jimin. Jimin scrambled back, sobbing brokenly. The man paused and looked down.

“Oh God, of course. Hold on.” His entire form seemed to shimmer and shudder in front of Jimin’s tear blurred eyes. When he cleared up, instead of the half snake form, a normal looking man stood in front of Jimin. He wore a pair of black pants and had bare feet. He stood just around six feet, with a shock of shaggy black hair. His face was stunning with or without the ridges, eyes dark and piercing. His chest was still bare, with well-defined muscles every visible spot. “Did he hurt you?”

“Wh—” Jimin swallowed hard, steadying his breathing. “What are you?”

“My name is Jin. I—It’s hard to explain. We’re sort of… Monsters under the bed? Or, I guess in your case, in your closet.”

“Monsters aren’t real.” Jimin whispered, looking nervously at the closet.

“Well, we are.” Jin walked over, touching the back wall. “The way to our realm has been sealed – he won’t be back. I’ll go, you don’t need to worry. You’re safe.”

Jimin’s eyes widened as Jin touched the wall. On his bare back, directly between his shoulder blades, was a detailed, anatomical heart made out of musical notes, a perfect match to the one Jimin had… In the same color pattern as the scales on Jin’s tail and face.

“This will seem like a bad dream in the daylight,” Jin said, turning his head just enough that Jimin could make out his profile. He pushed the wall again, opening what looked like another door, similar to the one that had swallowed his attacker.

“Wait!” Jimin cried, shooting forward before he realized it. “Your tattoo.”

Jin hesitated. “I don’t have any tattoos.”

“On your back.” Jimin pointed. Jin frowned, glancing back as far as his neck would let him. Jimin laughed a little at the action, almost forgetting that the handsome man standing in front of him was a monster just two minutes prior.

“The mirror.” Jimin pointed to the now crooked mirror on his wall. Jin went over to it, turning and checking. His eyes bulged when he saw – seemingly for the first time – the tattoo on his back.

“What is that?” He bellowed, clearly surprised.

“It’s a soulmate tattoo. It’s… It’s a match to mine.” Jimin turned enough that Jin could see his back. He turned back, his heart thudding against his ribs. “Did you – Have you touched... Touched me?”

If it was possible for a nearly six-foot man to look small, Jin managed. His ears reddened visibly and his shoulders sank. “Once. I—I’m such a creep. I’m supposed to be a creep, I suppose, but I’m bad at it. You—Were sleeping and I brushed your hair from your face. A few nights ago. I’m so sorry, I won’t bother you again.” He turned and rushed toward the opening.

“No!” Jimin shouted, his heart clenching in fear that the man would leave for good. He should let him; he was a monster… But he was Jimin’s soulmate. That had to mean something. “Please, don’t go yet,” Jimin said softly when Jin hesitated again. “Please talk to me.”

Jin lowered his gaze. He waved his hand, shutting the doorway that he’d opened. He leaned against the wall, eyes still downcast.

“What are you?” Jimin asked.

“A monster. That’s all that matters.”

“But monsters aren’t supposed to be real. Please, Jin—You said your name was Jin, right? I’m Jimin.”

“I know. I learned your name right away, when you moved in. I’m the monster that haunts this apartment. Or, I should. I’m supposed to terrorize anyone in this bedroom. But with you, I—I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you were the most beautiful thing I’d seen in my time in this world. I couldn’t bear the thought of scaring you away and never seeing your face again.”

Jimin smiled a little at the out of place compliment. “Why do you scare people?”

“My kind—The monsters, we feed on fear and terror. Death is like a twelve course meal to us. Any time a monster scares someone, it energizes our world.”

“So you need fear to live?”

“Not me personally. I’m different. That’s why Donghyuk was calling me a freak.”

“The one that tried to kill me.”

Jin nodded. “I’m not fully a monster. I’m also part Naga. My father was a Naga who fell in love with my mother – she was a monster. They had me. I’m part monster, the tentacles, the job… But also part demi-god.”

“I’ve heard of Nagas. They’re snake people. The tail—”

“Yes. I use it for my monster work, but it’s a sign of my other half. It makes me a freak.”

Jimin nodded, his brows furrowed. “The mark—”

“I can’t be your soulmate, Jimin,” Jin said softly. “I know what they are, in theory but I’m a monster. I don’t even know if I have a soul.”

“You have to.”

Jin tilted his head questioningly.

“A soulmate mark appears because two people share the same soul. It’s the sign of the soul finally becoming complete. If you didn’t have a soul… You wouldn’t get a mark. You share my soul, Jin.”

“But I’m a freak, I can’t do good. I’m a monster, you’re a beautiful human, I—”

Jimin’s heart clenched at the fear tightening Jin’s voice. Without thinking, he crawled out of his bed and rushed to him, wrapping his arms around his broad shoulders. Jin gasped and tensed at the touch, and Jimin could feel his heart pounding erratically. “You share my soul. Monster, Naga, it—We’ll figure it out. I’ve been waiting years to find my soulmate… Please don’t run away.”

Jin relaxed a little when Jimin spoke. He wrapped his arms lightly and awkwardly around Jimin’s middle, clearly unsure what to do with himself.

“Aren’t you scared of me? You saw my other form… You saw what I am.”

“I’m scared,” Jimin admitted, “but new things are scary. I want to learn about you, so maybe you won’t be so scary to me. And right now you aren’t. You’re beautiful.” Jimin stepped back a little, searching Jin’s face. His dark eyes had the lightest shimmers of deep purple, the same color as his tail. “You’re really beautiful,” he whispered.

Jin smiled sheepishly. “First time I’ve heard that. I mean… Without being called a freak right after. Beauty isn’t a thing to be proud of where I’m from.”

“Where you’re from. That thing—He said you couldn’t go back.”

“Right. The way has been locked to me. I broke the rules. I’m banned.”

“That’s your home.”

Jin shrugged. “Never been much of a home. And I can go to other worlds. Live there.”

“Or you could live in this one,” Jimin whispered.

Jin’s small smile dropped. “I couldn’t. I don’t know your world. I’d scare people.”

“Not in this form. You look perfectly human. I could teach you what you don’t know. Get you a job.” Jimin swallowed hard. “You’re my soulmate. I found you. Or, you found me. Or maybe I was drawn to this place because of you. Please… Give me a chance.”

Jin chuckled softly. “Why is the beautiful human begging the monster for a chance? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” His voice was soft and gentle as he gazed into Jimin’s eyes. Jimin’s chest tightened almost uncomfortably.

“Well the human already wants you to stay… If you want to.”

Jin remained silent for a moment, his eyes roaming over Jimin’s face. He wet his lips. “If I can be honest…”

Jimin nodded, giving him the go ahead to speak.

“I want to kiss you right now.”

“Nothing stopping you,” Jimin said, shrugging. He stepped back up to Jin, his heart thudding a rhythm so loud he worried others could hear it.

“Have you ever…”

“Been kissed? In the past, yeah. I’m not entirely innocent… Are you… You haven’t?”

“I have. Not a very good one, it was a dare.” Jin chuckled. “Kiss the freak, sleep with the freak type thing. I’m really too hideous to have found anyonei in my world, or this one.”

Jimin shook his head. He touched Jin’s cheek. “No, you aren’t.”

“This isn’t all of me, Jimin. You saw what I am.”

Jimin stepped back. “Show me.”

“What?”

“Show me all of you. I won’t run away. You’re my soulmate, I have a choice too. I either accept all of you, or none of you. That’s only fair to you.”

Jin hesitated. He glanced at the closet and then around the small room. “Back up a little more.”

Jimin obeyed, crawling back onto his bed. He sat cross legged, watching Jin. The air around him began to waver and shimmer like it had before, but this time Jimin could see more clearly, the shift between skin and scales as the tail grew from his hips and engulfed his legs. When things settled, Jin still stood, his tail curled around him in a lazy series of loops. He was resting his elbows on the topmost, head on his palm.

“And the… Rest?”

“These?” Jin shifted his shoulders just a bit, and the tentacles appeared behind him. There were six in total. Two were thick like those of a marine creature, with suckers along the light grey underside. Two were far thinner, almost whiplike, but they seemed to pulse in a steady rhythm. And the final two were just a few inches around, smooth and slick looking. All six matched the oil slick iridescence of Jin’s scales. They twitched and moved around him seemingly of their own volition.

Jimin rose, ignoring the knot in his stomach. “Can you control them?”

“Mostly. They move on their own sometimes, a bit like an animal’s tail, I’d imagine. But I won’t hurt you.”

Jimin reached out slowly. He ran his hand over one of the loops of Jin’s curled tail, relaxing a little. “You’re cold.”

“Cold blooded. The snake part of me. I’m actually quite cozy.”

“And so smooth.” Jimin stroked another spot, letting his blunt nails brush over the ridges. Jin giggled.

“Tickles.”

Jimin smiled softly. He reached up, palm outstretched, toward the tentacles lazily twitching behind Jin. A large, suckered one moved forward, bumping Jimin’s hand. Jimin let it wrap loosely around his palm, giggling a little at the feel of the suckers. They were gentle, entirely unlike the ones grabbing him earlier. He reached his other hand out and grabbed the smooth, slick one, not missing the way Jin gasped and shuddered visibly.

“Does it hurt?”

“No… That—That one feels kinda good.”

“Oh.” Jimin hesitated. “Oh!”

Jin lowered his gaze a little. “Sorry. There’s so much about me you don’t know, I’m afraid of overwhelming you.”

Jimin let go of the smooth tentacle, noticing the light sheen of liquid on his hand. It was the same dark oil slick shimmer as the rest of Jin’s non-human parts. “What’s—”

“Uh… Now is where it gets awkward.”

“Come?”

“It can be used sexually but it’s… Not like that. Just a natural, uh… Like a human’s spit. Something that it just makes naturally. Helpful for a lot things. But, yeah… It’s often used as lubrication for that.”

Jimin bit his lip. He reached for the smaller ones, surprised when it twitched out of his grasp.

“Those ones are far more sensitive… And very much for mating.” Jin explained.

“So two for grabbing, two for everything, two for sex. Sounds pretty rounded. Do you… I mean you can shift into a human form. Do you have all the human parts?”

“Well… Sort of. I have a penis, if that’s what you’re asking. But I sort of have two. It’s a snake thing.”

“Wow.” Jimin huffed a stunned laugh. He slid his hand over the tentacle still on his wrist, gently moving up and down his arm. “Is this how you guys hold hands.”

“No. To be honest I just… Really like touching you. It’s been a long time. That’s why I brushed your hair that night. I didn’t mean to touch you, I was watching over you and I just couldn’t resist.”

“It’s the night you gave me this…” Jimin reached back to where his tattoo was.

“May I see it closer?”

Jimin turned, leaning his head forward a little. He felt Jin’s fingers, startlingly warm in comparison to his scales and tentacle, brush over the mark. “It’s me. My colors and my appendages… What is the one on my neck?”

“May I photograph it? It’ll be easier for you to look at.”

“Just don’t get the rest of me in it.”

Jimin nodded. The tentacle on his arm released to allow him to walk to his bed and grab his phone. He took a photo, carefully avoiding the non-human parts of Jin, then reached out and brushed his fingers over it. It was an anatomical heart, same as the one on his neck, but it was made out of various musical notes, lined and twisted together. It was bright shades of rainbow that seemed to shift as Jin did, the holographic opposite of his own oil slick dark.

“Is everything okay?” Jin worried.

“I’m just admiring it.” Jimin walked back around and handed over his phone. Jin examined the tattoo carefully, his brows furrowed.

“You like music.”

“It’s my passion. I’m a music major in college even. Dance, specifically.”

“And the colors – Opposite to the one you wear.”

“Maybe because we’re so opposite… It’s definitely a soulmate mark though.”

“I have a soul… I share your soul,” Jin whispered. He let Jimin take the phone back and toss it onto the table.

“So what now?” Jimin asked softly, clasping his hands in front of him.

“Well… I’m your soulmate and you’re mine. And you.. You’ve seen all there is to see from me, mostly… Do you still want me?”

Jimin reached out, sliding his hands over the scales once more. He traced the subtle patterns in them, remaining silent. One of the suckered tentacles reached out, brushing his hair from his forehead. Jimin smiled, reaching up and grabbing it. He gave a playful squeeze, laughing a little when Jin’s eyes slipped closed.

“I want you,” Jimin finally whispered. “Even like this.”

“So I’ll stay,” Jin said softly.

“You’ll need to be in human form most of the time… Is that okay?”

“Yes. I don’t want to frighten the humans in your world… I want to fit in. I’ve seen you with your friends, you have so much fun.”

Jimin beamed. “Taehyung is going to love you. I can’t wait to introduce you two.”

“What if I mess up?”

“Tae’ll be the best one to do it to. He’s my best friend. He will keep your secret even if you slip. He’ll be a good test run.”

“And a job? I have no schooling… Not like you humans.”

Jimin tapped his chin in thought. His other hand was still absently tracing over Jin’s scaly body. “We’ll find you something. Maybe something online, I can teach you to use a computer. Or something simple, cleaning at my college maybe, or if you’re a good cook. But we’ll figure that out later. Right now, I want to get to know you, and get you used to this world.”

“You’re too kind…”

“I told you, I’ve waited a long time for my soulmate. I want to be good for you, and make sure you’re happy.”

Jin shifted then, slowly uncoiling his tail. He moved forward. “Don’t be scared. Stay still.”

He began to move in circles around Jimin then, recoiling himself lightly around him, careful not to squeeze. He ended up nearly face to face with Jimin, just a bit taller, his arms around him. “This is how I hug.”

Jimin grinned broadly, looking around at the scaly cage Jin had trapped him in.  He touched everywhere he could, sliding his hands along the coils and touching the place where they faded into Jin’s belly. Jin remained still, letting Jimin’s hands explore.

“How strong are you?”

“Stronger than you’d care to know in the center of my coil, trust me.”

“Could I climb over them?” Jimin wondered.

“Easily.”

“Could you pick me up with it?”

“In theory yes. In practice, a bit harder without hurting you. Far easier to pick you up with my arms than my tail.”

“Fair point… Do you shed like a normal snake?”

Jin rolled his eyes. “Twice a year. It’s hell. I look horrible and it’s so itchy,” He complained.

“Well now you’ll have me to help scratch the itch when you need it. I bet we can find some stuff to help too, I can talk to my friend Jungkook. He loves snakes.” Jimin traced his finger along Jin’s waist where the scales met skin. He looked up at Jin, smiling softly. “I should really get to bed.”

“Hm… You could sleep right here. I’m far more comfortable than that bed.”

“I can’t sleep standing,” Jimin complained, but made no move to get out of the center of Jin’s coil. “You should sleep with me.”

“What?”

“Well, don’t you sleep?”

“Of course.”

“So, I only have one bed. And I’m not going to make you sleep on the couch. If you’re in human form, you should fit.”

“I… Don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” Jimin asked. Worries filled his mind. Did he smell? Was Jin not into him like that? What if he was forcing Jin into this?

Seeming to sense his concern, Jin raised his hands. “It’s not you,” he said. “It really is me. I—I’m finding my response to you very alarming.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… It’s been a long time since I’ve been touched so kindly and my body—I—I’m responding to it in a way I didn’t expect.”

Jimin frowned for a second, trying to piece together what his adorably shy soulmate was hinting at. When it clicked, he laughed.

“You don’t wanna sleep with me because you’re horny?”

Jin’s entire face reddened visibly. He looked everywhere but Jimin. “Well, when you put it so bluntly…”

“It’s okay,” Jimin said quickly. He pressed himself against Jin’s chest, wrapping his arms around his middle. He looked up at him. “It’s okay. You’re really handsome and I get it. Trust me.”

“Even like this?”

“It took some getting used to but… Yeah… You have a gorgeous face and you smell amazing and… The tentacles…” Jimin bit his lip. “Could be fun.”

Jin swallowed hard. “You’re not making it any easier.”

“I’m kind of hoping to make it harder.” Jimin chuckled to himself. “Make them harder, I suppose.”

Jin’s breath caught in his throat. “We just met.”

“We don’t have to do anything… I’m just letting you know… You aren’t the only one feeling like this. So, if you want to sleep with me. My bed’s available. As soon as I clean up the mess that asshole made of my room.” Jimin looked around at the sorry state of his bedroom. Jin did as well, making a small noise.

“Let me help.” He uncoiled from Jimin, shifting back into his two-legged form. The two cleaned up the furniture and fallen items in relative silence, each deep in thought about the changes that had come that evening.

When they finished, Jimin drew in a breath through his teeth, looking Jin up and down. Jin looked down at his own body.

“Something wrong?”

“Well, you have on jeans. That can’t be comfortable to sleep in. We’re different sizes but I think I have something.” Jimin padded over to his dresser, digging around for a few moments. He made a noise of success and pulled out a pair of baggy pajama bottoms. He passed them over to Jin. “Try these… I won’t peek.”

He flopped onto the bed on his back and threw an arm over his eyes dramatically. The room remained silent for a moment. When Jimin heard the telltale zipper sound, he couldn’t help but shift his elbow just a bit, peeking out from under his arm. Jin was working his jeans down his muscular hips, facing away from Jimin. Jimin felt his heartrate pick up as Jin’s ass was revealed, just as muscular and tight as the rest of his visible skin. Jin turned his head a little.

“I know you’re peeking.”

Jimin giggled, moving his arm from his eyes. “How could you tell?” He asked, not bothering to hide his gaze. Jin dropped his pants, giving Jimin a clear view of his ass as he stepped out of them. Much to Jimin’s disappointment, he remained turned away from him as he pulled the pajamas on.

“Because I can sense when someone is watching me. Defense mechanism.”

“Well that’s no fun,” Jimin pouted. He moved over against the wall. “Come to bed.”

“Are you sure about this, Jimin?” Jin asked, turning to face him.

Jimin nodded. “I know… Things are strange. But I also know we’re meant to be together. That’s what soulmates are. There’s really no moving too fast when you know it’s fate, is there?”

Jin tilted his head. “You’re not wrong. And… My kind don’t really have a moving slow part of relationships… We usually just date to breed. But I know your kind does.”

“Well, sometimes… Other times just dating to breed can be fun,” Jimin joked. He shook his head. “But soulmates are different. We don’t need to do anything, I’m not expecting more than to sleep. I’d just like to make sure you feel welcome here too.”

Jin crawled onto the bed, laying stiff and awkward on his back.

“Do you mind cuddling?” Jimin asked softly.

“I’ve never done it… But it sounds nice.”

Jimin moved closer, feeling Jin tense beside him. Jimin placed a hand on his firm stomach, splaying his fingers.

“Relax,” he whispered, letting his lips brush Jin’s earlobe. Jin drew in a quick breath. He placed his hand over Jimin’s, his body relaxing a little.

Jimin swallowed hard. He brushed his nose lightly over the soft skin behind Jin’s ear, inhaling. He smelled both sweet and bitter, wildflowers in a field of woods, moss and dirt, fresh honey and an ocean breeze. Jimin let his lips rest on Jin’s neck. “Earlier… You said you wanted to kiss me,” he whispered, feeling goosebumps raise against his lips as he spoke in soft puffs.

“I did.”

“Do you still?” Jimin raised his head, propping himself up on one elbow. He met Jin’s dark gaze, dropping his own down to Jin’s mouth and back up. “Want to kiss me.”

Jin nodded haltingly, his own eyes lowering. Jimin wet his lips.

“Why haven’t you?”

Jin shrugged one shoulder. Jimin could see his face reddening just a bit, creeping up his neck and ears.

“You’re so shy. Something I wouldn’t expect for a demigod… Or a monster in my closet.”

“I’m not used to being seen. Or looked at with such kindness,” Jin admitted.

“It’s what you deserve.” Jimin leaned a little closer. “So if you want to kiss me… You should.”

Jin swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he did.

There was a weight on Jimin’s chest. He wanted so badly to lean down, to taste Jin’s soft, full mouth. But he didn’t want to push. Jin seemed torn, eyes darting between Jimin’s gaze and his mouth. Jimin offered a small smile.

Jin took a deep breath then and smiled as well. He reached up and let his hand rest on the back of Jimin’s neck. He leaned up, closing the gap between their mouths.

Jimin gasped at the feel of Jin’s soft lips against his own. They slotted together perfectly. He darted his tongue out, brushing over Jin’s bottom lip playfully. Jin huffed softly against his cheek, his mouth curling into a smile even in the kiss. He let his head drop and Jimin followed, not wanting to break it yet. It deepened slowly, mouths moving together and finding an easy rhythm. Jin’s breath tickled his skin, the tongues brushing and retreating in an almost playful dance.

Emboldened, Jimin shifted over, swinging his leg over Jin’s hips and settling onto his lap. He buried his fingers in Jin’s soft, dark hair, tugging just a little. The whine Jin gave was heaven to his ears. Jin slid his hands down Jimin’s back, his grip firm and steady despite his earlier hesitation. He cupped his ass and gave a little squeeze. Jimin giggled. He pushed his ass back against Jin’s hands, tugging at his hair again. Jin groaned then, and his teeth clamped lightly on Jimin’s bottom lip in a clear warning.

Jimin moaned into his mouth. He let his hips jerk down, meeting Jin’s aggressively. He could feel a stiffness in Jin’s pants, and his mind wandered to Jin’s earlier confession about his anatomy. Curious, he ground down again, and Jin moaned. He finally broke the kiss, keeping his mouth close to Jin’s, just pulling back enough to gaze into his eyes. Jin’s eyes were lust blown dark, blinking quickly to focus on Jimin’s face as he began to grind against him.

“Jimin—”

“Does it feel good?”

Jin nodded, grabbing Jimin’s hips. Jimin leaned back, settling fully on Jin’s lap. The front of his sweats were tented out with his erection, a tiny spot darkening at the tip. He began to grind against Jin’s crotch in a steady rhythm, his bottom lip tucked between his teeth.

Jin whined, arching up against Jimin. “Please—”

“Please what?” Jimin asked. He stripped his shirt off and slid his hand down his own chest, playing his fingers along the string of his sweats. “Do you want to see me?”

“God, so badly,” Jin confessed. He grabbed Jimin’s wrist when he went to untie his sweats. “But it’s so late… You don’t know what you’re getting into with me.”

As if on cue, the tentacles emerged from Jin’s back, reaching toward Jimin. Jimin’s breath caught. His cock twitched in his pants and his stomach knotted. He didn’t know what he was getting into… But he wanted to find out.

“I don’t have to be up early.” Jimin leaned forward, reaching out for the smooth middle sized one. He stroked it gently, feeling it pulse and throb in his hand. “You can do it all to me.”

“Jimin—” Jin whined, baring his teeth against the clearly pleasurable feelings.

“Can you feel this? When I play with them?” Jimin asked, grabbing the other mid-sized tentacle and beginning to squeeze gently.

Jin nodded. “Yeah. It’s distant… Just a tease but I—God, it feels so nice.”

“Do they all—”

“I can feel from them all. Some are more sensitive.”

One of the tentacles with the suckers reached Jimin’s belly, moving in a lazy pattern over and up. Jimin wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or moan. The gentle suction tickled, but was so strangely erotic. He let go of one to place his hand over it, sliding his fingers up. “These ones are less slimy.”

“They’re not meant to go into tight places.”

Jimin whined at the thought, tensing his ass a little. He shifted, leaning back over Jin to press another kiss to his mouth. “Do you want me, Jin?”

“Yes.”

“Naked? Yours?”

Jin nodded, pressing another kiss to Jimin’s mouth.

“Take me.” Jimin whispered against his mouth.

As if waiting for the okay, all six of Jin’s tentacles shot out, wrapping around Jimin and flipping him onto his back on the bed. The two largest made quick work of his sweats, twisting and tearing them off to leave him naked and shivering in excitement. One slid over his chest, the suckers tightening and tickling over his nipples. A slick one wrapped around his achingly hard cock, sliding up and down it. Jimin moaned, tossing his head back. As he did the other slick one took advantage, sliding over his tongue and and forward until he gagged. He felt a pressure on his thigh and his eyes snapped open, surprised to see Jin kneeling. Jin forced Jimin’s thighs open, sliding his palms over the smooth skin of his legs. Jimin shuddered, feeling exposed, but so turned on. Another one of the suckered tentacles wrapped around Jimin’s leg, holding it open with ease. The first whiplike one shot forward and Jimin squealed around the tentacle in his mouth, feeling it’s cool, thin tip prod at his entrance.

It was small enough that it was barely a push when it slid in, but Jimin’s eyes rolled back in his head. It twitched and jerked inside him, searching for his prostate. When it found it, Jimin’s entire body tensed, his cock twitching in the grip of the other. Jin laughed a little, a high, joyful noise.

Jimin’s eyes fluttered shut. He began to suck at the tentacle in his mouth, letting it pump back and forth like a cock. The sticky fluid surrounding it was both sweet and bitter, sugary like honey but with the lightest undertones of burnt tea. The more he sucked, the slicker the tentacle seemed to become, dribbling over his tongue and down his throat, forcing him to swallow. At the same time, the tentacle in his ass seemed to swell, spreading him open further. He whined, looking down at Jin. He wanted to ask what was happening, but the one in his mouth gave him no chance. One of the suckered ones splayed over his chest, teasing his sensitive nipples as it rubbed gently.

Jin had his hand down the front of his pajamas, palming himself as he watched. The one wrapped around his cock let go, moving down and pushing into his ass, thrusting gently to relax the muscles. The final whiplike one shot out, curling around his cock and squeezing hard enough to make him whine. It let go then, and circled his tip with it’s own, teasingly gentle. Jimin watched with wide eyes as it opened like a flower and engulfed Jimin’s cock. The sensation was overwhelming. Warm and wet and unbearably tight, Jimin could see himself through the thin skin of the tentacle as it throbbed around him. He reached down, pressing at the base of his cock to stave off his orgasm, but Jin swatted his hand away playfully.

“Don’t stop your pleasure, Jimin,” he whispered, his voice thick with lust.

Jimin choked around the tentacle, shaking his head until it backed up and let him draw in a breath. “I don’t want to come too soon. I want to feel you – Make you feel good too.” His own voice came out thick and wet, like he was talking through a mouth of gum. He wondered if it had anything to do with the fluid he’d been swallowing.

Jin laughed then, crawling over Jimin. Jimin could see the tentacles coming from his back, surrounding them. “You think you’ll come once and be done? I warned you, Jimin… You didn’t know what you were getting into.”

Jimin swallowed hard. He licked his lips, tasting the fluid on them. “What am I getting into?”

“Humans… They’re so soft.” Jin slid his hand over Jimin’s stomach. “So easily exhausted and broken. My kind… We fuck for hours, Jimin. This is foreplay baby. So you can come. Enjoy it… Because I’m going to keep you coming. Until I can’t wring another drop out of your beautiful body and you’re full to brim with me.”

Jimin’s cock throbbed hard in the warmth of Jin’s tentacle. “Oh god…”

The tentacle prodded at Jimin’s bottom lip once more and Jin chuckled. “Keep drinking this like water and you’ll have a hard time resisting...” He warned. “It’s an aphrodisiac.”

Jimin met Jin’s gaze. He smirked and opened his mouth, leaning his head up to suck gently at the tip of the tentacle. He pulled off with a pop and wet his lips. “I don’t need an aphrodisiac to want to be fucked by you, Jin. I’m yours.” He leaned up, pressing a desperate kiss to Jin’s mouth. The thin tentacle inside Jimin swelled further, working open his tight rim. The other began to thrust deeply, driving in and twisting, prodding deeper than Jimin though possible. He threw his head back, shouting Jin’s name as he came. The tentacle sucking at his cock seemed to squeeze tighter, and Jimin’s eyes fluttered open in time to see his come ballooning it like a condom.

“Wh—” He tried to speak, pleasurable shudders wracking his body. His question was answered when the tentacle pulled off his cock and rose, brushing against Jin’s lips. He opened his mouth, letting his eyes slip shut as it dribbled Jimin’s come onto his tongue. He moaned happily and licked his lips as he swallowed, looking down at Jimin.

“You taste amazing.”

“That was… Fuck.” Jimin gasped when the tentacle in his ass drove deeper, throbbing. “Jesus!” He whined.

“You’re so much tighter up here,” Jin teased, reaching down to tickle his finger over the smooth skin above Jimin’s pubic mound. He grabbed Jimin’s hand and pressed it down on that spot. Jimin’s eyes widened. He could feel the steady throb of the tentacle deep within him. He whined. “It’s gonna hit my stomach if you keep going,” he worried. “Don’t worry… You’re totally safe. I won’t hurt you.” The tentacle throbbed again, and Jimin shuddered.

“I’m so full.”

“This is nothing.”

“Can I see you?” Jimin panted. “You still have pants on…” He reached out for Jin’s pajamas, only to have both wrists yanked away by tentacles. They pinned his arms to the bed, and Jin smirked.

“You like this. Being bound like that, don’t you?”

Jimin swallowed hard. His cock was already thickening against his thigh, there was no denying it. He nodded.

“We’ll keep you like that then. No need to use your hands when I can pleasure every where at once anyway, is there?”

The tentacle previously in Jimin’s mouth prodded his lips again. He opened eagerly, and it drove in, bumping the back of his throat. Jimin’s eyes welled with involuntary tears.

Jin leaned down, pressing a kiss to his ear. “Breathe through your nose. Slow and steady…” Jimin obeyed, letting his eyes slip shut.

“Now, swallow, and don’t panic.”

The tentacle flattened a bit, pushing deeper into Jimin’s throat. He gagged once, twice, and then swallowed, his heart skipping a beat when the tip slid into his throat.

Jin moaned desperately against his shoulder, shuddering. “That’s it… Keep sucking and swallowing… Fuck—” He hissed. The tentacle remained somewhat flattened, allowing Jimin to breathe. He wanted to gag, but forced the reflex back with steady swallowing, the smooth, silky fluid easing the way each time.

Jin shuddered and writhed over him, his breath coming in uneven, desperate pants. Jimin lifted his hand as much as the tightly gripped tentacle would allow, grabbing Jin’s hand and squeezing.

Jin met his gaze, smiling open-mouthed. “So perfect,” he whispered.

Jimin felt his own cock, once again hard, engulfed by the same tentacle as before, a steady, firm sucking feeling along the shaft. He rolled his eyes back, the sensations entirely overwhelming, and better than he’d ever imagined.

The tentacles up Jimin’s ass drove deeper, and the thicker one began to throb. Jimin squealed around the one in his throat, feeling a strange pressure deep inside. Jin’s eyes rolled back and he shuddered, panting Jimin’s name.

At the same time, the thin one swelled further, stretching Jimin near to the point of pain. Jimin felt every little twitch and throb, a rhythmic pattern the same as the one deep inside his body. Come, he realized absently. He was being filled with come, or whatever the equivalent was. He began to bob his head along the tentacle down his throat, swallowing rapidly. He felt it slip a little deeper and swell, cutting off his breathing for a moment before it relaxed. Jin buried his head in the crook of Jimin’s neck, whimpering and moaning softly.

Jimin struggled against the tentacles holding his wrists, sobbing desperately. One let go and Jimin grabbed the tentacle down his throat, stroking and squeezing the part nearest his mouth.

Jin screamed against his shoulder, his entire body shuddering. The tentacle swelled again, but when it relaxed Jimin felt the thick liquid filling his throat. He swallowed as quickly as he could, fearing suffocation if he didn’t. There was so much of it, pouring out as rapidly as he could swallow. The tentacle retreated, still spurting the thick, hot liquid. Jimin gripped it to keep it in his mouth, feeling it spray over his tongue. It was nearly the consistency of come, but had the same burnt tea and honey flavor as before. He couldn’t get enough. He sucked hard as he could, swallowing every few seconds. It was dribbling out of his mouth, tingling as it ran over his chin and neck.

The ones in Jimin’s ass continued to spurt as well, the thicker one using the released fluid to drive a bit deeper. Jimin’s stomach ached with a fullness he’d never felt before. His cock throbbed and twitched, balls clenched tight to his body as he neared a second orgasm.

Jin pulled back suddenly, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. “It’s my turn,” he panted. Jimin’s ass clenched around the invading tentacles. He spread his legs open wider, allowing Jin to move back and settle between them.

As he did, the one in his throat pulled back completely, spraying one final rope onto his chest and stomach. Jimin looked down, his heart stuttering for a moment. He prided himself on how fit he was, his toned stomach the envy of many of the other dancers in his classes. But now it was rounded, swollen just above where the tentacle was pouring into him. The iridescent black spray of the tentacle painted it in splatters, giving it an obscene look.

Jimin looked up at Jin, panic crossing his face.

“Don’t worry,” Jin soothed, sliding his hands over Jimin’s hips. “It’s normal. And you look so good… Belly full of me… Haven’t even had my come yet.”

Jimin shuddered, his cock throbbing. “Please—” He rasped, throat thick and sticky.

“Oh I will, baby. You’re gonna come one more time before I do. I need you nice and relaxed. You did so good. Made them come so much. Now you come.” The tentacle around his cock picked up its pace, rubbing along his cock and squeezing. Jin leaned back, tugging his pajamas off for the first time.

Jimin’s eyes bulged. As promised, he was more than well endowed. His cock was thick and long, curving upward at an angle Jimin knew would hit his prostate dead on. Directly under that, hanging a little lower was a second cock. This one was far less human looking. It was an inch or two shorter, ending in a relatively severe looking blunted tip. The head was conical, with little ridges as it widened. The shaft itself started slender but thickened toward the base, bulging out right above the base of it. Along the top of this second cock were thick bands of ribbing, almost reptilian in nature. Under this second cock were Jin’s balls, smooth and even.

“Are you okay?” Jin whispered, clearly noticing Jimin’s stare.

Jimin looked up, licking his lips. “Only if you promise you’re gonna fuck me with both of them,” he whispered.

Jin’s eyes widened a little. “It’s a lot.”

“I can take it. You’ve stretched me so good,” he whined, squeezing around the tentacle still swollen inside him, though the spurts of come had tapered off. “I wanna take them.”

He reached out with his free hand. “Can I suck them?”

Jin nodded. The thicker tentacle shot out and grabbed Jimin’s wrist, and both yanked him upright, shifting the fluid inside him and making him cry out in pleasure-pain at the sensation. Jin used his hands and the tentacles, arranging Jimin on all fours. The thin one still worked at his cock, eager to milk another orgasm out of him, and the other two remained deep in his ass, working as a plug.

Jin guided Jimin’s head down to his cocks, shivering when Jimin licked the head of the bottom one. It was rougher than a human’s, and the opening was on the underside of it.

Jin groaned. “Suck on it, baby… Come on, just like before. Suck it,” he whispered. Jimin opened his mouth obediently, letting Jin push his head down slowly. The cock filled his mouth, quickly, the swollen bulb at the bottom too big to slip past his teeth. He tucked his lips carefully when Jin hissed, tugging his hair. “Be gentle, sweetheart…”

Jimin began to bob his head in apology, moaning around him. The ridges felt foreign to his tongue, hard and solid with a thin softness of skin. He squeaked in surprise when he felt the tentacle from his mouth prod at his ass.

Jin chuckled breathlessly when Jimin pushed his ass back. He leaned over Jimin, spreading his ass. “You love it,” he panted. “Love them up your ass.”

Jimin whined and nodded, bobbing his head faster.

“Let it in then. Take the third one for me, lemme feel how loose you are for my cocks,”

Jimin pushed back against the invading tentacle, squealing when it slipped in between the other two. He shuddered as it rubbed over his prostate, snaking its way through him to join the other deep inside.

Jin tugged his hair. “That’s it, take them for me. So pretty opened up like this. Come on, suck the other one for me.” He pulled a little more forcefully, making Jimin’s stomach knot in pleasure. He pulled off Jin’s cock with a pop, panting and letting his mouth hang open. He looked up at Jin, smirking as well as he could. “If you like my ass open for you, what about my mouth? Do I look good filled from both ends, Jin?”

“Fuck—” Jin swore softly.

Jimin opened his mouth wider, letting his tongue hang out. Jin moved forward. He drove the human-like cock into Jimin’s mouth until it bumped the back of his throat. Jimin gagged hard, but leaned forward, eager for more. Jin’s fingers remained buried in his hair as he began to pump his hips, moaning low and deep in his throat. Jimin sagged on the bed, held up only by the tentacles inside him and wrapped around his middle and Jin’s firm grip on his head. The weight of the fluid deep in his guts was an unnatural, arousing pressure each time he moved. Every secret kink, ones he didn’t even know he had, Jin was hitting them all. His entire body was overstimulated but eager for more, buzzing with excitement. His cock was throbbing in the sheath of Jin’s tentacle, the others edging him closer and closer. And this wasn’t even sex for Jin’s kind. The idea sent a shiver through his entire body. He was in heaven and the night wasn’t even over. Jin’s cock nudged the back of his throat again, making him gag hard. He moaned brokenly when Jin pulled his cock free, only to replace it with the other. This one slid deeper, easily nudging further into his aching throat.

His orgasm took him by surprise this time. He screamed around Jin’s cock, shuddering as he spilled into the tentacle surrounding him. Jin pulled back, holding Jimin’s head up to watch his face as he shuddered and jerked through his orgasm.

“What a good boy,” Jin purred, making Jimin smile tired.

“Is it my turn to get fucked?” he mumbled.

“Oh yeah. Gonna fuck you good now, baby. You still want both my cocks?”

Jimin nodded. He made a small noise of surprise when he was lifted from the bed by the tentacles and flipped onto his back. The two suckered ones held his legs up to his chest and open, tilting his hips up.

“Relax. Wanna make sure you don’t lose a drop until I’m all done with you,” Jin instructed. The tentacles began to pull out one by one, leaving Jimin whimpering and empty. When the final deflated and pulled out, he whined. Jin sighed softly, smiling down at Jimin as he gazed over his body.

“You are so beautiful.” He dipped two fingers into Jimin’s ass easily, withdrawing them with a rope of the dark fluid. “And so wet for me. Relax, okay?”

Jimin nodded. Jin settled on his knees and began to bring Jimin down toward him. The tip of the first bumped against his hole and slid in with an embarrassing ease. Jin chuckled. “Now the fun part. He shifted Jimin, the tentacles still holding his legs open. Jin guided his second cock under the first and began to push.

“Breathe,” He instructed Jimin. Jimin nodded, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself. The pressure was intense as Jin worked his way in, but not unbearable. Slow and steady, the cocks nudged forward together. Jimin whined and shifted, trying his best to help. He felt so full – even with the three tentacles in him prior and the weight in his stomach, nothing compared to Jin’s cocks pushing into him for the first time.

“Now the hard part,” Jin panted. Jimin could feel the swell of the second cock pushing against him.

“I want it,” Jimin whispered. “Put it in me… Make me all yours, please… Kiss me?”

Jin leaned down, catching Jimin’s mouth in a deep kiss. He pulled back and drove in over and over, working the thickest part in bit by bit. When Jimin’s ass opened to take it, letting Jin push in until their hips were together, they both moaned.

Jimin wrapped his arms around Jin’s shoulders, looking up at him. “So good… So big,” he whined.

“I’m gonna ruin you for anyone else, you know,” Jin teased. Jimin giggled, wiggling against his lap.

“You have. Nobody could make me feel as full as you.. Please… Soulmate… Take me.”

Jin lowered his head into another gentle kiss. He began to thrust gently at first, letting Jimin get used to the tug of the swell on his cocks. But as Jimin whined for more he picked up speed, seeming to sense exactly what he needed. The tentacles on Jimin’s legs released, allowing him to wrap his legs around Jin’s hips as he drove into him.

Jimin’s cock ached, hardening again despite the painful throb in his oversensitive balls. He reached up, touching the gently bobbing tentacles. Jin shivered.

“One of these days,” he panted as he fucked into Jimin, “I’ll use you with all of them at once.”

Jimin whined, his ass clenching down hard enough that Jin groaned.

“You’d love that,” Jin teased. “Being opened up on all of me. Feeling every single one fill you so full you look swollen. Really make you feel what it’s like to fuck a monster in your closet.”

Jimin screamed Jin’s name as he came untouched, his cock dribbling weakly despite the intensity of the orgasm. He clamped down on Jin’s cocks, earning a hiss.

“Fuck… God, Jimin—”

Jin drove deep and went still. His cocks throbbed and twitched, balls squeezing rhythmically against Jimin’s ass as he came. Jimin’s eyes rolled back before shutting, a small smile on his face. Even as his orgasm faded, Jin was shuddering through his, adding more to the small swell in his stomach. Jimin laid quietly, stroking Jin’s back and clamping around his cocks as he worked him through his orgasm.

When it faded, Jin sagged on his arms, groaning tiredly. Jimin giggled. “Wow.”

“Did I hurt you? Jin worried.

“I’m going to be sore as fuck tomorrow… But not even a little. I loved it… I .. I love you. I know we just met and that’s weird for you but… Soulmates are…”

“I know,” Jin hushed Jimin with a kiss. “I feel it too.”

Jin glanced down at their bodies. His tentacles slowly and lazily retreated, leaving his back bare and smooth to Jimin’s touch. Jimin glanced down, his cheeks pinking up at the way his stomach still was still rounded. He touched it lightly.

“I’m going to be a mess when you pull out.”

“Understatement… I can try to get you to the bathroom.”

“Not a chance… I can already feel it leaking out. I swear you dumped two gallons into me.” Jimin giggled a little. “Is sex always going to be like that?”

“No, not always. I can have sex like… I guess like a human would, only let one of my dicks extend, keep the tentacles away. I still come a lot, I can’t help that, but it’d be far less.”

“Well, that’s good to know… But I like this way too. Even if it is a mess.”

Jin shifted and lifted himself off Jimin gently. As soon as he pulled out, Jimin groaned, a flood of fluids following his exit. His cheeks pinked up. “Oh God, I’m so embarrassed.”

Jin laughed a little. “Why?” He stood and scooped Jimin up easily in his arms, nuzzling his cheek.

“I’m a mess.”

“I made you a mess. And you’re beautiful. Especially for my kind… Sign of a great night. Come on, lemme take care of you.”

Jin walked to the bathroom, still carrying Jimin bridal style. He laid him in the tub and turned on the water, digging around a moment for a wash cloth. “Give me one second.” He hurried out of the bathroom, leaving Jimin staring after him.

He leaned back in the tub, letting the warm water fill it and relax his muscles. He closed his eyes, his mind replaying the highlights of the evening. The way Jin’s lips felt on his own, the looks they shared, the smiles and soft noises Jin gave during his pleasure. A smile crept across Jimin’s face. He had a soulmate. A demigod soulmate. Sure, a monster, technically – But there was nothing monstrous about Jin.

Jimin glanced over when Jin entered the bathroom again, now wearing his pajama bottoms. He was carrying a clean pair of sweats for Jimin. “I changed the sheets and threw the others in your wash.”

“You certainly know your way around my apartment,” Jimin said. Jin knelt and grabbed the washcloth, turning off the water and soaping it up before beginning to wash Jimin carefully.

“I’m the monster in your closet. I’ve been watching you for months. I know everything about this place.”

“That’s comforting, in a way. You know all my bad habits and quirks… No nasty surprises.”

“Nothing nasty about you.”

“Can I ask a sensitive question, Jin?”

Jin nodded, shifting to the edge of the tub and reaching in to gently wash the tender skin of Jimin’s ass as well as he could.

“You’re a demigod, and a monster – Are you… Old?”

“I’m twenty-eight. I age the same as you do,” Jin said. “Fair question. But we all age.”

“So… Growing old together…”

“Entirely something that can happen.”

Jimin smiled softly at that. Jin pulled him forward, washing over Jimin’s back.

“Where do the tentacles go?” Jimin asked suddenly.

“They retreat into my skin. Become just a part of musculature. I can feel them there all the time, and extend them at any time.”

“Same with your other dick? You mentioned retracting one.”

“Yes. The snake anatomy. I can use one or both. I tend to go with the more human looking one just because it fits this form better.”

Jimin nodded. When Jin determined he was clean, he opened the drain and helped Jimin stand, toweling him off.

“You’re being so sweet.”

“You’re my soulmate. And just gave me an amazing night. It’s the least I can do.” Jin paused, his brows furrowed. “I can’t believe I have a soulmate.”

“Is that something monsters and demi-gods don’t have?”

“No. I’ve never heard of it,” Jin admitted. “I didn’t even think we had a soul.”

Jimin reached out, grabbing Jin’s hand. “You do. You’re too kind not to. You share my soul.”

Jin smiled softly, squeezing Jimin’s hand. “I couldn’t have asked for a better person to share it with… Let’s get you to bed.”

Jimin let Jin lead him back to the bedroom, their fingers still twined.

They crawled in, and Jimin settled into the crook of Jin’s arm, resting his head on his shoulder.

“This feels nice,” Jin mumbled contentedly.

“Is it odd for you to be in this form? Human with legs?”

“No, this is the one I prefer. When I’m in my Naga form, my tail tends to get in the way.”

“Do you sleep like humans?”

“Opposite schedules usually – since I’m up scaring sleeping humans most of the time. But this is far preferable.”

Jimin giggled. “I wanna stay up and talk to you all night,” he admitted. “Learn everything about you.”

“We have more than just the night. You need your rest, especially after our activities. I’ll be here in the morning.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Jimin closed his eyes, listening to the steady thump of Jin’s heartbeat. He’d found him. He found his soulmate. After all these years. It wasn’t the person he’d expected, sure, and they’d have some learning to do, but they were finally together. And Jimin had never been happier.

[thesearchforbluejello]

5 and 9 for the ship headcanon meme, Will/Frankie

Okay, so this ask is so old it probably has its driver's license by now, but the questions were 5) Who says "I love you" first, and 9) What's the most embarassing thing they've done in front of each other?

(credit goes to @tyrsenian for the fire alarm idea, and to listening to me complain about having no ideas.)

5. Hoo, I have a lot of thoughts about this one. It's Will, of course. At least, it's Will that says those three words first. But Frankie is really the one to say it first, just not in so many words. She says it when she makes him coffee the way he likes. She says it when she lets him sleep with his head on her shoulder on the plane. She says it when she lets him steal her granola bars and make her watch James Bond and stupid romcoms and critique her choices of wine. Her face says it loud whenever she looks at him, but it takes her a long time to say it clear.

There's a hundred ways it could've happened. Blood and smoke and fear that time is running short, but that wasn't how it went.

When Will says it for the first time, it's burning on the tip of his tongue like it has a few times before. It's a small moment; they've stopped at a gas station and when Frankie comes out, she's brought him M&Ms. He'd been telling Susan a few days before, just mindless chatter, that he hadn't had M&Ms in so long. He hadn't even known Frankie was listening. This time, Will doesn't hold the words back. "I love you," he says.

It comes with a caveat. "You don't need to say anything," he adds. "I just wanted to make sure you know."

Frankie doesn't smile, but some of the shock fades from her face and she nods. Then, when she's merged them back onto the highway, she takes his hand.

When Frankie says it for the first time, it's a quiet moment. They're watching a hockey game on TV that neither of them are particularly invested in. Will is laying between her legs with his calves over the arm of the couch, his head on her shoulder and her arms around him. He's running the tips of his fingers over her knuckles and the motion of it is threatening to put her to sleep.

"That was a cross check," Will mumbles drowsily.

"I love you," Frankie says.

Will jerks awake and turns over in her arms so he's propped on his elbows.

"Yeah?" he asks with that smile that twists her up inside.

"Yeah," she says.

She has to lean down so he can kiss her. It's awkward and it's perfect.

9. Pt. 1

"Hey, Frankie?"

"What," she grouses as she squeezes toothpaste from the tube.

"Why is Love, Actually on your recently watched list?" Will asks.

The blob of toothpaste falls off the bristles and into the sink. "It's not," she says quickly.

"Well, no one else on this team is named Frankie, so you're clearly logged in."

"No I'm not."

"I do know how to read, you know."

"Well, you're certainly old enough to have learned by now," she quips.

"Oh my god, and You've Got Mail?! You told me you didn't like it."

"I didn't. I hated it."

"Not according to your Netflix history."

"It's a mistake," she says around her toothbrush.

"I feel like someone should owe me money. Like I should've made a bet on this."

Frankie dries her hands and leans out the door. "Will, if you ever make a bet based on any of my personal habits, I'd just like to remind you that there is still paperwork filed with my agency granting me permission to kill you, free and clear."

Will looks up from the tablet, entirely unfazed. "So you admit it isn't a mistake."

"I didn't say that; it's totally a mistake." She kneels on the edge of the bed beside him and reaches for the tablet.

"Nope," he says, altogether too smug. He jerks the tablet away and wraps an arm around her shoulders, hooks a knee over her hip, and uses the leverage he has to roll her over him and deposit her on her back beside him. She just huffs. "It's definitely not a mistake," he says happily as he leans back against the pillows again.

"At least let me choose something," Frankie says, holding her hand out expectantly.

"Fine."

She takes the tablet, and a moment later hands it back. Will looks blankly at the sign-in screen.

"I thought you were choosing something?"

"Yeah," she says, "I'm choosing to not let you look at my Netflix history."

"You're embarrassed!"

"I'm not embarrassed," she says without looking at him.

"You definitely are."

She turns her head to look him in the eye. "Kill order, Will."

"Okay, okay. You're definitely not embarrassed by this at all, not even a little bit. Sure. But this means you've forfeited your right to pick tonight. And now I want to watch You've Got Mail."

"Will, no," she whines.

"Oh, yes. Now that I know you like it, we can watch it all the time."

"I hate you," she grouses as she moves a little closer to see the screen.

"I know," Will says with a smile.

9. Pt. 2

Frankie's hand on his knee is the only thing keeping him together. The sirens are off, at least, but the flashing lights on the trucks are just worsening his headache.

"It's okay, Will," Frankie insists beside him.

"It's not," he groans.

She's been all but pasted to his side since they ended up out here, her shoulder against his, her leg against his from hip to ankle. He appreciates the attempt at comfort, even if it does little to actually make him feel better.

"It's not like this kind of thing never happens," Frankie says.

"It hasn't since I lived here."

"Well you guys are lucky, then," she laughs.

"Not anymore," he mutters.

"Come on," Frankie protests. "It's not that big of a deal. Everything is fine. We're just going to have to, you know, clean."

"Everyone probably hates me."

Frankie looks around at the very unhappy group of residents milling about, casting irritated glances at their building and the fire trucks across the street. "I wouldn't necessarily say you're their favorite person right now," she says, "but that won't last long. It's, like, impossible to stay mad at you."

"Even for you?" he teases.

"Well, I have a lot of practice. But don't think I'm not going to use this to my advantage when convenient."

Will groans and leans his head on her shoulder.

"The building is clear; you can return to your apartments," one of the firefighters announces through a bullhorn.

The crowd of residents mutters a chorus of "thank god" and "finally" and begin filtering back inside.

"Will Chase," the firefighter with the bullhorn says as he motions for Will to cross the street

"Oh God," Will moans.

"It's okay," Frankie says. "It's fine."

"It's not," he moans again.

"Come on, I'll come with you."

"You don't have to."

"I'm your partner. I go with you into danger all the time."

"That doesn't make me feel better," Will says, but when Frankie smiles, he does feel a little better. "I think I just want to talk to him alone," he says.

"Okay. I'll be right back, then."

"Wait, where are you going?" he asks as she turns down the street.

"Don't worry about it," she says with a smile.

"At least take this," he says, shrugging out of his jacket and throwing it at her before she can decline the offer again.

"Fine," she huffs, pulling it over her sweatshirt.

The firefighter wastes no time when Will finally makes it across the street. "Your oven is a mess, but there's no lasting damage, luckily. What was it?"

"Frozen pizza."

"Frozen pizza doesn't do that."

Will frowns. "It does if you leave the cardboard under it, apparently."

"Yeah, that'd do it."

"I travel a lot, for work, and I'm just really jetlagged; I can't believe I did that."

"Well, don't do it again," the firefighter says, ignoring Will's embarrassment. "You wouldn't believe the stuff we see, though. This is nothing."

"Yeah," Will says, unconvinced.

"Go get some sleep," the firefighter laughs.

Will ends up trudging up the stairs after most of the other residents of his building have already gone back to bed. He's staring hopelessly at the charred mess in his oven when Frankie knocks on the door. The only thing he's managed to accomplish was standing the spent fire extinguisher back up.

"I forgot my keys," Frankie says when he opens the door.

"Where did you go?"

"To get dinner," she says. "Go sit down. I don't think I trust you to cook right now."

"Oh, you're hilarious."

"We can clean this up tomorrow."

"How are you not as tired as I am," he mutters as he moves to sit on the couch.

"Well, I was, but the fire alarm going off did a pretty good job of waking me up."

"Funny," Will says flatly.

"Not really."

Will wakes to his foot being nudged.

"Here." Frankie hands him a microwaved mac and cheese cup. "Cheers." She taps hers against his. "And this is for your headache," she says as she hands him a bottle of ibuprofen, "because I finished what you had in the bathroom when I was here last week and I wasn't sure if you'd had the chance to buy more."

"Thank you," Will says as she sits down.

"You're welcome. But it's almost three a.m. now and I'm not going home. And I'm also not sleeping on your couch after that flight, so you're sharing your bed."

Will laughs. "Okay."

[johannstutt413]

(continued from this)

“Ya sure ya wanna drive, darlin’? I reckon yer still pretty tired.” Croissant and Bison had finished loading up their freight truck. “Not ‘nuff coffee in a full pot to keep ya ‘wake after last night.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. If my dad saw you driving, he’d have a cow.” He chuckled at his own joke, joined by her guffaws.

It had been a weird night. Most of PL wanted to play poker, but someone had to do this job, so Bison had decided to step out; the fact that Croissant didn’t want to play and clearly needed someone to escort her back to her room made his choice even simpler. “Thank ya, Bison. Can’t see clear after all that whiskey, and I’m swayin’ like cattails in a twister.”

“Don’t worry about it. I think that’s yours up there.” They made their way over, and he confirmed that it was, in fact, Croissant’s room. “Alright, you have your key, right?”

“‘sin mah pocket.” She reached into her coat and pulled it out before waving it in front of the lock.

Bison took hold of her wrist and guided the key into the lock. “There we go.”

“Thank ya.” Once the door was unlocked, they opened the door, his hand still on her wrist. “Hey, you wanna c’min for a nightcap?”

“I thought you’d had plenty already.”

She chuckled. “Not alkamahal, ya dork. Just siddown on the couch and lemme get ya some water. I ain’t too light, and you done near carried me down that hall.”

“I am kinda thirsty,” he admitted. “Alright, I’ll hang out for a little bit. Besides, I should make sure you don’t need anything in the middle of the night.”

“Heh. That an offer, Bison?” Croissant winked at him.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t hit on drunk girls, Croissant. Come on, let’s have that water and see you make it to bed alright.”

“Hmph. Alrighty, then, take a seat over yonder.” She gestured over to the couch, where he promptly sat down. A few fumbling minutes later, she brought over a couple bottles of water. “Ya workin’ tomorrow?”

“Freight job - pick up in Lungmen, drop off in Siracusa. Long drive, but apparently the cargo ain’t- isn’t that heavy.”

She laughed. “Pickin’ up my accent, now?”

“Maybe a lil’,” he admitted. “When’s your next job?”

“Dunno. Couple weeks? I get by on mah’ bargain store, anyway.”

Bison blinked. “Your bargain store?”

“Ya dunno ‘bout mah bargain store? Eh, I’ll show ya when I can see the numbers.” Croissant downed the bottle of water, set it on the table in front of them, and started rocking side to side. “Hey, I gotta know: who ya sweet on in Penguin, eh?”

“Well...” The thought clammed him up as he tried to think of a way to defuse the situation.

She finally fell over, her head landing on his shoulder. “C’mon, Bis’n, I won’t tell nobody else. Please?”

“Alright...” Bison sighed, blushing up a storm. “But don’t think just because I’m saying it now means you’re getting anything else from me tonight.”

“Eh?”

He looked at her. “It’s you, of course.”

“Well gimme a red cape and call me a matador.” Croissant grinned super wide. “Now ya gotta spend the night wimme, doncha?”

“Like I said before-”

She bowled him over, kissing him as they fell sideways across the couch with her on top. “Ya leave ya eyes at HQ, ya big oaf? I been crushin’ on ya harder than a rock ‘n a hard place.”

“You...you have?” Bison was more prepared for the second kiss that came his way...and more receptive. “Well, I mean, if you’re sure you’d say the same sober-”

“I’d say the same if I caught the Doc’s amnesia.” Croissant tugged on his jacket before sitting up to help him slip out of it.

He took advantage of the moment to stand up entirely, lifting her to her feet as well. “Let’s do this right. Which door’s your bedroom?”

“C’mon, longhorn,” she winked, leading him by the arm. “I’ll take ya there.”

“Take it easy on a first-timer, alright?”

Croissant guffawed. “Same here, darlin’. Same here.”

While neither of them knew how long they’d gone at it, it’d left them both more exhausted than they’d ever been; the difference was that, while Croissant seemed to recharge almost entirely overnight, Bison was still quite drained the next morning.

“Hey, han’som.” She whispered in his ear as he began to stir. “Time fer work.”

“Fuckin’ headskillime.” He sat up and accidentally caught his horn on one of hers; he turned to her and blushed as last night caught up to him.

Croissant rolled over on top of him. “Yer not the only one. C’mon, I’ll make breakfast.”

“K’dkey,” Bison managed through the mix of euphoria and exhaustion. Even without the capacity for rational thought, her weight on him felt heavenly. “Hull muplz.”

“No problem.” She hoisted him to his feet before throwing on her jacket and handing him some of his clothes.

By the time he was dressed, Croissant had fixed herself up and put a burrito on the table for him. “Microwave, but better’n nuthin.”

“Salgudthinx.” He fumbled his way into a chair, cowlicks on his cowlicks and eyes barely open. “Yerwunful.”

“Aww, shucks, I’m just happy I got ta wake up to ya in mah bed. Most guys just left me at the bar - talked a good game ‘til I showed ‘em I could bench press ‘em.”

Bison blinked. “Hudevr dotha2ya? Dumbasses.”

“I mean, neither ‘f us were thinkin’ of anythin’ more than a night atta time, ya know?” Croissant sadly smiled. “Just how life is on the road.”

“Nothakeinaguy.”

She leaned forward. “What was that?”

“‘Said ‘m notha kinda guy.” He finished his burrito in record time. “Kay, tima gotawerk.”

“Alright, longhorn, get rollin’. I’ll meetcha there, kay?”

Bison frowned. “Kay.”

“What’s the matter?” Croissant chuckled. “Didya wanna walk in with me?”

“Mhmm.” Without another word, he walked out of her room, closing the door behind him. 

She stared after him. “Mama never did say what I’m s’posed ta do if they say they wanna stay...”

Bison staggered in, looking like he’d just barely made it out of bed himself. “Mornin’, ev’ry’ne.”

“Morning, Bison!” Exusiai cocked her head. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, ‘m fine. ‘zere coffee yet?”

Sora walked over to the machine. “Not yet, but I’ll make you some.”

“Thanks.” He sat at the bar and buried his head in his arms. “‘Stoo damn bright’day.”

“What happened? You look like you got run over by a truck,” Mostima observed, her characteristic half-smirk now fully in place for a day’s use.

He looked back at her, attempting to glare but only managing to squint. “Wazzup mosta last night.”

“Really?” Exu couldn’t imagine why. “How come?”

“Mornin’; girls!” Croissant walked in and joined Bison at the bar, sliding an arm around his shoulder.

He returned the favor, setting his head on her shoulder. “Thnx 4 wakin mup thz mornin,” he slurred together.

“‘Course,” she smiled, giving him a peck on the cheek. “D’ya want me to come with ya for this’un?”

“Mmhmm.” Sora set a cup of coffee next to him, which with Croissant’s help he managed to hold to his lips for a sip.

Texas asked the question on all their minds. “Did you two spend last night together?”

“Aw shucks, he was a real champ,” Croissant beamed. “A real keeper, this one.”

“I should call my dad before we head out,” Bison muttered.

She rubbed his back. “You ain’t gotta worry ‘bout that after one night.”

“Thanks,” he shook his head, “but I want him to meet you, and if we’re going that direction anyway…”

“Now ain’t you just the sweetest apple in the barrel!” The cup of coffee was set to the side as she set upon him.

Once he was thoroughly awake - coffee and Croissant will do that to a person - they’d set off for the garage. Now, they were on the road; he’d asked her to be in charge of their music, letting her use his phone to do so, and for a few miles, they rode together in not quite silence. Eventually, though, she turned down the volume quite a bit. “Hey, Bison? Yer really sure I’m the girl fer ya?”

“I made my choice last night.” He glanced over at her, a smile forming on his face. “Whatever your past experience with guys might’ve been, I’ve only fallen in love once.”

“Oh? How’d that go fer ya?”

Bison chuckled. “I dunno. I’m taking her to see my dad now.”

“...Oh, Bison.” She smiled, wiping a tear out of her eye. “Ya really are an angel, aintcha?”

“Naw, you’re the angel. Never met a girl like you before, and I know I never will again. You know what my dad said when I told him about you?”

Croissant shook her head.

“Said I’d lost my mind,” he chuckled. “‘Son, there hasn't been a woman that perfect since your mother,’ he told me. I said right back, ‘Isn’t that what Grandpa said to you?’ He got a real kick out of that. My dad’s got his flaws, but you and him both have that merchant spirit in you. He’s gonna love having someone to properly talk business with, and I’m gonna love listening to you talk.”

“I’m gonna need ta start taking med’cine if I’m gonna hear this ev’ry day. I’ll turn the music back up now - don’t mind me, just gonna bask in mah luck fer a bit.”

Bison let a hand off the steering wheel and jostled her thigh. “Love ya.”

“Hehehe.” She set her hand over his. “Love ya, too.”