#Backyard Massage Studio | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

hundredandsix · 2 years ago

Text

crawl home to her—(e.w.)

jackson!ellie x fem!reader

✩ wc: 7.6k (sorry)

✩ summary: Ellie puts too much on herself. You are starting to see the cracks forming and she needs you to help her let go before she shatters.

✩ cw: mdni(18+) bottom!ellie, hurt/comfort, minor angst, ellie being annoying, thigh riding, oral (ellie receiving), fingering (ellie receiving), very minor dirty talk

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

To your annoyance, Ellie needs time after her patrols before you head to her place. Your instinct is to smother her in hugs as soon as she walks back through the gates, but you've learned that she needs to be alone and decompress before facing any company.

After passing the time by clearing the snow piled on your windowsill, you decide she's been alone for long enough. You don't know what you're walking into, but if Jesse's crude words were anything to go by, you have a very distraught girlfriend on your hands.

"Walked around with a stick up her ass today. Needs to get laid or somethin'. Isn't that your job?"

You cut through Joel's backyard to get to her studio. He gives you a little wave from the kitchen window as you cross the dirt pathway. If you squint your eyes, you can see he's wearing the flannel shirt you and Ellie found for him last Christmas.

She doesn't answer when you knock, but you let yourself in. A thick layer of moisture hits you as you enter. The steam from her shower is still fogging a few of the windows.

She doesn't react as you enter, but you can tell she's looking at you from the corner of her eye. You shut the door with a gentle thud.

Ellie Williams is definitely a sight. Clad in only a sports bra and a pair of black boxers, her damp hair hangs limp and out of its usual bun. You can smell her shampoo as you get closer, sandalwood and a hint of something earthy.

By the time you sit next to her on the lopsided couch, she hasn't said a word. You cross your legs, waiting for her to speak first, but the silence stretches between you. Rolling your eyes at her stubbornness, you take her hand in yours.

"You doing okay? "

She scrubs her hands over her face, elbows resting on her knees. Her body sinks in, almost as if she was waiting for permission to release the tension.

"I'm good. Just tired."

You resist the urge to roll your eyes. Her stubbornness never ceases. Scooting closer to her, you wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into your chest. She lets out a sigh and hesitates for a moment before giving in and letting you hold her. You're not just holding her, but also the weight she can't seem to carry on her own. Heavier than her body and stronger than her resolve.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"There really is nothing to talk about. I just-I don't know. I feel..."

She stops, fiddling with your hand in hers. Her fingers run between yours, massaging the callouses that developed from years of work in Jackson. You slide your free hand up the bare skin of her back and gently massage her shoulder.

"You feel what?"

She doesn't answer right away, and you know she needs a distraction. You lean down to get a better look at her face. Her eyes are glazed over and her lower lip is jutting out slightly. You want to bite it.

You put both your hands on her shoulders and push her into a sitting position on the floor between your legs.

She turns around, quirking an eyebrow, but she quickly relaxes when she feels your nails gently digging into her scalp. Taking advantage of her loose hair, you run your fingers down from her roots, giving a gentle tug when you reach the split ends.

Her jaw unclenches as her shoulders fall from her tight posture. The tension is coming off her in waves, releasing with each movement of your fingers. Your hands speak what your words can't express.

I can bear it, Ellie. Tell me.

It's rare for her to let you touch her like this. So gentle and sweet. She has always been a giver, liking the control that came with looking after you.

She let you touch her of course, but it was never like this. You never had time to examine the intricacies that made her up. The jagged scar on her left shoulder. The constellation of freckles decorating her upper arms.

Ellie would worship your body if you let her, kneeling between your legs as if you were an altar. She would drag your hands away from her body, pinning them down, maneuvering you to her pleasure. You could never get more than a few scarce caresses in before she was redirecting you, so focused on your enjoyment she was willing to overlook her own.

It was about control for her, especially when it came to you and your pleasure. The need to feel needed overwhelmed her and showed in every action she took toward you.

As your fingers tangled in her auburn hair, you wondered if that was the issue. She took too much on, thinking she could handle it. Most of the time, she could bear it, but it was never without a cost. She strapped each burden to her back, piling them on with the others. Ellie was caving from the outside in, and you knew she needed someone to relieve her, to take that crippling weight off her shoulders.

"Ellie, what's wrong, babe? Talk to me."

She sighed, trying to lean her head into her chest, but got caught by your fingers in her hair.

"I'm sorry."

You slide your hand down the angles of her jaw and to her chin, turning her face to meet yours. She's too slow to hide the shocked expression in her eyes. But as that fades, something else replaces it when your thumb grazes the underside of her bottom lip. Desire.

Her eyes darken, and you see something new in her. Ellie's mouth parts, and you can feel her warm breath against your hand. Her tongue slips between her teeth to wet her bottom lip under your gaze.

"Don't you dare apologize. You never have to be sorry for how you're feeling. Not with me."

And just like that, the moment is over. Her eyes soften and your grip on her face loosens. She nods, turning back around.

"'Okay."

Her voice comes out raspy. Maybe from disuse or maybe from something more. She grabs your hand and brings it back to her hair.

You chuckle as you resume your movements, fingers leaving her scalp to gently trace the bare skin of her back. The sound of her gentle laughter graces your ears when she feels you drawing little hearts on her skin. Like church bells chiming on a Sunday afternoon.

When she speaks, it shatters the silence she's built between you. It's so loud it almost startles you.

"I guess I just feel like...nothing should be wrong. I have everything I've wanted, but-"

A knock at her front door cuts her off follow by muffled shouting.

"Ellie! It's Jesse!"

The pounding on her door continues, and you have never considered murder to such an extent before.

She turns to look at you, and you can feel her tense up beneath your hands. The bells aren't chiming anymore. All that's left is the clang of metal against metal.

Before she can answer, you shout, "She's busy! Get lost."

You see that look in her eyes again, her pupils so large it almost makes her green eyes look sinister. Like a snake coiling and baring its fangs. She's ready to strike.

Jesse ignores you, shouting again, "Maria wants to see you. She said it would just be a sec."

Ellie tries to speak, but her voice gets stuck behind her words. She clears her throat before replying.

"Okay. At the house? Tell her I'll be there in a few."

"Fine, but you better be in a good mood when you come out!"

The sounds of his footfalls dim as he gets further from Ellie's safe haven. She falls back against you, letting her full body weight be supported by your legs. Her hands move up to her hair, starting to pull it back with the elastic on her wrist, but you push her hands away.

"I've got it," you say, taking the elastic from her wrist and sliding it to your own.

You divide her hair into two sections, starting a braid with the whispy front pieces. When you reach the end of her short hair, you braid the remaining strands and slip the elastic on.

She reaches up to slide a tattooed wrist over your work, fingers getting caught in the sections of the braid.

"What are you doing to me?" she asks as you start on the other side.

"Braiding your hair."

You don't have to see her face to know she's wrinkling her nose

You take an extra elastic from your own wrist to secure the other side, and as soon as you finish, she's rushing to the mirror in her little bathroom.

"I look like a dork, Y/N!"

"You do not! You look so cute!"

She emerges from the bathroom, a pink blush dusting over her freckles. You stand up from the couch as she rushes over to her dresser, throwing on a green flannel and a pair of dark jeans.

To your amusement, the shirt looks almost identical to the one Joel is wearing. You take a moment to wonder if Ellie will be like Joel when she's older. Cooking in her kitchen with greying hair under the rays of the afternoon sun.

"Yes, because cute is exactly the vibe I want to give off," she deadpans, throwing in an eye roll for good measure.

"Oh, shut up. You know you love it," you say, reaching over to twirl one of the braids with your finger.

She pries herself out of your grasp and sits on the edge of her bed to put on her shoes. You follow her to the twisted mass of unmade sheets and blankets.

"Plus..." you say, moving behind her, "they are multi-purpose."

"What?" she asks, finishing up lacing her shoes.

You chuckle at her genuine confusion as you wrap your fingers around the left braid, tugging gently. Moving closer behind her, you press your body into her. You wonder if she can feel your racing heart against her back.

"Handles," you whisper into her ear.

Ellie bolts up from the bed, blushing even darker than you thought possible. You wonder if you've crossed a line, but her reactions earlier were egging you on, making you wonder how far you can take her before she just snaps.

The load on her shoulders needs to be lessened. You could take it from her. Give her a rest. Giving up hope when you see the shocked look in her eyes, you cross your legs on the bed as if you'd said something innocent.

She scratches the back of her neck, avoiding eye contact with you. The afternoon sunshine catches on her tattoo and she looks so adorable you can barely stand it. You just want to fucking devour her.

"Um, I'm gonna head to Maria and Tommy's. I don't think it'll take long."

"Do you want me to wait for you?" you question, knowing she'll say yes.

She makes her way to the door and you follow her. She's touching the braids again, and you wonder if she's thinking of what you said. You wonder if she wants it as much as you to. To let you take control for a little bit.

"If you don't mind," she says, hand on the worn doorknob.

"Yeah, I'll be here when you get back."

She grabs your waist, her grip tight against your skin. Ellie plants a quick kiss on your lips as she leaves, and you can feel the curve of her smile against your mouth. Before she's out of the door, you reach out to tug on her braid one last time.

"You're such a perv!" she shouts as she makes her way down the steps.

You wince at her loudness, hoping Joel didn't hear her.

"Only for you, babe!"

You watch her through the window as she makes her way to Maria's. She looks behind her to see if you're still watching, and when she thinks the coast is clear, she rips the elastics from her braids.

She shakes her hair with the wildness of a wet dog. Your heart skips a beat when she uses your purple elastic to pull her hair into a bun at the base of her neck. Her own black one remains on her wrist.

You roll your eyes and think of all the things you wish you could do for her. To her.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The gentle sound of Ellie's door closing wakes you from your slumber. You didn't mean to fall asleep, but Ellie's bed was so comfortable. It was never made, but the five blankets she had provided a weight almost as comforting as Ellie herself. Shooting up from the bed, you look over to the clock on her nightstand.

3:23 am

Why the hell is she getting back so late? You rush out of bed, still wearing your jeans and T-shirt from the previous day.

"Ellie?" you call out, but she doesn't answer.

Your eyes fall to the closed bathroom door. Light is leaking through the cracks, and because of the small space, you can hear faint grunts of pain from the other side. Rather than questioning how she managed to lock herself in the bathroom so quickly, you rush to the door and throw it open.

Ellie's sitting on the edge of the bathtub, her shirt and pants discarded in a bloody pile on the floor. So much hair has fallen loose from her bun that she might as well have been wearing it down. Your eyes scan her over, trying to find the source of the blood.

There's a gash on her side. Not too bad, but deep enough that it would need stitches. A painful-looking, yellowing bruise surrounds the area of the cut near her hip.

"What the fu-"

"I didn't mean to wake you up," she says, eyes cast down.

She has a needle and string in her hand, but you can tell by looking at it that it won't be long enough.

You sink to your knees in front of her, prying the needle from her hands and letting it rest on the bathtub next to her thighs. Once again, she's in her sports bra and boxers, but this time it's not sensual. She's covered in blood, her eyes are bloodshot, and you're fucking scared.

"Ellie! That's not... fuck! Why are you back so late? You already went on patrol this morning, and Jesse said it was supposed to be quick."

"I'm sorry. I-I talked to Maria and then Clove got sick. And they needed someone to cover her-"

"Ellie," you say her name again. She's so fucking stubborn, but you're hoping you can talk some sense into her.

"I'm not gonna sit here and watch you do this to yourself."

"Well somebody has to do it!"

"You're right. Somebody does. And I know you think you can handle it and take it all. Physically you can, but it's killing you! When is the last time you even slept?"

She doesn't respond, and you'd like to think it's because she knows you're right. Her downcast eyes suggest she has no comeback or retort to leave you with.

"And why are you trying to do this yourself? The string is too short and you haven't even cleaned it all the way," you say, gesturing to the gash on her side, still dripping blood.

She still doesn't answer, auburn hair falling in her face as she tilts her head down.

"You had to have deliberately hidden this because there's no way in hell Maria or Jesse or Dina or whoever you were with would have let you go off on your own in this state."

"Are you done?" she finally says.

She meets your eyes and you're both glaring at each other.

"No, I'm not actually. There are plenty of things I want to say to you, but we can do that when you're not bleeding all over your fucking bathroom."

You reach past her, turning the faucet on. The water is freezing cold at first, and you're tempted to push her into it, but you turn the knob until it's lukewarm. Ellie grabs your wrist when you reach down to plug the drain.

"It's fine. I don't need-"

"No," you say, and to your irritation, you can feel tears fill your eyes.

"You're going to let me take care of you. I don't care what you think you can and can't handle. I don't want to hear another fucking word."

Ellie looks like she wants to say something, lips parting but then closing a few times. She shuts her mouth for the final time, stunned by the break in your voice and your watery eyes.

Reaching up to help her take off the rest of her clothes, you scan her for injuries again. She has a few cuts and bruises but nothing as bad as the gash on her side.

Ellie stands on shaky legs, gripping onto your forearm for balance, as she steps into the bath. The water almost immediately turns a murky red around her ankles.

"You know better than this, El," you scold.

She shakes her head and starts washing some of the dirt and blood off of her arms. You don't know if it's hers or someone, something else's and you feel a pang of fear in your chest.

You push your hands away and replace hers with your own. The water looks disgusting, so you reach for the drain and let the blood and sweat sink away.

Turning on the water again you grab a cloth hanging in the bath. Grabbing her chin, you tilt her head towards you and begin to gently wash her face with the cloth. She closes her eyes, leaning into your touch. The dirt, grime, and blood disappear to reveal the freckle-faced girl you're used to seeing.

From this angle, she just looks like a girl. Your girl. Not a woman who has slaughtered hundreds of infected and can bring grown men to their knees.

"You like it when I do that," you observe, your anger beginning to dissipate.

It's a simple statement, and at first, you aren't sure if she even heard you. But her eyelashes flutter, eyes moving behind closed lids. For a second, you forget that you're mad at her because she looks so pretty like this. Green eyes shut and her pink lips in a pout.

"Yeah," she says, barely a whisper.

She knows you're talking about your fingers gripping her face, turning her where you need her. And she likes it.

But when you lean down to rinse the cloth, you see the gash on her side and it comes back to you. The fear you felt. The anger you had towards her for not taking care of herself.

You release her chin and tilt her head into the stream of water to scrub her hair. She still hasn't opened her eyes, trusting you completely to support her head and prevent her from falling.

When her hair is clean, you help her rinse herself off one last time before shutting off the water. Her eyes open and she looks at you from the bath, sitting cross-legged and looking up at you like you hung the moon and stars.

It made you feel so powerful. Ellie Williams kneeled before you, offering herself bare to your touch. Waiting for you to tell her what to do next.

"Come on," you hold out your hand to help her up.

She stands in the bath on shaky legs and lets you guide her onto the floor mat. You grab her towel hanging on the back of the door and help her dry herself off.

You kneel down to look at her wound and it's mostly stopped bleeding. Now clean, it's ready for stitches. Grabbing for the needle, you stop when you see her shivering. The cool air in the bathroom sent goosebumps over her scarred skin. You help her ring her wet hair out one more time, and wrap the towel around her shoulders.

"I'm going to grab you something to wear. You're freezing."

As you begin to walk away, Ellie grabs your wrist, forcing you to bring her along with you.

"Ellie."

"What? I want to come too," she says, the hint of a smirk painting her face.

Rolling your eyes you say, "It's like six feet away, babe."

But she gives you that look again, cocking her head to the side, and you give in, leading her to her dresser.

After digging through the drawer, you produce a pair of black briefs for her and an oversized shirt that you always slept in when you stayed over. It would be easy enough to pull over her shoulder while you stitched her wound.

She drops the towel to the floor. You help her pull on the clothes, but it is more difficult than you thought it would be. She winces as you guide her arms over her head, a small bead of blood oozing from her open wound.

Ellie limps over to her couch and turns on a lamp next to it. She gingerly sits on the middle of the sofa but won't make eye contact with you.

"There's more light over here," she responds to your raised eyebrow.

The towel feels heavy in your hands as you bring it back to the bathroom. You hang it up and grab the first aid kit before returning to the small form of your girlfriend on her couch.

You kneel in front of her and start laying out the supplies on the coffee table. She watches you, those snake-green eyes following your fingers as you sterilize the needle and cut the thread.

You reach up to pull the shirt over her left shoulder, and you're face-to-face with half of her bare chest. Your brain is telling you that this is absolutely not the time to feel desire, but you can't help it. Ellie never lets you look at her like this.

That's not to say she's shy. Because she's not. She just usually doesn't let you focus on her like this. Her nipples were hard from the cold air, and you're thinking about putting your mouth on her before you remember where you are and what you're doing. You chide yourself. God, you are absolutely fucked, Y/N.

But Ellie notices. You look up from her chest to meet her eyes, and you think that maybe she's starting to get an idea of what you want. And what you know she needs.

"Are you going to tell me what happened now?" you ask to distract her as the needle sinks into her skin.

She winces, tattooed hand flying to your shoulder. Her nails dig into you as you continue. The crescent moons her nails leave on your skin are the good kind of burn.

"You're going to laugh at me. It's really stupid," she says, eyes following your hands.

"Well if it's stupid, I probably will."

She lets out a gentle laugh, leaning down to look at your progress. You are about a quarter of the way through, but you couldn't get the right placement and your hand is cramping from the awkward angle.

Trying again, you still can't get the angle right and you let out a groan of frustration. But an idea pops into your head. You stand up to sit on the couch next to her.

"C'mere," you say, guiding her to sit in your lap.

She straddles you and wow this is new.

You grab her hips to move her to the side a bit so you could get a better angle. She shifts so she's straddling your right thigh, and fuck. You can feel the heat of her — No.

No. No. No. No.

Focus.

Ellie's watching your hands as you resume the stitches, shifting against your thigh to get comfortable. She takes a sharp intake of breath, causing you to abruptly stop.

"You okay? Sorry, it's just easier to reach you this way."

"Yeah, I'm fine."

You've never heard her sound like this before. So breathy and her voice so low that you almost didn't hear her. You have to force yourself to pry your eyes away from her face and go back to the stitches.

"You never told me what you did."

She's shifting against your thigh again. You want to tell her to stop because it's so hard to focus when she does that.

"Oh," she laughs again. "I fell through the floor in this old house. Got stuck and Dina had to help me out."

"Babe. You fell through the floor?"

This has happened enough times that you feel like you need to start strapping a cushion to her backpack.

"Yes. Didn't even see any fuckin' clickers. It was supposed to be fast but the basement was so deep it took forever to get out."

"Damn, with your injuries I thought you got stuck in a hoard or something."

"Nope. Just rotted wood."

You tie off the last stitch and reach over to set the materials on the end table with the lamp. She doesn't move to get off you. Instead, you can feel her move against you again, but this time, she tries to hide it. She does it when you're moving as if you won't notice.

But that's the thing about Ellie. If you don't pay attention to her little moments and eccentric actions, you will miss a lot. She's full of hidden surprises if you look closer.

You want to say something, but you don't know if it's intentional or not so you stay quiet. Maybe she's just in pain. She's got a nasty cut and a couple of huge bruises surrounding it.

But you don't want her to move yet, so you grab her hips, being careful to avoid her cut. You're face-to-face and it occurs to you just how tired she looks. Her dark circles are such deep purple that you want to go back to the bath and grab the cloth. Maybe you could scrub them off her skin if you tried hard enough.

"You've gotta start putting yourself first. You're burnt out and exhausted."

She nods, but that's all she allows you.

"Okay," she says quietly, "I'll do it for you. I don't like it when you're worrying about me,"

"I don't want you to do it for me. I want you to do it for you. Be a little selfish for once."

She doesn't nod at this, but you feel her move her hips against you again. This time there is no mistaking that it is purposeful.

"What are you doing, El?"

"I don't know."

God, you love saying her name. You love the way it makes her pupils larger, so dark the green in her irises is barely visible. You crave the way it brings a pink flush to her cheeks. How you can send Ellie, so strong and stoic, into a rambling mess.

She's looking at your lips, and her tongue darts out to lick over her own.

"I think you do know," you say, leaning closer to her. "You just don't want to say it."

You're kissing her before she can respond, hand slipping into her hair to tug gently. She groans into your mouth, and you slip your tongue over hers. Ellie's moving her hips again, grinding down on your thigh.

She has the awkward, fumbling movements of someone that's never done this before. She knows how to guide your hips and help you find the best angle for your pleasure, but this was all new territory for her. You move your hands back to her hips to aid her movements.

Leaning back, you pull away from the kiss and she falls forward, chasing you. Her hot breath caresses your lips, and you lean your forehead against hers. She smells like the forest still. There's no amount of soap that can get the scent off her.

"That's kinda fucked, El. Getting turned on by me stitching you up," you mumble against her lips.

Her movements stop and she's immediately pulling away and trying to explain herself, her hands thrown up as if surrendering. You let out a chuckle and push your index finger against her lips to stop her.

"I'm just teasing you. I know what you want."

You help her guide the oversized shirt over her head, and your eyes greedily scan the exposed flesh. She's watching you, trying to figure out what your next move will be. You can see the cogs and wheels turning in her mind.

Her instinct is to cross her arms over her chest, but one pointed look from you stops her in her tracks. You start at her neck, leaving wet, sloppy kisses down her chest until you reach her chest.

"I want you to tell me what you want," you say between kisses.

"But you said-" she cuts herself off with a sigh as you pull her nipple into your mouth, tongue gliding over the sensitive flesh.

"I know what I said, but I want you to tell me. Prove to me that you want it like this or I'll stop."

"Babe" she groans.

"Say it," you demand, using your hands to help her grind her cunt against you again.

"I want you to take care of me."

"I gathered that."

"C'mon, Y/N. You know what I fucking want. Saw it in your eyes since this morning."

You slow your movements, wanting to see how far you can take her. She groans in protest and grips your shoulders for leverage as she grinds down harder against you.

"I want you to make me feel good," she tries.

Continuing your slowed movements, you switch to the other side, using your other hand to knead the sensitive, smooth skin. She can do better than that.

"I-I want you to make me cum."

"How? I do that all the time," you say, barely resisting the urge to chuckle at her frustration.

"However you want to. Whatever way you want me. I don't care. I just need you. Need it like this today."

She's found her own rhythm against your thigh, not needing you to guide her movements anymore.

"There you go, baby. Take what you need from me. Just like that."

You lead kisses back up her neck and behind her ear where you know she's sensitive. She's breathless against you, groaning and sighing quietly as she uses you.

"Need-need help, Y/N," she says, her movements becoming more frantic.

Your cunt throbs at her words because this is exactly what you need. You want her to want this as much as you do.

She's chasing for more but can't seem to get to it. Pulling away from her neck, you tuck her auburn hair behind her ears and take a second to admire her. Her cheeks are flushed and her brow is wet with sweat.

The wounded look in her eyes forces you to take pity on her. Your firm hands grasp her shaky ones and guide her off your lap to stand up. Reaching forward, you pull the elastic of her panties so it flicks back against her.

"Take these off."

She's so eager that she almost trips as she shucks them down her legs, forgetting about her injuries. She's completely bare in front of you, glistening cunt on display. You take a moment to watch her and the way she moves back and forth from foot to foot under your gaze.

There's a large wet spot on her briefs, and you follow Ellie's eyes down to your jeans. There's a matching spot on your pants from her grinding against you. You're so aroused you think even the slightest touch between your legs would have you cumming.

"You made a mess, El."

Before she can respond, you're dragging her back over your thigh. She lets out a breathy moan at the feeling of the damp denim dragging against her clit.

"I want you to cum like this," you say.

"I-I don't think I can."

"Yes, you can. And you will."

She opens her mouth to complain, but you quiet her rambling with a kiss.

"Didn't you say I could have you any way I want you?"

"Yes, but-"

"You can have my mouth after you finish like this," you whisper against her lips.

That shuts her up, and she's grinding against you again, much more frantic than before. From her labored breaths, you can tell she's close. She's been worked up since this morning, and you want nothing more than for her to let go against you. You don't want any thought or worry in that pretty head of hers except how she's going to cum next.

She's moving fast enough that her knee is bumping deliciously between your legs. The seam of your jeans is grinding against your clit just right. You wanted to take them off and feel her bare skin against yours, but that would mean pulling away from Ellie again. She might lose her courage in the time it takes you to get them off.

The dampness of her cunt is seeping through your jeans and onto your leg, and fuck. You wonder if this is how Ellie feels when she has you under her and at her mercy.

"F-fuck, please," she groans.

"I've got you, baby. Give it to me."

You reach up to smooth the wrinkle between her brows with the pad of your thumb. "Relax, just want you to feel good. That's all I want you worrying about right now."

Scooting forward, you plant your foot firmly against the ground. You look up to watch her reaction as you start to bounce your leg, increasing the pressure and friction against her clit.

She pulls her face forward into your neck and lets out a strangled moan, louder than you've ever heard her before. You can feel her lips moving against your skin, but you can't make out what she's saying. She's talking so fast and so low that you can only understand the tone of desperation in her voice.

"Please, please, please please-"

"C'mon, El. You're almost there. I can feel you clenching against me."

You pull her by her shoulders away from your neck so you can watch her face as she finishes. When she tries to hide against you again, you pull her back by her hips.

"Uh, uh. Wanna see your face when you cum."

You push against her hips, creating even more pressure. She clenches her eyes and you feel every muscle in her body tighten like a rubber band ready to snap.

She's panting, hands flailing around because she doesn't know what to do with them. One flies to her chest, her long fingers creating indents against her skin. The other grips your shoulder. You can tell she's holding back, letting all that she's carrying get into her head.

"Let go, Ellie. I've got you. Gonna feel so good."

A high-pitched sound leaves her mouth as she takes in a shallow breath, and you can see it as the tension snaps within her. She's grinding against you so fast the couch is shaking and you're having trouble keeping up.

You release one of her hands and grab a fistful of her hair, tugging hard as she rides out her high.

"Doing so good for me, El. Look so fucking beautiful like this."

"Yes, yes, fuck. W-wanna be good for you."

Her words surprise you. Pulling you out of your head for a moment. She usually doesn't talk much when she finishes, but in her high, she revealed something you'd always suspected.

When her high dissipates, she crawls off of your lap to lean against your side, the stimulation of your leg too much on her clit.

She's breathing heavily, eyes closed and cheek pressed against your shoulder. Her naked form against yours reminds you of your fully-clothed state. The trust that she has in you sends another pang of arousal through you.

"So fucking good," she mumbles into your side.

While she's distracted, you gently pry her off of you and sink to your knees, face level with her still-dripping cunt. She wines, hands flinging out blindly to pull you back to her.

"Not finished with you yet," you say, grabbing her thighs to drag her so she's at the very edge of the couch.

She's looking at you through half-lidded eyes, lips wet from your kisses and her constant biting. You grab her hands, shoving them between her legs and forcing her fingers to spread herself for you.

She's too fucked out to even be embarrassed as she lets you maneuver her body.

"You see, El. You were complaining but look how fucking wet you are." You drag your index finger through her slick, circling her clit with the pad of your finger.

She throws her head back, and you can tell she's suppressing a groan. You grab her chin and force her head down. Her eyes look at her sopping wet pussy and then at you, letting out a sigh when she sees the look on her face.

"I told you to look, baby."

Ellie does groan at that. She watches as your fingers move to her entrance, circling it with your middle finger. Her hands drop to her sides, but you pull them back.

"No, stay like this."

You can feel her involuntarily clenching, trying to pull your fingers when she needs you. She's so swollen from getting off on your thigh earlier, and you lean in closer as you slip your middle finger into her entrance.

She's warm around you, clenching so tight it's hard to move your finger. You lower your lips to her swollen clit, sucking gently to get her to relax.

"F-fuuuuck, Y/N. So sensitive. Don't know if I can-"

You pull back from her clit with a wet smack, gazing up at her from your eyelashes.

"I made you a promise, El, and I intend to keep it. You just lay there and look pretty. Let me take care of you."

Her fingers are still spreading herself for you, pulsing cunt on display. You take pity on her when her hands start to shake, and you guide her hands to tangle in your hair instead.

She relaxes enough for you to move your finger comfortably, and you quickly add a second. She groans at the intrusion, head flying back on the couch and her hands tightening in your hair. You keep a steady pace, not too fast or too slow.

You give her a second to adjust before returning your mouth to her cunt. She tastes so sweet you can't help but groan into her, the vibrations going straight to her clit.

Licking down to her entrance where your fingers are buried inside her, you move to her clit, flicking your tongue at the end.

"Just like that. Yes."

Her voice is whiny and so adorable you almost want to stop to drink her in again. Instead, you look up at her as you wrap your lips around her clit and move your head from side to side. The added friction sends her eyes flying shut. Her face is so red you think it would be warm to the touch. Her half-dry hair is a mess, sticking up at odd angles and in a bunch of knots at the base of her neck.

Your neglected clit is throbbing beneath your clothes, and you use the moment to slip a hand into your jeans. The angle is too awkward to slip a finger inside yourself, so you resort to rubbing tight circles around your clit. You've never been this close to finishing with such little stimulation before. Each circle of your fingers sends an almost fatal pang of arousal from your core to your lower stomach.

"I know it's a lot. Doing so good for me," you murmur against her clit.

That's what she wants to hear. What she needs to hear from you. Ellie is good. So good to you and you know she can be good for you, too.

When you crook your fingers at the spongey spot inside her, she loses it, grinding against your face and practically babbling praise.

"So good to me, babe. Feels so fucking good."

"Mhhmm. There you go, El. Let me have it."

Your face falters slightly as you move your hand in your pants faster, so close to your orgasm you can taste it. Whether she notices, you're touching yourself or not, she doesn't let on.

"F-fuck. So close, babe. Please don't stop. Please," she actually whines.

She tugs on your hair harder, forcing your face closer to your cunt as her thighs come up to rest against your ears. You let her clench around you instead of pushing her back, liking the feeling of her completely surrounding you. You would let her suffocate you like this.

That's what does it for you. Your orgasm hits you like a wave, and you rapidly rub your clit as you ride out your high. You groan against her clit, and you can feel her thighs tighten around your head from the added stimulation. Doing your best to keep up the pace of your mouth and your other hand inside her, you can feel her clench around your fingers again. The image of Ellie above you, all fucked out and blissful makes it so much more intense.

When the pleasure verges on overstimulation, you remove your wet hand from your pants to grab her thigh, nails digging into her skin. You want to leave marks. You want her to bruise for you.

You look up to see her eyes full of unshed tears, her legs shaking in pleasure. Focusing your fingers on the spot again, you suck on her clit hard, wanting to push her over the edge.

"Yes, yes, yes. Goddamn," she moans as she lets go.

You continue pumping your fingers in and out of her to help her ride out her high, accepting her release against your tongue. Her thighs part from you, and she becomes completely boneless.

You're pulled from your thoughts when Ellie's hands come up to your head to push you away.

"N-no more. Fuck. Too much, babe."

You allow her to push you away but not before leaving kisses up her thighs, tracing the contours of her body as you make your way up to her lips.

This time it's Ellie that pulls you into her lap. She winces as your knee accidentally bumps her freshly-stiched wound. You quickly move your hand to caress the torn skin.

"Shit, sorry. You okay?"

She answers with a kiss. You know that she can taste herself on your tongue. Ellie wraps her arms around you, pulling your face into the crook of her neck.

"I'm sorry if I scared you," she whispers into your hair.

You pull your face out of her neck, and this close to her, you can see the tear tracks on her face. Your fingers move to wipe the marks off her face, but she grabs your hands in hers.

"I'm sorry if I overreacted a bit."

Ellie shakes her head at that, and before you can react, she's pushing you back onto the couch, climbing on top of you. Her lips are hot and heavy against yours. The dominant energy that you're used to feeling is exuding off of her. You realize she's trying to make up for how she just acted.

"What are you doing, El?"

"You made me see fuckin' angels. I want to make you feel good now."

You want to give in, but one look at her dark circles and bruised flesh takes you back to how tired she is. After getting back early this morning, she probably hasn't slept in at least 24 hours.

"No," you say as you push your hands away. "You need to get some rest."

"But you-"

"No, Ellie."

She pouts and sits up, straddling your still denim-clad waist.

"You can return the favor in the morning, okay?" you compromise.

She nods, and as if on cue lets out a huge yawn. She reaches the floor, flailing her tattooed hand around until she finds the oversized shirt from earlier. You can see the goosebumps on her skin again as she pulls the shirt over her head.

She stands up from the couch, legs still a little unstable from exhaustion, pain, and the two orgasms you just gave her. You take her outstretched hand and let her pull you toward her bed, shedding your t-shirt and jeans as you go.

She falls asleep with her head tucked on your chest, listening to the calming beat of your heart as she relaxes. The heat of her body provides a welcome comfort from the cold and you tighten your hold around her broken form, as if your grasp could keep her together.

But you know that you can't hold her like this forever. Maybe you couldn't stop her sadness and anger from seeping through the cracks, but you were sure as hell going to try.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

#hundredandsix #ellie williams smut #ellie tlou #ellie williams x y/n #ellie williams #ellie williams x female reader #lesbian #tlou #tlou smut #ellie x reader #ellie williams x reader smut #ellie williams x you #ellie williams imagine #ellie x y/n #jackson ellie #sub!ellie #bottom!ellie

1K notes · View notes

so-much-for-stardust6 · 4 months ago

Text

Sauna- Damon Albarn

summary: you and your boyfriend have sex in a sauna.

lowercase intened & not proof read

warnings: smut

a/n: this was requested by @hazelllllllllllllllll thank you so much and so sorry it took long to get it out! 🫶 i apologize if it’s feels rushed or short 😭

i thank damon everyday for convincing us to build a sauna in our backyard. every time i get stressed (which is nearly all the time), i always go in there to relax. and today was one of those days. i had a tough day at work and much needed sauna break was the way to relax. i wrapped a towel around my naked body and walked over to the building. damon wasn’t home, he was at the studio talking music with the rest of his band mates. he also had a surround system installed into the sauna so we could wind down with music as well. i set the temperature perfectly and turned on my music, a smile instantly on my face. i sat down and just stayed there with my eyes closed.

“there you are, darlin.” his voice startled me.

i jump in my seat and look at him. he was wearing a white towel around his waist. i gulp as certain thoughts enter my brain.

“hey baby. you’re home so early.”

“yeah, i wasn’t feeling the best so we called it a day.” he went to sit next to me.

“you’re sick?” i instantly worry.

“oh no, just not feeling the best music wise.”

“you need a message?”

i always give damon a massage when he’s stressed about music or in a music block, it always ends up easing him. he smiled brightly and shook his head. he turned around and my fingertips touched his dewey skin. already seeing him in only a towel already made me feeling a certain way, and now i’m giving his a massage in the sauna.

“i always love how your hands feel..” he practically moans out.

i bite my lip and kept my mouth shut. i watched as i dug my fingers into his skin.

“fuck…” i softly mutter to myself.

“what’s that, love?” he turns around to face me.

“nothing.” i quickly say.

“you feeling okay? you look a bit flustered.” he smirked.

as soon as i saw his smirk i knew i was done for. but i still lied.

“yeah, i’m feeling great. it’s just this sauna i’m not used to.”

he gave me a certain look, a look telling me he can see through my white lie.

“gimme a kiss.” he puckered up his lips.

i knew it was a trap to kickstart something. i hesitate but i eventually lean in. i went in for a quick peck but he quickly escalated everything by shoving his tongue in my mouth. i moan out from the feeling and move closer to him. he held onto my face and deepened the kiss.

“take it off..” he mumbled against my lips.

i slowly stood up and grabbed the hem of my towel where it’s wrapped up. i mentally thank myself for deciding to go naked as i open my towel and drop it. his blue eyes scanned my figure, his chest rising quickly as his dick gets hard. i notice the little bump from his erection in the towel, a slight smile appeared on my face.

“doesn’t take much, huh?” i motion to his problem.

“i mean you’re naked.” he shrugged.

he stood up and unwrapped his towel. his dick sprung out and was already leaking precum.

“come ride me, love..” his voice deep.

i go to sit on his lap, his dick resting perfectly on the one spot i want him. we go back to our previous makeout and i start to roll my hips. he grabbed onto my hips and gripped them hard.

“fuck..you’re killing me..” he moaned.

i grab onto his shoulders for a better angle and continue my teasing movements.

“no more teasing..please..” he breaths out.

i giggle to myself at how fast he folded. i pushed myself up and grabbed his dick, aligning it with my hole. i look at him once last time, taking in his beauty. i’m always so astonished by his absolute beauty, his perfection 100%. i slowly started to sink myself down onto him, the feeling of him stretching me out making me moan softly. he also moaned, closing his eyes and dropping his head back.

“fuck…you feel so good..” he groaned out.

his hands slowly started to guide my hips, rolling them to create fiction. the heat from the sauna was making it easier for me to sweat. he speeds up my movements, eventually lifting me up to bounce on him. he met me halfway and thrusted his hips up, the sauna filling with the sound of skin slapping. i moaned out at every thrust, my boobs bouncing up and down. i wrap my arms around damon to bring him closer to me. i connect our lips once again, red and plump from our previous makeout. our chests touched as i rode him, our sweat slick skin rubbing against one another. i pulled the hair on the back of his head, making him moan out. i furrow my eyebrows as i feel a rising feeling in my stomach, his tip hitting my g-spot enhancing it. one of his hands left my hip and started to make its way towards one of my boobs, squeezing it a bit. i moan into his mouth which allowed him to sneak his tongue in. he played with my nipple, pinching and pulling it. i clenched around him at the feeling.

“i’m close, love..” he mumbles against my lips.

i only breathe out and nod my head, bouncing faster. i continue moaning out loud, digging my fingernails into his skin. damon pulled away from my lips and pressed kisses down my neck all the way to my boob. he didn’t hesitate to take my nipple in his mouth, sucking on it and occasionally nipping it. the pleasure became all too much, the spring in my stomach tightened to the max.

“d-damon…i-“ i cut myself off with a moan.

damon just hummed around me, giving me permission to cum. i let out one last breath before i squeezed my eyes shut, arching my back as i came all over him. my nails continued to dig into his skin, probably drawing blood. damon stared up at my from my boob, his blue eyes watching me cum. i gasped and cried out as i continued to cum, clenching around him. watching and feeling me cum sent damon over the edge, his cum spewing inside me. he rested his forehead against my chest as he moaned, gripping tightly onto my hips to slowly guide them. i collapsed against him to try and catch my breath.

“you did so good, love. so so good..” he left kisses all over my body.

he kissed behind my ear, my shoulder, and behind my neck.

“i love you, dames.” i mumbled.

“i love you too, darlin.”

he pulled me away from him to look at my face. he wiped the stray hairs off my face and pressed a sweet kiss to my lips.

“you’re so beautiful, like always. i’m so lucky.” his eyes scan my face, lighting up brightly.

“oh shush.” i blush and try to turn away but he softly grabs my face.

he kisses my cheeks, my cheekbones, my forehead, my nose and my lips again.

“let’s get cleaned up, love.” he slowly lifted me up from him.

i groaned from the soreness as he sat my down. he stood up and grabbed a spare towel from near the door. he bent down and spread my legs apart, mouth slightly falling apart when he saw his cum leaking out of me. he looked back up at me before carefully cleaning me up. he cleverly pushed his cum back inside of me, making me chuckle and pet his head. he stood up and cleaned himself before discarding the dirty towel in the corner.

“thank you, baby.” i pucker my lips for another kiss.

he gladly accepts it but cheekily tried to deepen it into something more.

“nope, nice try.” i pull away and laugh.

“doesn’t hurt to try.”

he grabbed his towel and wiped my sweaty body off before wrapping it around his waist, he then grabbed mine. i wobbly stood up and leaned against him for support as he wrapped mine around.

“grab onto me.”

i did what he said before he picked me up bridal style. i yelped out from the action and giggle. he walks to the door and i open it for him.

“wait! we need to turn it off.”

“eh i’ll come back when i put you down.” he shrugs.

he makes his way back into the house and we might’ve had another round.

87 notes · View notes

rebelfell · 2 months ago

Note

every time you post pornstar!Eddie I feel like that picture of the wolf tearing his shirt open

if I didn't have a fear of being perceived and also digital footprint I'd be in your comments posting that image 0.2 seconds after you hit the publish button

but since I am and tumblr won't let me send images from anon, just know that I am thinking that picture so hard hoping the vibes go through my little device and to you <3

WAIT ALSO

I have a lore questions

What do they do outside of the porn stuff? Like they can't be doing that 24/7 but what are reader's hobbies? Also will Eddie be using more of his masseuse skills (reader probably needs it in their shoulders from nights spent hunched over the editing software)??

Also what about interactions that are outside of the porn realm? Do they get coffee? Do they stumble upon each other at the store? Can Eddie even go to the store as porn's new hot star or does he have to go in disguise? What's it like without all the cameras and the moans and the nakedness? Is it more vulnerable with their clothes on??

I know there's still more content to come but I really want to just dive head first in and swim through all the details and longing. no more dragging out the plot!! I'm slobbering against the glass. let me in please. I promise I don't have rabies :D ignore the foaming at the mouth I'm just excited!

I’m so glad you like them, bubs! And ohhhhhhhh my gosh so many good questions! You gave me lots and lots to think about the last few days…

I’ve not thought too much about the lore of this story because it started as a horny drabble, BUT I’ll throw some too many thoughts under the cut.

I think at least in the beginning, there was not much outside of work that R had time for.

In my head, you were kind of carrying out every task on your own cos you just really wanted this new endeavor to work. It’s not that you “hated” porn, you just always had felt like you were more suited to being behind the camera and you finally had the opportunity to prove your mettle.

So it wasn’t 24/7, but it took up a fair amount of your time and didn’t leave room for much else.

And I think the basis of your connection with Eddie was in your working relationship, so most of the things you do together would be work stuff. He absolutely offered massages and you initially turned them down, not wanting to cross any boundaries or blur any lines (nice try).

But after one particularly long editing session… it’s just too good an offer to pass up. Plus, it led to him telling you about massage school, and...

Well, we know how that turned out.

I would also like to think R is a big movie buff. Sort of like a less-annoying Dawson Leery where you made movies with a shitty camcorder in your backyard and just really enjoyed the idea of bringing an idea in your head to life.

Definitely a very creative/imaginative type.

And I feel like you got into the porn industry thinking ‘I can do this for money and then work on my stuff in my down time’ and eventually got to a point where you were just phoning it in, and you weren’t working on anything, just kind of going through the motions. A little lost.

Then Eddie shows up and he becomes your muse and collaborator all in one neat and tidy package. You feel inspired again and you get this urge to Create that you haven't felt in a long time.

Outside of work, you are definitely friends. But I think Eddie had to do a lot of coaxing to get you to ease up on work. Once you start generating some buzz and revenue for the studio and start getting more funding/crew etc, Eddie is the one who has to remind you that you don't have to do everything anymore and you can (and need) to take time for yourself once in a while.

With him, if you want 🙃

I could see you two walking around a museum or art installation and talking about the pieces and getting into long debates about them. I don't see Eddie as a big ArT gUY, but I think he likes looking at the things you look at and trying to see them through your eyes. I think he's just fascinated by your mind and your vision and that's one way he's able to somewhat experience it.

And it’s during these moments away from all the lights and the cameras and the grunting and the moaning and the squishy noises that he feels so much more intimate with you. Because neither one of you is being your Work Self.

Eddie also feels 1000% more vulnerable with his clothes on. For someone who is naked for a living, he feels so much more exposed when he reveals something about his personality like a band he likes via a t-shirt or something like that.

He's still carrying around that Hawkins-induced shame about being a "freak" for the kind of music he likes or being ostracized for his hobbies. And I think there will always be a part of him that fears the judgement of that side of himself.

And for you, seeing him in clothes feels almost more intimate than seeing him naked? Because when he's naked, he's working, he's got his game face on, his bareness is like armor almost. When he is in his regular clothes, he doesn't have those walls up anymore and you feel like you're seeing the real him. He’s not Eddie Munson, Pornstar.

He’s just...Eddie.

for your viewing pleasure

#asks #pornstar!eddie

14 notes · View notes

abookishdreamer · 8 months ago

Text

Character Intro: Apólafsi (Kingdom of Ichor)

Nicknames- The Smiling God by the people of Olympius

Babe by Eudaimonia

Daddy by Paidia

Age- 36 (immortal)

Location- Hearthwood neighborhood, New Olympus

Personality- He's very easy going, idealistic, & loyal to his values and to those who are important to him. He's also friendly with a playful spontaneous spark. He's married.

He has the standard abilities of a god except shapeshifting. As the god of enjoyment his other powers/abilities include limited photokinesis, excitement inducement, pleasure inducement, circus mastery, limited alcokinesis (alcohol manipulation), palletakinesis (paint manipulation), and balloon generation/manipulation.

Apólafsi lives in a large house (as part of a gated community) in the Hearthwood neighborhood of New Olympus with his family- his wife Eudaimonia (goddess of happiness) and daughter Paidia (goddess of play & amusement). They own a plethora of pets- rabbits, yorkshire terriers, a bird, & a pegasus (the latter belonging to his daughter). He's excited about the the upcoming addition, an english mastiff. Apólafsi even has an idea for a name- Boomer. He maintains the grass by mowing the lawn, clearing out the gutters, and cleaning the backyard pool.

He starts his day early with a jog through the neighborhood before returning home to make breakfast for his family. Before work, he'll also stop at the gym for a quick 30 minute workout.

Apólafsi has a few tattoos- a smiley face (dedicated to his wife) on his shoulder blade, a bunch of tiger lilies on his chest, and a bunch of may belles (lily of the valley) on his left ankle.

His PB & J pancakes are a specialty for breakfast- his daughter being a HUGE fan of them. He also makes eggs (sunny side up), hash browns, bacon, sausage links, cheesy grits, & cinnamon brown sugar oatmeal.

A go-to drink for him his white wine. He also likes vodka tonics, spiked lemonade, mineral water, orange juice, coconut water, scotch on the rocks, champagne, whiskey sours, good farmer cocktails, iced tea, frozen margaritas, and beer. Usuals from The Roasted Bean is a large decaf coffee (with plenty of cream) & an olympian sized coconut banana splash. There's also the homemade pineapple mango smoothies he makes that he likes.

Apólafsi is a hands on and dedicated husband & father. He adores Eudaimonia and Paidia. He often says that his wife's smile is able to brighten the darkest depths of Tartarus. Apólafsi sets up a relaxing bubble bath for his wife when she gets home from work and he always gives her a foot massage. They make it a point to have date night every week.

His favorite thing to get from The Bread Box is the chicken bacon ranch sandwich with a caesar salad (with extra ranch dressing & croutons).

He and his daughter Paidia have a close relationship. Apólafsi is more often to pick her up from school. He doesn't mind engaging in activities with her- like jumping rope, hopscotch, playing video games & board games, and doing tea parties. He considers himself a pro when it comes to doing his daughter's hair, even expertly laying down her baby hairs!

His favorite frozen treat is banana cream pie ice cream topped with a drizzle of caramel.

Apólafsi's primary business/source of income is being a professional photographer. His photography studio is located downtown. He primarily shoots family portraits and events- like birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, family reunions, weddings, holidays, & concerts. Apólafsi is also good friends with his assistant that works for him, a cyclops named Emeric. He also freelances as a clown for kids' birthday parties- his stage name being Wobbles McWiggles. It's more for fun than money. For other means of income Apólafsi models for/endorses monsieur provocateur and Sharp & Suave. There's a latest billboard of him in the Chant du Cygne neighborhood modeling the designer male underwear brand that's garnering a lot of attention.

He's fluent in Cypriot.

Apólafsi was part of the design and construction for the biggest indoor amusement park located in the Mall of Olympius.

He & his wife love hosting dinner parties at their house.

A guilty pleasure for him is an order of olympian sized onion rings with ten chicken tenders (with spicy ranch dipping sauce) from Olympic Chef.

In the pantheon Apólafsi is friends with Hydros (god of water), several river gods like Achelous (god of freshwater), Kópros (god of manure & excrement), Aegle (goddess of good health), Triptolemus (god of farming), Karmanor (demi-god of the harvest), Trochilus (god of the mill wheel), Záchari (god of confectionery), Aplistos (god of avarice), Favian (god of philosophy), Ktesios (god of the household), Oeno (goddess of berries & wine), Anatole (goddess of sunrise), Matikós (god of performance), Pathos (god of emotion), Hesperis (goddess of the evening & sunset), Elpis (goddess of hope), Priapus (god of fertility, vegetable gardens, livestock, sexuality, & masculinity), Epimetheus (Titan god of afterthought), and Agathodaemon (Daemon) (god of vineyards, grainfields, & luck).

He tries to get Kópros to come out of his shell more. A few weeks ago they both went to a burlesque show in the city. It was pretty humorous seeing Kópros blush.

His favorite desserts are his wife's peach cobbler and banana pudding.

Apólafsi loves traveling! With his family they've been to Achaea several times, the highlight of their trip being the Achaean Beignet Festival. There are plans for future vacations to Shimmering Tail Island, Mykonos, & Santorini.

He enjoyed his "bros trip" to Lemnos with Epimetheus, Matikós, Priapus, and Daemon where they sand surfed along the sand dunes.

Apólafsi and Achelous once went to the Tidal nightclub where they drunkenly performed karaoke.

In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, surfing, football (soccer), golf, tennis, basketball, cooking, sunbathing, bowling, reading, playing pool, swimming, mountain climbing, poker, dancing, going to the cinema, and hanging out with friends.

His all time favorite meal is roasted chicken, baked mac n' cheese, & rice with gravy.

"We learn best in the moments of enjoyment."

#my oc #my original oc #original character #my oc character #my character #oc character #oc intro #character intro #oc introduction #character introduction #modern greek gods #modern greek mythology #greek myth retellings #greek gods #greek mythology #greek pantheon #greek myths

1 note · View note

imaginationofomi · 2 months ago

Text

Come Together

Five

The hour was early when Nayeli's alarm went off on her nightstand. The sun on its way up, sky still inky blue but lightening each minute. She grabbed her phone and tapped the screen to dismiss the alarm, blinking slowly before she rubbed the crust from the corners of her eyes and sat up.

Her limbs were stiff from awkward positioning, back sore in certain areas and dried tears on her cheeks. She'd cried more that week than she ever had in her life. That day would be the end of it. Letting out a lengthy yawn, she flipped the comforter back and set her feet on the floor. She stretched her neck and arms as she stood and dressed in warm tights and a long sleeved thermal to combat the cold air of her backyard.

Morning yoga became a staple in her home, the tradition started by her oldest sister, Leticia, who was an instructor with a studio downtown. It set her mind for the day, kept her aligned, but it hadn't exactly been enough to keep her in high spirits for the last 120 hours. Her emotions were beginning to swallow her whole, and for a person that was highly emotional to begin with, it made her feel like she was drowning.

Not one to hide when in turmoil, she always allowed her body to process everything, took the time to breathe through it, went about her days knowing the pain wouldn't last. The current process, however, was taking longer than any of the others. And why would it not? The man she loved endlessly was a liar.

She wasted time, poured herself into a relationship where her love was never reciprocated the way she needed it to be. She'd been taken advantage of, and she let it happen because she allowed herself to love a man more than she loved herself. It was a mistake she never wanted to make again, but her heart wasn't under her control. Love was natural to her.

"Good morning." Jalen broke her concentration, and she opened her eyes as she moved into her reverse warrior pose.

"Morning." She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.

"You're up early for a Saturday."

It was true. She loved to sleep in when she could. It didn't happen often, and her day was full. A royal birthday party would keep her occupied for a large portion of the morning and afternoon. When that was finished, she would be treating herself to a full body massage.

"I have work to do."

"Oh." He stood there while she attempted to ignore him as she had been doing since he revealed his dishonesty. She was trying hard to make him feel what she felt, or that was the way it seemed to him.

He was forced to move into the guest room. At night, he'd pack some of his things into boxes and shift them to the garage solemnly. He didn't want to leave her. Antonio offered the spare room at his and Raelynn's home when he was first told to vacate the premises, but Jalen felt the farther away from Nayeli he was, the less likely a reconciliation would be.

By the grace of God, he convinced her to let him stay in the house. Separate bedrooms were supposed to be their compromise, a way to straddle the fence until he could drop back down on the right side. He needed to stay close, but she no longer wanted to be close to him. And soon, he had a real choice to make about his proximity.

"I leave for LA tomorrow. My interview is on Monday," he said.

"Good luck."

"Nye, can you at least look at me?"

She remained quiet, focusing on her breathing and keeping her mind calm. She refused to carry any heavy or negative energy to a child's birthday party, even if she was only set to be there for a short amount of time.

"Nayeli."

"I am calm, and I want to stay that way. Safe travels." Her tone of finality did nothing to move him, much to her disappointment. Transitioning to a different pose, she took several deep breaths, thankful that she couldn't see his face when she dared to open her eyes again.

"Please." His voice cracked like it had every time he made an effort to beg her, and every time she heard it, she got a little closer to giving in. It was the only time he ever showed emotion, showed that he was afraid to lose her, "I don't want to go."

It wasn't enough. She knew that no matter the cause, no matter how much he loved her and was afraid to lose her, he still wouldn't marry her. Heeding her sister's words, she had to think long and hard about what she would be giving up if she stayed with him.

Her father would never get to walk her down the isle, and she wouldn't be able to jump the broom like her parents and grandparents did. No pictures. No memories of the happiest day of her life. She wouldn't get to profess her love for Jalen in front of God and their families, to solidify their bond in the church she was baptized and raised in.

No, she would just be a girlfriend for the rest of her life, and that didn't sit well with her heart or her spirit. Marriage was a divine covenant, and she couldn't fool herself into believing that she didn't want or need it to feel complete. Maxine was correct. It was time for Nayeli to stand up, "Don't miss out on a good opportunity."

God knew he'd already lost the best one he'd ever get.

"I'm not talking about LA. I don't want to move out."

"What you want doesn't matter."

"That's not fair."

"Do not talk to me about fair." She stood up straight, ready to rip him to shreds, but the soft chiming of her phone brought her back to her purpose. It was the alarm to let her know that she needed to get ready and head to the bakery. She allowed herself to calm down before she spoke again, "Nothing about what you've done is fair. You cheated me out of so much time. Time I cannot get back. I don't have anymore time to waste on you. Pack up the rest of your belongings today, find a friend with an empty garage or rent a storage unit, and leave. I don't want to see you when I get back."

"I'm not leaving until we work this out."

"There's nothing to work out. You've made your decision, and I've made mine." It hurt to say. She could feel her body trying to come apart and turn her into a weeping mess, but she swallowed the tears and looked him in the eye, "We're done."

"No."

"No?"

"No. We're not done." He tried touch her, and she smacked his hands away. He knew physical contact would reel her in, and she couldn't allow it. She had to be strong or she would spend the rest of her life letting him trample all over her because she loved him too much to put her foot down.

"Unfortunately for you, you don't have a choice. Get a move on. I'll give you until 6 p.m." Stepping around him, she walked back into the house and locked the bedroom door behind her. She showered and dressed for mild weather, jeans and a pink and white off shoulder blouse.

Briton Beach would see clear skies and high of 74 degrees for the day, perfect for an outdoor birthday party. After cleansing and moisturizing her face, she added a little cream blush and some auburn mascara before she spritzed on her setting spray with sunscreen.

Her curls were sprayed with water, the front, top and sides molded with botanical gel into a fluffy ponytail. She admired the way it fanned out behind her head and used an afro pick to make it bigger before she put in two pair of diamond studs and switched her moon nose ring out for a hoop.

Cute and relaxed, no indication of sadness on her face, she slipped on her pink and white vans and tied the laces, covering her arms with a light denim jacket that matched her pants and escaping into the garage before Jalen could catch her and try harder to make her see what he thought was reason.

The left wall was about 30 percent cardboard boxes and two suitcases. Possessions added up over the years. Her home was hers to do with as she pleased, but when Jalen moved in, she let him add his touch to make her home their home. She was sure by the time he was gone completely, she wouldn't recognize the place she laid her head for years.

She slid into the driver's seat of her car and headed to the confectionery. The roads were empty, and her lead foot that she worked so hard to get rid of made a surprise appearance. As a result, she reached her destination earlier than expected. Her partner in crime for the day had yet to arrive, so she enjoyed her heater and playlist until she saw Grace pull into the parking spot next to her.

"You look like you didn't get much sleep," Nayeli said as they walked beside each other. Her colleague was dressed down, loose, worn pants and torn t-shirt with her hair pulled into a top knot with plenty fly aways and a loose curl or two. Prominent darkness beneath her eyes, she'd clearly rolled out of bed and did the bare minimum to get herself there.

"I didn't. My best friend had a party last night, and I'm envious of your ability to be flawless this early in the morning. I feel like death," Grace whined and pushed a pair of sunglasses up her thin nose.

"Let us thank whoever had the bright idea to make coffee a thing."

"Hear hear!"

Nayeli unlocked the back door and flipped the light on, setting the thermostat to a comfortable temperature and shedding her jacket. She washed her hands, donned an apron and covered her hair with a net, pulling out the dry ingredients she measured out the day before along with eggs, milk, heavy cream, butter, cooking oil, fresh fruit and all necessary substitutions.

Soon, she and Grace were mixing, chopping, simmering, whipping, topping and frosting desserts for what ended up being over 50 people. A large party for a child, but if history was any indication, the party would be more for the adults than the kids. A few attractions to keep them occupied while the adults ate, drank, danced, and cursed around card tables. It was a setting Nayeli loved, being surrounded by friends and family just having a good time.

"You had a visitor after you left yesterday," Grace said, filling a piping bag with freshly made buttercream frosting and getting to work on topping the last batch of confetti cupcakes with swirls, candy crowns, and sprinkles.

"Health inspector?" Nayeli threw out a guess while adding fresh strawberry slices to the top of the Princess' birthday cake in the shape of a crown.

"Nope."

"Who?"

"He's tall, finer than frog hair and very worried about how quickly you sprinted away from him the last time he saw you." So worried that he sat in the establishment for over an hour and picked at a chocolate croissant, peeking at every corner and flinching when a door opened or shut. It was near closing when Grace finally realized that he was looking or waiting for someone and assumed it was her boss.

"I've been running back and forth all week, so be a little more specific, please."

"We're making desserts for his daughter's birthday."

"Ezra came by?" Nayeli looked up from her task and almost ruined the shape she created, rolling her eyes at the surprised smirk on Grace's face.

"Ezra?"

"That's how he introduced himself to me. That's what I'm going to call him."

"Well Ezra thinks he did something to offend you."

"He didn't. He just....opened my eyes to something that should've been obvious," Nayeli sighed and started to shake her head. Love blinded the best of folks because how in the hell did a man that spent a grand total of maybe two hours with her know that her boyfriend had no intentions of marrying her? She could feel her heart blackening with despair and swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Grace asked.

"Not today." It wasn't the time or place.

"Okie dokie." Grace started boxing the finished cupcakes and cookies, glancing at Nayeli every so often. She had more questions. Particularly about EJ. The energy between he and Nayeli was too tangible to brush off, "What's the story there?" she dared to ask.

"Story?"

"You have wicked chemistry for two people that just met."

"I'm not sure what you mean. We've only had a few short conversations."

"Short? Ha! I'll let you cook, but I stand by what I said. Wicked chemistry. That day he brought the allergy list in, and Jalen showed up, I tried to warn you on the sly. I saw how that ended. So?"

"I don't think we really have a story."

"Come on, Nayeli. Don't give me that. EJ's not coming in here every other day to see me or Danielle. He's coming in to see you. Something is there."

Nayeli wasn't an idiot. She knew as well as anyone else that she and Ezra were tied together, either from the trauma that almost killed her or something else, since she felt familiar to him. She just wasn't extremely focused on doing anything about it. Her current state of affairs were enough to deal with. No reason to add another person into the mix, though it was worth it to acknowledge what Grace might be seeing.

"He did save my life," Nayeli said.

"Metaphorically?"

"Literally. I had a clumsy mishap and almost got ran over by a car. I can't remember if he yanked me out of the way or picked me up, but one second I was falling in the street and hearing a horn, the next I was upright on the sidewalk. He caught me when my legs gave out, carried me across the street to a bench and sat with me until I was okay to drive."

"That is a story woman! God, no wonder you get all starry eyed with each other. That's deep." Grace let out a low whistle and walked over to the sinks to fill them up.

"Yeah, it kind of is." And growing deeper each time they talked.

"That's why you tried to give him all of those free cookies!"

"It was my way of saying thank you, but he didn't take it, so there's that."

"I think that means he respects your craft. He complimented you."

Nayeli would've felt better if he allowed the gesture to speak for itself. She was a sentimental person by nature, loved the little things in life and loved to give. She always tried to speak from her heart, and food made from her hands spoke directly from her heart because that was how she was raised. Everything tasted better when love was mixed in.

"How did Jalen react when you told him?"

"I didn't go into much detail. He freaked for a second, but he has bigger things to worry about." She hoped Grace didn't see her eyes or mouth twitch at the mention of Jalen's name. Avoiding that particular topic for the rest of the day was a feat she hoped to accomplish. For the most part, she was doing okay. Having something important to focus on helped. She finished off the homemade strawberry syrup cake top message and stepped back to admire her work, "That's it. We're done, and with 45 minutes to spare. I think we deserve another cup of coffee."

"Yes to that!"

Nayeli fixed herself a dirty chai latte while Grace opted for plain espresso, sipping as they packed up the rest of the desserts and took them to the delivery van. She appreciated the few extra minutes she got to sit while waiting for Danielle to bring in the table decorations and for Grace to make herself presentable. Her business parter didn't stay long, eager to get back to the man waiting in her bed. Nayeli felt the sting of loss as Danielle traipsed out to her car humming a tune with a large grin on her face. How long before she would be able to feel that excitement again?

No matter. The point was that eventually she would. She just wanted to get there.

Oceanview had a huge municipal park at the bottom of the hill that led up to the smallest of the estates in the neighborhood. Tennis courts, basketball courts, exercise equipment, a water playground, metal climbing apparatuses with plastic slides, tunnels and car attachments that made noise, and a few restrooms took up a section, the far end housed a small golf course, the remainder being an open field, trees and picnic tables under fancy pergolas.

That day, however, it had been transformed into something much more extravagant. Balloon darts, ring toss, ski ball, basketball, and face painting booths, a bounce house, and a castle built funhouse covered some of the grassy area. There was a popcorn and pretzel cart, two food trucks parked and open for business, a DJ, and the cherry on top, a small green dragon roller coaster occupying a portion of the parking lot.

"Uh...are we in the right spot?" Grace asked in disbelief, "It looks like the pier gave birth and dropped the kid off here."

Nayeli laughed and hopped down from the driver's seat of the van. It did seem a bit extravagant to her for a birthday party, but she wasn't one to tell people how to spend their money. If she had it like that, she would give her kids everything under the sun as well. She planned to do her best with what she had anyway.

Pulling out four of the close to twenty boxes they had to unload, Nayeli and Grace walked underneath the pink and green arched banner that read Happy Birthday Princess Tatiana in striped letters. Children ran around each other screaming and laughing, some marked with paintings of animals, bugs and flowers on their faces.

A few of the adults were at the picnic tables, drinking from customized solo cups with plates of snacks and half eaten lunches in front of them. One woman noticed them walking up and stood, meeting them on the grass before they reached the pergolas.

"This is a private party," she said, holding up a chestnut brown hand to halt their steps. Nayeli had to tilt her head back to make eye contact with the leggy woman in the short light green sundress and designer shades sitting on top of her shoulder length pressed hair. She had to be 5'8" at the least to Nayeli's 5'1", slim but toned and face beat to perfection. The cheekbones and eye shape were recognizable. She was looking at Tatiana's mother.

"Hi! I'm Nayeli, and this is Grace. We're the dessert caterers," she explained, trying not to feel intimidated by the woman's presence. She possessed an aura of superiority, looking down on them both in more ways than one, "Is Ezra around?"

"He stepped away for a minute. He'll be back shortly. You can set up over here." The woman turned on her heel and led them to an empty table where they dropped off the first of the boxes. It would only be a temporary solution as Nayeli had her own set up that she liked to use when she was hired for parties, "Do you need more room or is this enough for you?" The table wasn't very long, and the extensive spread ordered for the party wouldn't fit without some serious cramming.

"This is fine. We'll just be using it as a drop off station for now, thank you," Nayeli answered politely despite feeling like she was being looked at as the help. She couldn't stand people that were snippy with others based on profession.

Everybody was trying to make a living, and everybody was one bad choice, mistake, or accident away from hitting their own rock bottom and being treated the way they treated those they saw as inferior. No one was better than the next, but people loved to act like they were.

As they walked back to the parking lot, Grace lowered her voice and leaned close to Nayeli's ear.

"I'm tripping or she got a problem?"

"She seems a little standoffish," Nayeli said carefully, "Maybe she's stressed from making sure the party goes well."

"Stressed for what? I doubt she's lifted a finger for anything other than to point."

"Hey now, pointing is hard work." They laughed together as Nayeli pulled open the back doors of the van so they could grab more boxes.

Ezra finally ended his phone call and pinched the bridge of his nose before he sat back in his seat.

"It's your daughter's birthday, man," he grumbled and gripped the bottom of his steering wheel. Few people in the world could make him angry. Savannah knew exactly what buttons to push.

The warning signs were always there, and he couldn't act like his family didn't try to tell him what was up. When he brought her home for the first time, his mother plainly stated that the woman wasn't about shit. Savannah was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, spoiled, entitled and unmotivated. He was young and arrogant with a highly sought after woman on his arm, thinking he knew all there was to know, that he could play the game better than anyone. God humbled him, and Tatiana was paying for his poor judgment. At least he had enough sense not to marry her. He'd be going through a whole other world of hell.

Savannah popped in when she wanted. Under court orders, they had joint custody, but Tatiana rarely saw her mother in recent years. Off the books, they came to a mutual agreement that she would spend one weekend a month and two weeks at the end of the summer vacation with Savannah, but the woman was so fickle that months would go by without her showing up. She thought a few FaceTime calls were enough, and he was tired of seeing disappointment on Tati's face.

Talking to lawyers made Ezra overly cautious. Not only did her family have ties to high powered attorneys, but Savannah could throw a fit better than anybody he knew. She loved taking shit to social media, and he didn't want to deal with the aftermath of the fire he was about to start.

No major moves were made, but he was asking questions, gathering documentation. It was time for him to demand sole custody. He took care of his daughter majority of the time, but he needed it on paper. He didn't want Savannah trying any tricky shit, and she would. She'd tried before with random vacations in the middle of the school year that she knew he wouldn't agree to because they disrupted Tatiana's schedule. Then she would cry to a judge that he wasn't allowing her the proper amount of time with their daughter despite the fact that she had every opportunity to be around. She just didn't want to be unless it involved a photo op. Hence her showing up for a birthday party she planned to skip.

He woke up thinking the day would go smoothly, prepared for a drama free afternoon with his daughter and family. Savannah was supposed to be "stuck" in Atlanta, already having crushed her daughter's dreams only to show up at his gate while they were eating breakfast.

Tatiana expressed some excitement, though he'd seen her look happier. He was annoyed. The moment Savannah stepped into his home, she tried to take over everything, pranced around his kitchen like she owned it, told him what he needed to do and how fast it needed to be done. When they got to Oceanview Park, she barked out orders as though she had a hand in planning or paying for anything that was being set up.

Ezra's level of irritation reached an all time high, and he had to walk away from her before he caused a scene in front of his family. His car was his only escape. All he needed were a few minutes to himself, but the private investigator he hired called with new information that only served to further stress him out.

Good news for him, but the reality of his decisions were beginning to weigh on him. Tatiana would be affected by whatever the outcome was. He thought he was doing what was best for her, but would she see it that way or would she resent him? Regardless of inconsistency, Tati loved Savannah. He didn't want to drive a wedge between them, though the latter was doing it all on her own.

Sighing, he looked straight ahead, and a long fluff of auburn curls behind a van caught his eye. Her timing was perfect, and he hopped out of his car with a little extra pep in his step.

The closer he walked to the van, the louder the snickering became. Nayeli was picking up a short stack of square boxes and prattling on about a nephew that tried to teach her how to do a backflip on the trampoline. She stopped mid-sentence when she noticed him standing behind her.

"There you are," she said. Her bright eyes and the smile on her face made him feel more at ease. The last time he saw her, she'd been crying, a reaction of his own making. He hadn't gotten the chance to apologize for upsetting her, but he was happy to see her smiling. He nodded a greeting to Grace and redirected his attention to the little pastry chef.

"You were looking for me?" he asked.

"I was. I thought we were going to run into some trouble for a bit. Your girlfriend made a point to inform us that this was a private party."

"Girlfriend?"

"I assumed....right, that makes an ass out of u and me. The woman in the light green dress. She looks like Tatiana."

"That's Savannah, Tati's mom. She's not my girlfriend," he said pointedly, mentally noting that Savannah needed to be checked. Her attitude was notoriously atrocious, and he wasn't about to let her fuck with Nayeli or ruin their child's birthday party with her superiority complex.

"Good to know. Sorry." Nayeli sensed the tension in his gruff voice and decided to leave the subject alone. She passed the containers in her hand to Grace and turned to grab two more.

"It's all good. You need a hand?"

"We have it, thank you. There are only a few more boxes."

Ezra decided to help anyway, sliding the tables out of the back, "No worries. I don't mind."

"How gracious of you," she vamped. He winked at her and carried them to the grass with minimal exertion. Nayeli and Grace ogled his back and glutes as he walked in front of them.

"Lord, I'm about to fold again. It's something about a man doing hard labor that makes me hot," Grace whispered and fanned her face with one hand. Nayeli hid her snort as best she could, which wasn't very well, "I amuse you?"

"Yes. He's carrying tables, not building a house."

"With the exception of my dad and brothers, the men I know think they're too pretty to put out trashcans. He offered to help us and ignored you when you said no. Initiative. Let me marvel at a real man for a minute."

Nayeli laughed louder, loud enough to make Ezra turn around to look at her. Their eyes locked, and they smiled at each other. For those few seconds, Nayeli had no troubles at all, but the moment was short lived.

"You said you'd be gone for five minutes. You were gone for almost twenty." Savannah deliberately stepped between them, crossing her slender arms underneath her bosom.

"I got a phone call. Relax," Ezra said, barely paying Savannah any attention as he leaned to the side to look for Nayeli, "Where you want me to put these up?" he asked her.

"Right here is actually perfect. This spot will be shady the longest. Thanks for carrying them over."

"You're welcome." Locking the legs into place, he stood up the lengthy tables and helped Nayeli cover them with pink, green, and white checkered tablecloths while Grace pretended to peel away a broken fingernail.

"Excuse me. I spoke to you." Savannah tried yet again to gather his attention.

"I spoke back. You're acting like I left. I was in the parking lot. Keeping an eye on our daughter for twenty minutes is a problem for you?" It was a low blow, but she was starting to show her ass and he wanted to knock her down a peg. When she had no rebuttal, he nodded once, "Chill out and enjoy the party."

Nayeli slowly stepped back from the table and toward Grace, who grabbed her wrist when she was in close proximity and tugged her the rest of the way. They turned quietly and made a final trip to their van to grab the glass platters and cake tops.

A safe distance away, Nayeli found the courage to speak.

"We're going to finish this up as quickly as possible, and we are going to get the hell out of here," she said, fiddling with the keys in her pocket. The tension she sensed when she first mentioned Savannah was back full force, and she had little desire to be anywhere near it. Co-parenting squabbles weren't her area of expertise.

"Amen. I don't want to be here when that really goes left. I like mess as much as the next hoe, but not that kind, and not at a child's birthday party. This is why you have to watch who you have kids with." Grace glanced back at the former couple who were already arguing and shook her head.

Ezra watched Nayeli sneak away and huffed in frustration. He needed a few minutes alone with her so that he could apologize, but Savannah got in his face, and he had to focus on not shoving her four feet back when she tried to mush him.

"How could you embarrass me in front of them?" she demanded, eyes on fire as she glared at him.

"You embarrassed yourself. I don't know what you woke up on, but I'm tired of hearing you. All day, you've walked around like you run shit. You didn't do anything but show up after you been M.I.A. for four months. I'm not with the bullshit, Savannah. Today is about Tatiana. You already fucked up majority of the year. Don't let your ego ruin her birthday, too," he stated plainly. Although he was irritated, he remained calm.

"My ego? If anything ruins her day, it'll be you talking to me like you're crazy."

"I'm the sanest motha fucka you know, which is why I talk to you the way that I do. You put yourself on a pedestal so high that you think everybody is beneath you, and it shows in how you treat people. What you're not about to do is disrespect Nayeli or anybody else here, so fix your attitude."

The warning didn't go over Savannah's head. She craned her neck to find the short freckled bitch with red hair and sneered, "Why her specifically?"

"Who are you to question me?"

"The mother of your daughter. I have a right to know why you're so interested in the damn caterer."

"She has a name, and if you want problems, you'll get them. My life ain't your business. Worry about you. That's all you do anyway." Ezra side eyed her as he stepped around her, stopping to check on his family and the other guests there before he was walking to the parking lot to see if Nayeli needed help with anything else.

He reached the van as she was hiking a bag up on her shoulder and grabbing a glass cake stand.

"Let me get that for you," he said and tugged on the bag's strap to remove it from her arm.

"Thank you." She barely looked at him during the exchange, no doubt a result of what transpired between him and Savannah only minutes before.

Grace already had her hands full and walked away like she stole something; quickly and quietly. There were a few more plastic bags for Nayeli to grab, and she attempted to make herself seem busy doing so. She expected to be alone when she dropped her feet back down to the pavement, but Ezra still stood there when she turned around.

Alone at last.

"I'm sorry about Savannah. I wish I could say she doesn't act like that all the time, but she does."

"You don't owe me an apology," she said, though she thought it was nice of him to offer one. If Savannah wasn't his girlfriend, her behavior wasn't his responsibility. The woman didn't strike her as someone that listened to many people either way.

"I do. Not just for today but the last time we saw each other. I'm sorry that I made you cry. I crossed a line speaking on your relationship. It won't happen again," he assured her.

"You don't owe me an apology for that, either. You didn't make me cry. It was a combination of multiple realizations, but I appreciate you taking the time to say sorry. Thank you." She smiled lightly at him and touched his forearm with her fingertips. Static shocked them both, causing her to snatch her hand back, "Sorry."

"A little electricity never hurt anyone."

"I don't think that's how that goes," she giggled and pushed the back doors of the van shut with her hip. Ezra stayed close to her as they took slow steps back to the party together, unaware that they were being watched by multiple pairs of eyes, "Where's the birthday girl?"

"Kicking my sister's ass at ski ball." He pointed out the booth where Nayeli could see Tatiana in a custom Princess Tiana dress and matching headband jumping up and down as she was handed a prized stuffed animal.

"I know that's right! How many siblings do you have?"

"Two. My sister is the oldest, and I have a younger brother."

"I always wondered what it was like to be the middle child. You hear things about them feeling left out or forgotten. I'm the baby, but my sister Maxine stayed in everybody's face. My parents couldn't forget about her if they tried."

"I stayed in my parents' face, too. It was easy though. There's a 12 year age difference between me and Brandy. Once she hit 15, she really didn't wanna be bothered with anybody."

"Typical teenage behavior."

"Nah, she's hyper-independent."

Their conversation came to an end as they approached the tables, and Nayeli got busy sanitizing her hands and wiping things down with Grace so they could start setting out the cupcakes. Ezra mingled and walked around, but he was never too far away, keeping his eye on them for more reasons than one.

He wanted to steal a few more minutes of Nayeli's time, but she was there to do a job. It wouldn't be right to prevent her from doing it, so he would wait and keep Savannah away from her in the process. Her attitude worsened as time ticked on. He repeatedly caught her looking in Nayeli's direction and conversing angrily with whoever stood next to her at that moment. She appeared to be trying to plead her case to anyone that would listen.

She was in the wrong venue to find someone to agree with her nonsense. His family couldn't stand her. They were cordial for Tatiana's sake, but it ended there. If she wanted to learn the hard way, that was on her.

"Who is she?" his little brother, Rakim, asked after watching him stare at Nayeli for five minutes straight.

"Who?"

"WhO?" Rakim mocked him, "You're looking at her, fool."

Ezra popped the back of his neck for getting smart, "Her name's Nayeli."

"That doesn't answer the question of who she is. You got Savannah running around cussing about her."

"Don't put that on me. I can't make that bitch do anything."

"She must've pissed you off earlier," Rakim laughed because his brother always tried to be keep the peace. Not that day, though. All that had gone out the window.

"She's disrespectful."

"But you knew that, so what's really good?"

"She tried to start some shit with me in front of Nayeli, and I checked her. Now she's mad because she thinks I embarrassed her." A part of him felt like he should've actually done it so she'd really have something to be upset about. She was just throwing a tantrum because he wasn't kissing her ass. He never did, but in the presence of company, she expected a certain level of treatment that she did not receive from him.

"You checked her in front of ol' girl?"

"She has a name," Ezra said for the second time. He used it more than once, yet it seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

"Quit being sensitive and answer the question, nigga."

"She got checked where she showed her ass."

"You're asking for problems."

"Problems? This is only the third time Savannah has seen Tatiana this year. I kept it light because I really could've said a lot worse than I did."

"You right, but you know she got a temper. She'll burn this shit down with a smile on her face."

"Fuck." He was frustrated by his brother being right. Why didn't he pick a better woman to procreate with? Why did he convince her to go through with the pregnancy when she made it clear that she didn't want children? All of the suffering they dealt with happened because he wanted to be a father more than he respected Savannah's wishes. Though he would never regret having Tatiana, he did regret how she came into the world. Eliminating Savannah entirely would mitigate any later fall out, but until shit got straightened in court, he was stuck, "She should've kept her ass in Atlanta like she was supposed to."

"She'll never miss an opportunity to post like she's a full time parent." Rakim motioned to where Savannah was crouched down next to Tatiana, holding a phone up to their faces and making his niece smile. How could her own mother not tell that it was fake?

Never spending time with her. That was how. Rakim lived in D.C. while he was finishing up his Ph.D. in Microbiology at Georgetown University, yet he saw Tatiana more than the woman that birthed her. A woman with no real responsibilities refusing to take care of her child would never have their family's respect.

It appeared Tatiana didn't respect her too much, either, because the second she noticed the dessert tables, she broke away from Savannah and started running straight for them. Not for the treats, but for the woman covering them with cake domes to keep the bugs off of everything.

"Trouble," Rakim warned as Savannah stomped the earth behind her.

"I'll be back." Ezra walked away from his brother and onto the concrete beneath the pergola. The bench closest to ensuing conflict was empty, and he slid onto it, pulling his phone from his pocket to look somewhat occupied as he tried to come up with a game plan to keep Savannah from causing a spectacle.

Nayeli was talking to Grace, though he couldn't hear the content of their conversation. If she noticed him sitting there, she didn't let on. Soon after he sat down, Tatiana made it to her destination.

"Hi Nayeli!" she said excitedly and hugged her waist.

"Hello Princess! Happy birthday!"

"Thank you! Can I see my cake?"

"Of course you can."

Nayeli and Tatiana walked around both tables to get to the glass cake holder sitting delicately in a small bucket of ice.

"It's so pretty. It has a crown like me." They didn't quite match in shape, but the intent was apparent.

"Nothing less for a princess. Are you having fun?"

"Yeah. There's a mirror in the fun house that makes me look like Violet from Willy Wonka and another one that made me look like Frozone."

Letting out a good belly laugh, Nayeli had to calm herself when different people looked in her direction to see what the extra noise was about, "Not Frozone." She tried to keep her voice down after that.

"Uh huh. I was super tall and super skinny like a stick."

"Do you think it'll make me look super tall and super skinny like a stick?"

"Let's go see!" Tatiana grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the tables, only giving her a couple of seconds to tell Grace that she'd be right back. To no one's surprise, Tatiana's mind changed course before they even got to the funhouse. They stopped near Ezra instead, "Daddy, I wanna get on the rollercoaster," she told him, still holding onto Nayeli's fingers

"Alright. Let's ask if some of the other kids want to go." Ezra grabbed Tatiana's other hand, and the three headed for the bounce house where most of the birthday girl's friends and cousins were. So busy sneaking peeks at each other, Ezra and Nayeli failed, yet again, to realize that there were eyes on them

"You're gonna get on it with us, right?" Tatiana asked her. Just five minutes previously, Nayeli would've said okay, but Savannah shooting daggers in their direction from several feet away made her think twice.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," she answered and tried to separate herself, but Tatiana grabbed her hand again as soon as she let go.

"Please? It's my birthday, and I want you to have fun, too."

Nayeli always had trouble denying children when they pouted, even if it was a bit manipulative. She didn't like to see them upset, and Tatiana had a point. It was her birthday, "Okay, I'll go." One ride would be alright.

"YAY!" Leaving the adults in the dust, Tatiana took off through the grass to the vinyl castle, gripping the net as she excitedly rambled about getting on the dragon. Little kids poured out of the bounce house, and Ezra had them all grab a buddy before they walked to the roller coaster together. Tatiana squished herself between Nayeli and Ezra as they loaded up on the platform, latching onto the former's hand again, "Sit next to me. Daddy can sit behind us." There were only three cars, two rows of seating in each, so a few of the kids would have to wait for their turn.

"I don't appreciate you dissin' me," Ezra said and poked his lips out.

"It's not a diss. You're wide, and I don't want to be squished in my seat."

"You said I'm wide?"

Nayeli had to bite her tongue to keep from howling at the look of pure disbelief on his face. Tatiana wasn't one to play with, "I'd quit while you're ahead. I get the feeling she likes to drag you," Nayeli said.

"She does. It really be your own kids."

"Ha! I can't wait until I have mine." She was more than ready to raise a little one that might save the world and make her cry tears of joy in the process.

"You don't have any?" Tatiana asked as the roller coaster operator locked the metal bar across their laps.

"Nope. Just a nephew the same age as you, and my sister's wife is currently pregnant with a little girl."

"My auntie has a wife too! Did you meet her?"

"I haven't really met anybody. I just got the dessert tables ready and then you got me on this roller coaster."

"We'll go meet them after."

Nayeli turned around and gave Ezra a panicked look. She wasn't there to meet his family, but Tatiana's mind was made up, and before Nayeli could come up with an appropriate response, the coaster took off faster than she expected.

The kids behind her squealed and cheered as they went over small hills and sharp corners. Tatiana held both of her hands up and screamed YES over and over, unadulterated happiness on her face. Three times around the track, and they were back at the platform to let the next group go. A few parents walked over to take pictures of their kids.

Free to leave now that there were other chaperones, Ezra and Nayeli walked back to the grass with Tatiana skipping in front of them, coils bouncing in the breeze. One day, Nayeli hoped to watch her own daughter skipping happily through a park.

"It was cool of you to do that for her. Thank you." Ezra started to grab her hand, but Tatiana turned around and ran back to them.

"Come on. I see my Auntie Brandy by the drinks," she said and tugged on Nayeli's hand.

"I have to get going soon, Princess."

"Why?"

Nayeli paused and looked at Ezra. There were right and wrong things to say. She didn't want to say the wrong thing, but she had to face facts. The entire afternoon could go horrendously if she stuck around. She was hired to do a job, and her job was done.

"I finished my work."

"That means you can stay."

"But I wasn't actually invited to the party, and it's rude to stay where you're not welcome."

"Who said you're not welcome?"

"No one." Nayeli mentally face palmed and chastised herself. She said too much. Technically, she didn't tell a lie. It wasn't said but implied. Savannah's energy could be felt.

"Then stay please. You can eat cake and cookies too! And lunch! Did you eat lunch?"

"No, I have not had lunch."

"Food and dessert! The Princess commands it."

At any point in time, Ezra could've stepped in. He should have, but he didn't want Nayeli to leave. Keeping her around somehow was always a part of his plan. Savannah showing up was not.

"I would love to stay, but I really don't think it's a good idea."

"Daddy, did you make her mad?"

"No, he didn't. No one upset me. It's not appropriate for me to hang out, but I'll tell you what. Have your dad bring you by the confectionery sometime next week, and I'll give you a free baking lesson as a birthday present. We can get as messy as you want," Nayeli promised and hoped that it was a fair trade.

"I guess that's okay." Tatiana shrugged with a sad little pout until one of her cousins ran over to take her to the bounce castle.

"Don't let Savannah make you feel unwelcome. If anything, it's the other way around. Tati's the only reason she's still here," Ezra said once she was out of earshot.

"I can tell that I've already caused friction. I don't want to cause any more." Savannah wasn't a quiet talker. Or maybe she wanted Nayeli to hear her trash talk, a passive-aggressive way of getting her to leave.

"Did she say something else to you?"

"No." Not directly. Nayeli could reveal the truth, but she didn't want to see what would happen after. Ezra already snapped at Savannah once, and that snippet of the conversation let Nayeli know that their relationship was way past sour. She couldn't stand the thought of making it worse, intentionally or unintentionally.

"I can't make you stay, but you should."

"Do you want me to?" she asked, staring up at him with careful eyes. Their fingers brushed against each other, pinky and ring fingers hooking together.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I have a good feeling about you. My daughter does, too."

"Her mother does not." And Nayeli didn't enjoy confrontation. Back in reality and aware of their surroundings, she pulled her hand back. They were too comfortable with each other. She wouldn't mind if they were anywhere else, but prying eyes turned into questions, and she had no answers.

"Fuck her."

"I'm not here to step on anyone's toes. I won't pretend to know everything there is to know about your situation, but I don't want to be in the middle of whatever beef you guys have. She has made it apparent that my presence is a problem. I'd rather bow out gracefully than poke the bear. I don't need to be here."

Ezra weighed his options. On one hand, he didn't care about Savannah's wounded ego. She needed to be humbled. On the other hand, he understood Nayeli's position and wanted to respect her wishes, even if that meant spending less time with her.

"At least get some food before you leave. It's all paid for," he relented.

"Okay. I will do that. Thank you."

They weren't ready to separate, but they knew they had to. Nayeli moved first, clasping her hands in front of her as she made her way to Grace. A silent conversation passed between them. Nayeli didn't know whether to smile or shake her head.

"He's on you like fleas on strays," Grace whispered as they sat down next to each other.

"He wants us to stay."

"Mmmmm, he might want you to stay, but he's not worried about me."

"The tables are done. They can cut the cake themselves. I can arrange to have someone come pick up the stuff that needs to go back to the store. Lunch is paid for, so let's eat and bounce."

"Best thing I've heard all day." Like Nayeli, Grace heard bits and pieces of Savannah's ranting. If she weren't working a job, she would've let the bitch know what was up. Nayeli was too good of a human to be disrespected by a jealous hoe. It was time for them to go.

However, she needed to fill her stomach to soak up the remainder of the alcohol from the night before. The food trucks had extensive options, and neither knew where to start. Carne asada fries, tacos, burgers, soul food, and plant based options of pretty much everything. Nayeli settled on the short rib plate, licking her lips at the sight of the rice and gravy, greens and yams.

"Yes, I deserve," she said after she thanked the chef and shoved a fork into her food. Grabbing drinks, they sat at the table closest to the desserts and conversed while they ate.

Grace wanted to be nosy, but location was important. She kept her many questions to herself and instead told Nayeli about her epic night. Grace was halfway through her tale of playing the drinking game Paranoia when a tall, voluptuous woman slid onto the bench directly across from Nayeli, who froze. She recognized the shirt.

"Many people here are curious about you, pretty woman."

"Thank you, but I'm afraid there's not much to be curious about. You're Ezra's sister, Brandy?"

"Mhm. I'd like to know who you are." Her deep brown eyes sparkled as she grinned mischievously at the object of her brother's affection. Savannah put a bug in the family's ear that only grew and multiplied as they all witnessed EJ follow the flame haired woman around like a lost puppy. Her deductions were confirmed when said woman used his first name instead of his nickname. People rarely got that privilege.

"Nayeli."

"Exotic name. No surprise. Where are you from?"

"Here. I was born and raised in Briton Beach." Nayeli looked around nervously. Grace had somehow made herself scarce. She was alone and being interrogated, which she wanted to avoid.

"Interesting. How long have you known my brother?"

"Two and a half weeks."

"Even more interesting."

"Why, exactly?"

"EJ's into you," Brandy said. Straight-forward and unafraid of consequences, she always spoke the first words that came to mind. Often times, she got shocked responses, but Nayeli appeared unfazed by her statement, "You know."

"I suspected."

"Suspect no further. I knew there was something when Savannah had a problem, but watching him watch you just sealed it for me."

"He's been watching me?"

"Since you got here. He's watching you now." Along with a lot of other people. Shy by nature, Nayeli had a hard time being the center of attention.

"You make it sound weird," she said.

"It is, don't you think? You haven't known each other long, yet he can't seem to stay away from you."

Maybe it was strange to most, but it felt natural to her. What did that say about them? Nayeli's eyes scanned the other tables for Ezra, hoping to send a bat signal for him to come and save her again, but when she found him, he was helping Tatiana eat without getting food on her dress.

"Has he asked you out yet?"

"No, and I just got out of a long term relationship, so a man is not on my mind in that capacity." Jalen had become a distant thought, but now he was at the front of her mind. In Ezra's presence, she'd forgotten him completely, a goal for the day. Her heart hadn't ached for hours. Now the pain slowly started to creep back in.

"How long term?"

"Six years."

"Still hurt?"

"More than I want to." She accepted that the trajectory of their lives were different. She was mourning, but as her Big Momma would say, trouble don't last always. She would be just fine eventually.

"I like that you're honest. How'd you and EJ meet?"

"He saved me from getting hit by a car."

"He what? Nope, come on. Our momma's gonna wanna hear this one." Brandy grabbed her hand and pulled her up and around the table. Nayeli stumbled nervously as she unwillingly abandoned her food. Ezra jumped in front of them.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Taking her to meet Momma and Daddy."

"Brandy-"

"Calm down. She said you stopped her from getting hit by a car. I want Momma to hear what happened." They arrived in front of a group of people, four of who were playing dominos, "Look who I brought over everyone! This is Nayeli. That's my mom, Carmen, my dad, Phillip, baby brother Rakim, Auntie Heather, Uncle Sean, my cousin Lance and my wife Trinity."

"Hi. It's nice to meet all of you," Nayeli said, smiling and making eye contact as she shook hands with some and waved at others.

"Good to meet you, Hon. EJ must be nervous about introducing you to us. He hasn't brought a girlfriend around in years." Carmen set her cup down and stood up to give Nayeli a hug.

"Oh, I'm not his girlfriend."

"You're not?" Heather and Trinity exchanged looks, ignoring Ezra's signaling to stop the line of questioning.

"No. I really haven't known him that long at all."

"Interesting."

"I said the same thing," Brandy chirped and smirked.

"My granddaughter has already taken a liking to you."

"She's so adorable. Hilarious, too."

"Do you have children?"

"No. Just a nephew and a niece on the way." Nayeli's heart pattered anxiously in her chest as she tried to find an escape without being disrespectful. She was catching the third degree for nothing more than people jumping to conclusions.

"How'd you come to know my son?"

"Divine intervention. I was dangerously close to getting run over by a car, but Ezra grabbed me, I think. I'm not sure. I just know he's the reason that I'm alive. I'm very grateful to him for that," she said and allowed their eyes to meet. It didn't matter how many times she said thank you. It would never seem like enough.

"Ezra, hm? My baby's still a hero. That's not the first time he's saved somebody's life, you know."

"Mom, don't."

"Hush. Years ago, I think he might've been fourteen or fifteen, we were down by the Pantages Theatre after seeing the Lion King, and there was a bad accident at the intersection. Three car jam. The car in the middle caught fire, and there was a little girl stuck in the back. EJ caught himself being Superman and did a mad dash over there. The doors must've been stuck because he climbed his string bean body on the trunk and punched through the back window to pull the girl out. That's where the scars on his forearms and knuckles are from."

Nayeli felt an odd sense of deja vu, a vague memory of a car wreck in her mind. She touched the scar on her left thigh, still raised years later but covered by her jeans, and the one just behind her hairline.

"A guardian angel on earth." They were still looking at each other, that feeling of familiarity returning and making them wonder.

"Yes, he is." Carmen glanced back and forth between them, wheels of planning set in motion.

#black fiction #black literature #black love #polyamory #romantic fiction #romance #love #love story

0 notes

brightstar1001 · 4 months ago

Text

Best Auxillary Dwelliing Unit

The Joys of Constructing an ADU in Anaheim, California

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Ever thought practically maximizing your propertys potential without moving? Well, building an supplement domicile Unit (ADU) in Anaheim, California, might just be your golden ticket. ADUs are auxiliary housing units on a single-family residential lot. They come in every shapes and sizes think of them as little houses, in-law suites, or backyard cottages. These units can transform your full of beans thing and bring a ton of benefits. Lets dive into why you should judge building an ADU in Anaheim.

Boosting Property Value

Increasing Home Equity

tallying an ADU to your property is once giving it a shot of adrenaline. It significantly boosts your homes equity. Think of it as a long-term investment that pays off big times once you judge to sell. The extra full of beans circulate makes your property more attractive to buyers who are in accord to pay a premium for that extra room.

Market Appeal for Future Buyers

Homes once ADUs have a unique selling narrowing they have enough money flexibility that regular homes dont. well ahead buyers might look it as an opportunity for rental income, a guest house, or a private circulate for relations members. This bonus push appeal can set your property apart in the competitive Anaheim genuine home market.

Additional Income Potential

Long-Term Rental Income

One of the biggest perks of having an ADU is the potential for rental income. You can rent it out on a long-term basis, providing a steady stream of extra income. This can be especially nearby in offsetting mortgage payments or extra expenses.

Short-Term VRBO

If youre in a tourist-friendly place of Anaheim, short-term rentals can be a lucrative option. Platforms once Airbnb make it easy to rent out your ADU to vacationers, providing you once flexibility and potentially well ahead income compared to long-term rentals.

Flexibility and Versatility

Multi-Generational Living

ADUs have enough money a absolute solution for multi-generational living. Imagine having a cozy spot for your aging parents or a private circulate for your adult children. Its a good exaggeration to keep the relations close though giving everyone their own circulate and independence.

Home Office or Studio

obsession a silent place to law from home or a circulate to unleash your creativity? An ADU can be transformed into a home office or a studio. Its a gymnastic circulate that can adjust to your varying needs on top of time.

Sustainable and Green Living

Reduced Carbon Footprint

Building an ADU is often more sustainable than buying a extra home. It reduces urban sprawl and the associated environmental impacts. Plus, you can incorporate green building practices to extra minimize your carbon footprint.

Energy-Efficient Designs

objector ADUs can be expected once life efficiency in mind. Solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and sustainable building materials can make your ADU an eco-friendly supplement to your property. Adu Builders Auxillary Dwelling Unit Contrators ADU Experts Anaheim ADU Contruction Experts https://bestauxillarydwelliingunitbui286.blogspot.com/2024/07/best-auxillary-dwelliing-unit-builders.html Anaheim Contractors https://massagecertificationsanfernan735.blogspot.com/ https://massagecertificationshermanoa270.blogspot.com/2024/07/massage-certification-san-fernando_0178246022.html https://criminallawhudsonnewyork887.blogspot.com/ https://criminallawhudsonnewyork887.blogspot.com/2024/07/criminal-law-hudson-new-york.html https://www.tumblr.com/jessica-harlowe/757486371807100928

0 notes

carpet-cleaners-escondido-hr45dy · 4 months ago

Text

Great Auxillary Dwelliing Uni

The Joys of Building an Auxillary Dwelling Unit in Anaheim, California

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Ever thought virtually maximizing your propertys potential without moving? Well, building an auxiliary habitat Unit (ADU) in Anaheim, California, might just be your golden ticket. ADUs are secondary housing units on a single-family residential lot. They arrive in all shapes and sizes think of them as tiny houses, in-law suites, or backyard cottages. These units can transform your perky event and bring a ton of benefits. Lets dive into why you should believe to be building an ADU in Anaheim.

Increasing Property Value

Increasing Home Value

add-on an ADU to your property is subsequently giving it a shot of adrenaline. It significantly boosts your homes equity. Think of it as a long-term investment that pays off big become old subsequently you believe to be to sell. The supplementary perky reveal makes your property more appealing to buyers who are pleasant to pay a premium for that supplementary room.

Market Appeal for Future Purshasers

Homes subsequently ADUs have a unique selling point they meet the expense of compliance that regular homes dont. highly developed buyers might see it as an opportunity for rental income, a guest house, or a private reveal for intimates members. This bonus publicize glamor can set your property apart in the competitive Anaheim genuine estate market.

Additional Income Stream

Long-Term Rental Revenue

One of the biggest perks of having an ADU is the potential for rental income. You can rent it out on a long-term basis, providing a steady stream of supplementary income. This can be especially approachable in offsetting mortgage payments or supplementary expenses.

Short-Term Vacation Rentals

If youre in a tourist-friendly area of Anaheim, short-term rentals can be a lucrative option. Platforms subsequently Airbnb create it simple to rent out your ADU to vacationers, providing you subsequently compliance and potentially highly developed income compared to long-term rentals.

Flexibility and Versatility

Multi-Family Living

ADUs meet the expense of a perfect answer for multi-generational living. Imagine having a cozy spot for your aging parents or a private reveal for your adult children. Its a good showing off to save the intimates near while giving everyone their own reveal and independence.

She Shed or Studio

compulsion a silent area to pretend from house or a reveal to unleash your creativity? An ADU can be transformed into a house office or a studio. Its a athletic reveal that can acclimatize to your shifting needs more than time.

Sustainable and Green Living

Reduced Carbon Footprint

Building an ADU is often more sustainable than buying a supplementary home. It reduces urban sprawl and the joined environmental impacts. Plus, you can incorporate green building practices to supplementary minimize your carbon footprint.

Energy-Efficient Designs

unprejudiced ADUs can be designed subsequently life efficiency in mind. Solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and sustainable building materials can create your ADU an eco-friendly auxiliary to your property. Coastal Builders ADU Experts ADU Builders Anaheim Tustin Auxillary Dwelling Unit Contactors Coastal Builders Mission Viejo Construction Costa Mesa ADU Construction Experts ADU Construction Experts Anaheim Auxillary Dwelling Pro Builders Best Auxillary Dwelling Unit Builders Anaheim Coastal Builders - Home Remodeling California Coastal Builders - ADU Builders Santa Ana https://greatauxillarydwelliingunitbu21.blogspot.com/2024/07/great-auxillary-dwelliing-unit.html Anaheim Contractors https://bestadubuildersanaheim.blogspot.com/ https://bestadubuildersanaheim.blogspot.com/2024/07/best-adu-builders-anaheim.html https://medicalintuitivegeorgia.blogspot.com/ https://portabledishwashersonline.blogspot.com/2024/07/portable-dishwashers-online.html https://massagetherapyclasseschatsworth.blogspot.com/2024/07/massage-training-program-chatsworth.html

0 notes

internationalrealestatenews · 10 months ago

Text

[ad_1] Between the work-at-home shift and recognition of cowboy tradition attending to obnoxious ranges (we see you, Jeff Bezos), Texas ranches are one of many largest actual property searches round.The newest: a grand, 656-acre ranch itemizing close to Faculty Station merges the big-land life with a luxe ranch retreat vibe. Whitehall Ranch, a sprawling personal escape in southern Grimes County (that’s roughly an hour north of Houston, between Magnolia and Navasota), has listed for $42 million.Reflecting that post-pandemic value hike, Whitehall Ranch really listed for half the present value — $21.6 million — in 2020, as Houston Enterprise Journal reported — a veritable worth, nowadays. Whitehall is at present repped by Houston-based luxurious actual property agency Nan and Firm Properties.About this regal ranch: Polo followers and aficionados can stomp divots after chukkas on an on-site, regulation polo subject and stables, which spans 11 acres and anchors an 8-acre lake, per press supplies. The sector has seen “a number of prime polo matches” through the years, per Nan and Firm. Ought to the brand new homeowners go on polo, they'll as a substitute repurpose the 11-acre subject right into a driving vary, cricket pitch, baseball subject, or any out of doors exercise they select. Horse round and the sizable stables. Picture through Nan and Firm Properties Take pleasure in sunsets and sweeping vistas. Picture through Nan and Firm Properties Luxe residing facilities begin with the principle residence, tucked away surrounded by a secluded countryside oasis, per the itemizing. The principle house is open-concept design and performs to the house with “hovering” ceilings and wall-to-wall home windows all through. Mornings and sunsets may be taken in on a surrounding porch that showcases the beautiful, protected acreage.Visitors and household can stay up for a two-suite visitor residence, plus a four-suite bunk home for bigger teams (a enjoyable spot to play out these favourite Yellowstone bunkhouse scenes). Excessive ceilings and tall home windows open the realm and produce the surface in. Picture through Nan and Firm Properties A inexperienced oasis — dubbed the “Residence Camp” — boasts a heated saltwater pool, and a pool home that’s replete with a full kitchen and the always-important pass-through serving bar. Residents can stay out their Submit Ranch Inn recollections on the sauna, therapeutic massage studio, full indoor fitness center, and even a industrial laundry room for soiled cowboy gear or these sweaty Lululemon threads. No tin pots right here: soak in a backyard tub. Picture through Nan and Firm Properties However, this can be a ranch in any case, and it contains two twin barns, fitted with every part wanted for resident horses, donkeys, or cows. Homeowners can develop their greens and vegetation in a greenhouse, are likely to the chicks in a hen coop, and absorb 5, lush ecosystems. For the sporting life, shooters can seize their Benellis and head to the skeet and lure vary, which comes with its personal “cozy clubhouse” and full kitchen. Are inclined to the eggs and chicks within the hen coop. Picture through Nan and Firm Properties Austinites rolling in may have simply over a two-hour drive. However for these choosing an ethereal arrival can head to the chopper, because the ranch contains an FAA-approved, lighted helipad for that actually elevated arrival. [ad_2] Supply hyperlink

0 notes

dxboffplan · 1 year ago

Text

Escape to Your Private Oasis in Sobha Reserve Villas Dubai

Imagine returning home every evening to your own private, luxurious villa nestled within an exclusive gated community mere minutes from downtown Dubai. A sanctuary from the bustling city, the spectacular homes in Sobha Reserve Villas provide residents with luxury living elevated by privacy, security, and family-friendly neighbourhood amenities. Developed by Sobha Group as part of their ambitious District One community, these elite villas represent attractive investments for buyers seeking security, serenity, and convenience close to Dubai’s premier attractions.

Security Defines Sobha Reserve Living

As an exclusive gated development, Sobha Reserve Villas goes above and beyond when it comes to safety and security. Stringent protocols govern all access points leading into the community, with 24/7 manned guard stations rigorously monitoring all visitors. CCTV cameras blanket common areas while trained security personnel patrol neighbourhoods at all hours.

Security measures also integrate directly into the villas themselves. Intruder alarms, video door phones, and home automation systems connected directly to security staff ensure complete peace of mind. Such uncompromising security protocols provide the ideal environment for a family living away from the worries of the outside world.

Bespoke Luxury Villas Tailored for Families

Meticulously designed and appointed to the highest standards of quality and comfort, the Sobha Reserve Villas range from four to six bedrooms alongside plentiful living spaces perfect for large families. Soaring ceilings, tall arched windows, and open floorplans allow natural light to cascade across every thoughtfully designed room.

Bespoke luxury defines these stunning villas, evident in features such as imported Italian and Spanish marble, premium kitchen appliances, indictment climate control systems, and audio/visual systems integrating the latest smart home conveniences. Each villa also contains its own private garden and swimming pool surrounded by lush landscaping for the ultimate backyard oasis.

Developed on large plots, the villas provide plenty of room for expansions or even guest houses to accommodate visiting family and friends in complete privacy and luxury. For growing families concerned about space, Sobha Reserve provides flexibility to modify floorplans to your family’s evolving needs.

Resort-Style Community Living

In addition to the luxurious villas, residents of Sobha Reserve Villas enjoy exclusive access to outstanding community amenities that are perfect for family living. The expansive clubhouse truly functions as a luxury resort catering to all interests and ages.

The state-of-the-art health club contains a fully equipped gym, exercise studios for classes, massage rooms for ultimate relaxation, and large swimming pools surrounded by loungers and cabanas - ideal for both fitness and leisure. Tennis courts, children’s play zones, and multi-use courts allow both children and adults to pursue any interest imaginable within the community.

Community events held regularly also bring together residents to bond over barbeques, concerts, movie nights, and more - all fostering a welcoming neighbourhood environment. With such spectacular amenities, many residents find little need even to leave Sobha Reserve Villas for entertainment.

Privileged Location Near Dubai’s Premier Attractions

The convenience of Sobha Reserve Villas's location proves just as impressive as its amenities. Nestled near Al Barsha South, the community enjoys proximity to some of Dubai’s best schools, hospitals, shopping venues, and recreational facilities. The Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina Mall, and Mall of Arabia lie mere minutes away.

Primary transit links like the Al Khail Road and Mohammad Bin Zayed Road also provide expedited access to Downtown Dubai, Dubai International Financial Center, and popular beachfront destinations. Additionally, Dubai’s top family-friendly attractions, such as IMG Worlds of Adventure, Wild Wadi Waterpark, and Global Village, are conveniently accessible from Sobha Reserve Villas.

With both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport within easy reach, residents can also jetset to global destinations with minimal transit time. Such centrality amidst Dubai’s premier neighbourhoods represents a prime investment for home buyers today.

Sobha Group – Setting New Benchmarks for Luxury Living

The exclusive developer behind Sobha Reserve Villas, Sobha Group envisions redefining elite living through a focus on luxury, quality, and customer happiness. Founded in Oman in 1995 before expanding across the Middle East, Sobha has earned numerous awards and accolades, cementing its reputation for excellence.

As early pioneers of community living and gated developments in the region, Sobha communities integrate the latest technological innovations with extensive amenities to create the ultimate living spaces. The company heavily invests in research to implement cutting-edge real estate practices focused on quality, safety, and sustainability across all projects.

Within their ambitious District One master development encompassing Meydan One, Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City, and Dubai South, Sobha Reserve Villas represents the premier option for low-density, bespoke luxury living from the globally respected developer.

Smart Investments for Today and Tomorrow

With rising demand for exclusive communities, Sobha Reserve Villas provides attractive prospects for investors seeking stability, luxury, and potential for price appreciation over the long run. As Dubai continues attracting residents from around the globe, prime properties in established luxury communities will only become more desirable over time.

Additionally, the high standards of construction plus the utilisation of smart building materials ensure the structural integrity of Sobha projects for generations. The developer works directly with city planners to locate communities near vital infrastructure and community resources primed for population expansion. Such future-proofing makes owning a luxury villa in Sobha Reserve a stable investment during economic fluctuations.

Buying Process Made Easy by Sobha

Sobha Group appreciates the significance of such a substantial investment for any home buyer and provides exceptional support throughout the purchase process. Customers receive assigned Relationship Managers to address all queries, coordinate viewings, explain payment plans/mortgages, and complete paperwork to ensure a smooth conclusion for all parties.

Competitive payment plans allow buyers to pay over multiple years interest-free or opt for mortgages from leading institutions. With complete transparency and exceptional customer service governing each Sobha real estate transaction, investors can proceed confidently, knowing their family’s future remains in good hands.

Start Your Journey to Sobha Reserve Luxury Living

Sobha Reserve Villas represents Dubai's pinnacle of luxury living, security, and exclusivity, only minutes from the city's best offerings. These spectacular villas cater towards families craving privacy and community in equal measure alongside prime location and investment value. Experience this unmatched lifestyle for yourself by contacting the experts at Binayah Properties today to book an exclusive tour.

Their dedicated Sobha sales team will guide you through the available luxury villa options and customise plans based on your family’s needs, all while showcasing the unmatched amenities awaiting you within the community itself.

As leaders renowned for exceptional customer service and extensive local expertise, Binayah Properties will capably assist with negotiating the purchase process to ensure your family transitions smoothly into Sobha Reserve living. Start your journey towards your private luxury oasis by reaching out today!

#sobhareserve

0 notes

zuskarumoto · 2 years ago

Photo

388 Slipshod Mesquite Floor Plans

First Floor Family Room 1st floor Bathroom Dining Room Open Kitchen w. access to backyard deck & pool Second Floor Feminine Bedroom w. Bathroom Feminine Nursery w. Bathroom Photo Studio Small Study Masculine Bedroom w. Bathroom Master Bedroom w. Bathroom & Outdoor seating + Massage 2nd Floor Bathroom

Lower Level Lower Level Bathroom Indoor Comedy Club Children Bedroom Gym Deck w. various seating & entertainment

#tlh2interior2 #the sims #the sims 4 #sims #sims 4 #ts4 #sims 4 build #sim build #show your build #Sims 4 legacy challenge

0 notes

harrysgoldenbum · 3 years ago

Text

Sleepy girls

~unedited~

no warnings, just plain and simple fluff, and husbandrry and dadrry

Harry came home after spending the morning at the studio, he had a quick meeting with Jeff in regards to the album he is preparing to release in the next few months.

It was around lunchtime, when he walked into the house. He was expecting to hear his daughter babbling as Jiya preps lunch for the bab. But the house was silent. His daughter, Veera, had just learned how to walk, creating as much havoc as possible. She particularly enjoys making her mum and dad chase after her.

He drops his car keys in the key bowl by the garage door, and slid his shoes off. Calling out his wife's name, Harry went to search for the two girls.

As he turned the corner into the living room, he sees his wife laying on the yoga mat in the sunshine that is streaming from the sliding doors that lead to the backyard. Next to her was a smaller yoga mat laid out. Harry got it for Veera because she would often join him when he would meditate in the morning or join Jiya when she would do her stretches.

Jiya had started yoga when she was pregnant with Veera, to help with the back pain the additional weight caused. Her dark hair is in a messy braid and she is wearing some biker shorts and one of his old shirts. And on her back was his one-year-old daughter. Her chubby cheek was smooshed against her mumma's back. Veera's curly black hair was an unkempt mess. She probably wasn't in the mood to let her mum brush it out this morning. Her fist clenched the shirt and her legs were on the sides of Jiya's body, hugging her ribcage. Jiya's head rests against the back of her hands, and her ankles were crossed. Her black rose and fell deeply, telling Harry that they have been asleep on the floor for some time.

The sight made Harry pause. A wave of contentment washed over him as he observed his girls sleep in the natural warmth the sun provided. Turning on his heel, Harry treks to his office and pulls out his camera. Walking back to the living room, Harry takes the time to take a couple of pictures of his wife and baby.

Leaving them be, Harry moves to the kitchen to start lunch, he knows when his girls wake from their nap, they are going to be hungry.

It was around when he was halfway done with the meal he was preparing, that Harry felt a tiny body collide with his legs. Veera's chunky arms wrapped around his knee, her head tilted up to look at her dadda. "Hi princess. Sleep good?"

Her cheek rubbed against his trousers as she nodded her head. Harry dropped his hand to the top of her head and attempted to push her curls back and out of her face. With a grouchy look, she lifts her hand and rearranges her hair to her liking. With a light laugh, Harry bends down and picks her up. Resting her head on his shoulder, she quietly watches Harry finish making lunch. It's just a few minutes later he hears Jiya walk into the kitchen.

"Smells good, baby." Jiya whispers, as she comes up to him and presses up against his side. Pushing up on her toes, she presses a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Hmm... sleep well?"

"Backs a little sore with Princess here sleeping on it." she admits with a chuckle.

With a hum, Harry looks at his quiet daughter. She's a bit like Jiya when she first wakes up from sleep. Cuddly and quiet. Turning is attention back to his wife, with a suggestive tone, Harry promises, "Give you a nice massage later tonight, how's that?"

~~~~

okay so for a while I've wanted to write a desi character x harry fic, mainly for representation (bc I can't find many) and because I wanted to. anyways this idea randomly struck my mind. I had another concept that I've tried to write but it never worked out the way I wanted it to so maybe this is where i can start it

anyways, please let me know what you think. reblog and like :)

p.s. for those of you interested Veera means 'warrior princess' (which is why Harry calls her 'princess' for short and if I end up continuing this series, I'll touch more on that )

~~~

masterlist // more of harry and jiya

1K notes · View notes

wishesunderthestars · 4 years ago

Text

Eunoia // Ch. 14

eunoia (noun): beautiful thinking, the possession of a well-balanced mind, which exhibits goodwill and kindness

Pairings: Hybrid! BTS x reader

Summary: You are a world famous director and you have dedicated your life to your job.You have everything you could ever dream of; wealth, recognition, talent, your friends and family. But loneliness ins’t cured by success. So what happens when you somehow rescue seven hybrids? Can they fill the void?

Genre: Angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, eventual smut

Word Count: 15k+

Warnings: Abuse and violence, past sexual abuse, derogetory language, sexual harassment

Masterlist

Chapter 1, Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13

It has been a long time, I know. Thanks for being patient with me. This was supposed to be the last chapter of Yoongi and Hoseok’s part but I just couldn’t fit everything that needed to happen inside or it would turn into a 30k chapter and be even more late, so I divided it into two.

The taglist is now closed.

Four days felt like a much smaller amount of time than when you had first been informed of your break. When you heard the alarm the morning you had to go back to work, you were tempted to ignore it and cover your head with the sheets. This was strange for two reasons. You always woke up before your alarm and it was impossible for you to fall asleep again after waking up, even when you were exhausted. But your eyes were heavy and sleep was clinging to your bones.

You reached for your phone and turned off the alarm. The hybrids were waiting for you in the kitchen, breakfast already served. You thanked Seokjin, who looked the most awake. Jimin and Jungkook were leaning against each other with their eyes half closed, small yawns escaping them every few minutes. It was a little earlier than the time you usually left but you had to do some work in the company building before you could go to the studios. Hoseok's injuries were much better, you didn't need to check on them twice a day anymore so you avoided going to their room and waking them up.

The fox hybrid had been opening up more and he looked more at ease with his surroundings. After eating dinner with you on the first night of your break, he had timidly asked if they could join you again. His whole face lit up when you told him they would always be welcome. Dinners had turned into lunches too, claiming that way you didn't have to carry the trays to their room every day.

You weren't surprised at how well he got along with Jimin. His heart-shaped smile had even charmed Namjoon. He was fascinated with every little thing and you made use of your break to show him around the house. It could be a little overwhelming, so you stuck to the basics at first. The kitchen, the upstairs living room, the library (where at least one of you could be found most times) and the cinema room. He looked at everything in wonder, his red tail wagging behind him. Yoongi trailed after you, the bored expression on his face slipping at how happy and excited Hoseok was.

The second day of your break Jimin announced that you would all be watching a movie. He would accept no complaints, not that there were any. You made enough popcorn for a whole movie theater while Seokjin and Jungkook made pizza. You strictly forbade them from putting on one of your movies. You were so deeply involved and connected with them you had trouble watching them without overthinking every scene, line and camera angle. Jimin pouted, joined by Jungkook and a more subtle Hoseok. But you didn’t budge. Jimin huffed and selected a comedy with an actor Seokjin liked.

It was the third day of your break and Jimin had dragged you with him to the guest suite, saying he needed his daily cuddles. You were laying together in his bed as you played with his blond strands. His hair was growing longer and he was complaining that it was falling in his eyes but you loved running your hands through it, your fingers getting lost inside. Jimin snuggled into your side, his tail wrapped around your waist.

“You are very affectionate today,” you said. Jimin let out an unsatisfied noise when you stopped massaging his scalp, so you moved your hand upwards, scratching behind his cat ears, eliciting a small moan from him.

“I am always affectionate,” he said, nuzzling against your collarbones. “You’re just not here and you’re tired when you come back.”

You placed a kiss on the crown of his head. “Sorry.” It was your job. You shouldn’t feel guilty. And yet…

Jimin raised his head, your hand falling from his hair to rest on his cheek. “Don’t be. I just wish you were here more. With us. But your job is important.”

“I guess,” you said caressing his cheek, the cat hybrid leaning into your touch. “I’ll try to get some more time off when I go back to work.” It would be difficult but not impossible. There were often breaks for a couple of days in the filming schedule but you usually spent those revising scripts or reviewing the work of the various departments or attending meetings. Many of those things weren’t actually your responsibilities, they weren’t in your contract, you did them because you wanted everything to be perfect. You could take a step back for once and make up for it later.

Jimin leaned against you, purring happily at the prospect of spending more time with you. He had been clinging to you in the past days after your week-long absence. The first night after making up with Jungkook he had slept with him in their room and you’d thought he would sleep there from now on. But the next night you had come out of the shower to find him laying in your bed.

A talk show was playing on the TV, filling the comfortable silence of the room. Jimin whispering your name had you looking away from the screen. “Hoseok is doing better, right?”

“He is. He’s recovering fast. Why are you asking?” you asked, worried that he had noticed something you hadn’t. Hybrids had much more developed senses than humans that could have detected something you had missed.

“He’s nice,” he said, playing with the fake buttons of your shirt. “He looks so happy all the time and he’s so energetic.”

“He is. See? He’s really getting better.” That didn’t seem to satisfy Jimin.

“What if they want to leave now that he’s better?”

You cooed at him, pulling him closer. “Is that what’s brought this on? If they want to leave we can’t stop them. The door is always open if they don’t want to be here anymore. They only came here because Hoseok was injured and he couldn’t go to the hospital.”

“But can they stay?” His eyes were shining as he looked up at you. “Please.”

“They can stay for as long as they want. But I can’t force them to stay.”

Jimin didn’t say anything more, hiding into your side. Last night at dinner, Jimin had been quiet and withdrawn, glancing at Yoongi every few minutes. There was history between them, one that ran deep and cut just as hard. From little clues and pieces and what Jimin himself had told you, you had pieced together an image of Jimin’s past but you had trouble finding where exactly Yoongi fit.

You hadn’t forgotten Jimin’s words in your office the day you had invited the two hybrids in your house. Yoongi once belonged to the same man Jimin did. They had done something to him and Jimin had been left to the adoption center he had escaped from. Yoongi had been left somewhere else, you guessed a less savory place. But you couldn’t figure out what they could have done to be kicked out. Something Jimin still felt guilty about. Betrayal was a strong and sticky word and it was hard to associate it with sweet Jimin, even when that man deserved that and more.

Yoongi was a mystery surrounded by several brick walls. Only a wrecking ball could break them down. You were the kind of person to knock on a wall and wait for it to crumble by itself when it came to people. At work, if the only way to get through an obstacle was a wrecking ball, you would bring a wrecking ball.

Surprises weren’t uncommon for you (see: Virginia earthquake), you had learnt to face them head on and control the consequences. But that hadn’t prepared you for the string of surprises during your break and the days after that.

The first surprise came with how well Hoseok was getting along with the other hybrids. His endearing excitement about anything and everything didn’t fail to amuse them. He would curl up on the grass, bathing in sunlight, often joined by Jimin who had developed the same habit when spring first arrived. He was curious about everything, asking question after question with his red fluffy tail wagging behind him like an overexcited puppy. All of you couldn’t help but humor him and try to answer his questions to the best of your abilities.

The second surprise shocked you more than the first. It was the third night the two hybrids were eating dinner with you in the backyard. Yoongi usually didn’t talk, opting to focus on his food while observing the progression of the meal. Thus when he spoke, everyone fell silent. He didn’t say much, it only took him a couple of seconds to compliment Jin’s cooking then become quiet again. Jin stuttered through his thanks, flustered at the unexpected compliment. The panther hybrid didn’t talk again for the rest of the meal.

The third surprise was seeing Yoongi and Jimin sitting next to each other, sometimes in silence and sometimes talking. Being pulled to each other like a moth to the flame. It made Hoseok all too happy to spend time with both of them.

The fourth surprise came in the form of a text from a contact you hadn’t interacted with since Christmas. You laid back on your bed, staring at the paragraphs-long text and forgetting about anything else. You stared and stared as if the letters would rearrange themselves, or better yet disappear if you stared long enough.

You didn’t notice how much time you had spent there unmoving until there was a knock on the door.

“Open,” you called.

The door was pushed open and Namjoon walked into the room, his gray hair falling in his face. In the mornings he looked younger. “Breakfast is ready.”

“Yeah,” you said, not moving. They never had to call you for breakfast. Your schedules had become so in sync you arrived for breakfast the moment it was ready or a few minutes early.

“What happened?” Namjoon asked. He approached, sitting down next to you on the bed.

“Nothing happened, I guess. It’s an invitation.” The text had been sent late last night but you had missed it, leaving your phone to charge upon coming back home and not looking at it again. “It’s from my parents. For a gala.”

“Your parents?” The surprise was evident in his face. You didn’t talk much about your parents, those were conversations you didn’t tend to enjoy. Your parents were a topic you weren’t well-versed in and your lack of confidence was irritating.

You looked at the text again, black letters surrounded by gray. “They invited me to a fashion gala. They would really appreciate it if I could attend.” Reading the text again, you wondered if your mother had asked someone else to write it before deeming it persuasive enough to send. “It’s held in Beverly Hills.”

“When?” Namjoon asked.

“Saturday. In less than a week.” It was Tuesday.

Namjoon glanced at your phone. “Do you want to go?”

The answer was more complicated than you would have liked. You didn’t feel like buying a new gown (god forbid if you wore a dress you had worn before at such an event), having your makeup and hair done and plastering a smile on your face while exchanging pleasantries with people you didn’t know for the whole night. But it wasn’t that easy. You hadn’t attended the Christmas event your mother had organized, using work as an excuse, not feeling like showing up at an event in the mindset you had fallen into. Although she didn’t show it, your mother had been offended.

You couldn’t skip another event.

You threw an arm over your eyes, groaning. “I can’t not go. My mother organized the gala, it will look bad if I’m not there.”

“I could come with you,” Namjoon offered.

It would be nice having someone there with you. Namjoon had a way of calming you down and settling your worries but actually remembering those galas made you change your mind. The rich and mighty loved showing off their wealth and power and hybrids were part of that allure. You wouldn’t subject Namjoon to that. You weren’t sure how he would react. You didn’t want to subject him to your parents’ scrutiny either.

“It would be better if I went alone,” you said. Namjoon threaded his fingers with yours in understanding. He pulled on your hand until you were sitting up on the bed, facing him.

“If you don’t want to go, you shouldn’t.”

Only that it wasn’t so simple. Or it was just your human nature making this overcomplicated.

“My mother will be really disappointed if I don’t go. I didn’t go to her last event, either. It will look bad if I don’t go to this one too.” Namjoon squeezed your hand, urging you to continue. “I’m just tired of them. Galas, events, they are all the same and not in a good way. Sure, there are some people worth talking too. I’ve had some great conversations there, but those are far and few in between. Most people are just trying to outshine the one next to them. And my mother only wants me there to complete the picture.”

The powerful and influential couple with their successful daughter. It was an image that haunted you. Most times you tried to ignore it because it wasn’t fair of you to judge your parents like that. They never made you attend those events, they didn’t get angry when you couldn’t make it. But it left a sour taste in your mouth when those events were the only times you saw them anymore.

“You don’t have to be alone there.” Namjoon brought your hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss in the middle of your palm. “I’m always here if you change your mind. It would feel better if you weren’t alone.”

“It isn’t that I don’t want you there. I do,” you said. “But that isn’t a world you want to be a part of, it isn’t really my world either. There, hybrids are just expensive accessories and I don’t want people to look at you like that. Like you are something to be had.”

Namjoon’s eyes were soft on you as he cupped your cheek with the hand that wasn’t holding yours. “That’s how most people look at us. It isn’t something new. You don’t have to worry about me, I’m used to it.”

“But it isn’t right.” You sounded like a five-year-old complaining that the world wasn’t fair because her parents didn’t buy her ice cream but you couldn’t help it. “And it isn’t just the other people, the guests. I’m not sure about my parents either. They don’t know I’ve adopted you. Actually, they don’t know about anything that has happened in my life this year.”

“I understand if you don’t want them to know about us.”

“It isn’t that,” you said. “Not exactly. I don’t want them involved in my business and judging my choices. They- They are my parents and I guess they care about me in their own way but I won’t be able to stay calm if they look at you like they are estimating your price tag.”

Namjoon leaned closer, bringing your foreheads together. You closed your eyes, surrounded by his warmth. “All I care about is for you to feel comfortable and if my presence there will make things worse then I won’t come with you. But if you change your mind, I’ll be right here. Whatever you want, I’m here.”

You tilted your head, waiting for his lips to touch yours. You shared a sweet kiss before there was another knock at the door.

“Namjoon! Did you wake her up?” Seokjin shouted from the other side of the door. “The breakfast is getting cold! I woke up at the crack of dawn to make it!”

You giggled as you separated.

“Let’s go before he decides we don’t deserve food,” Namjoon said.

♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩

You had to readjust your schedule for the gala. There were many things you had to do in the five days leading up to it. Your mother was so pleased you accepted the invitation she called you the very next day to tell you how happy she was you would be attending. She hadn’t organized a fashion gala in years and it meant a lot that you would be there to support her. The gala was all about the importance of fashion and the unique interpretations of old and new big names in the industry. It would be one of the grandest events of the year, even if your mother was as clueless about fashion as she was about your life. She enjoyed watching the glorious parts and giving compliments, but rarely got more involved than that.

She had arranged for you to meet with one of the designers featured at the event. You could choose a dress from his collection that would be showcased at the gala. Your mother reassured you that they would do everything so your dress would be fitted to your exact measurements and ready for you to wear on time. You didn’t complain. It would be otherwise impossible to find a dress of the caliber your mother expected in such a short time.

The designer came to your house himself with his assistants. He was a nice young man with a tilted accent revealing that he wasn’t originally from the United States. You made small talk about the different kinds of art characterizing your jobs. They took your measurements and presented you with a few options the designer had selected for you. Some were more eccentric than others but all of them were beautiful.

After discussing with him and listening to his opinions, you selected a piece with gold and red embroidery and a flowy skirt. He was very pleased with your choice, going on and on about how good it would look on you. You felt fluttered at how excited he was for you to wear his design.

You had to meet him again a few days later for the first fitting. He offered to come to your house again but it would be easier for the alterations to be at his studio, where all of his tools were.

Jimin had seen the opportunity to spend more time with you and put on his most convincing puppy eyes asking you to take him with you to the fashion studio. You had no reason to refuse, you wanted to spend more time with him too. Somehow Jimin roped Seokjin into coming with you as well. They waited for you outside until the alterations were done. You couldn’t resist spoiling them while you were out so you took them for waffles. From Seokjin’s stuffed face it was safe to say he enjoyed them.

You had to go back to work after the fitting but Jimin was clinging to you not letting you go, which was how you ended up with the two of them at the final table-reading for the first episode of the Raven Cycle. They both quietly watched the actors delivering their lines. Jimin leaned forward in his seat as he got more and more invested in the scenes, snapping out of it whenever one scene ended and you discussed corrections and suggestions.

The atmosphere was light and friendly. You were professionals and you believed in maintaining a healthy environment of communication and mutual respect that left space for jokes and friendships to develop. The chemistry between the actors was important and you found that when they were friends and had a bond in real life too, it showed.

“Okay, that was great. I liked Ronan’s extra lines, we should keep that in.” The writer next to you wrote it down. “It’s getting late so let’s take a small break for a few minutes and move on to scene fifteen and sixteen and we’re completely done with episode one.” Everyone agreed with you and soon chatter was filling the room. You stretched your arms behind you, your body was complaining after sitting for too many hours.

The snacks and refreshments on the table against the wall were dwindling as the table-reading went on. All the important people in the project were there; the executive producers, the writers, the heads of the various departments and of course all the main actors of the first episode. The room with the large table and the many couches and chairs was large enough for everyone.

Three more days of table reading, which was mainly for revisions, and you would be done, leaving around a week before filming was scheduled to start. Just on time. Despite unfortunate surprises and earthquakes, you were on time. Next week you would be back in the studios standing behind the cameras watching years of work and planning coming to life. The first moments of filming in every movie or TV show whispered to you in silver and gold lines that you couldn’t describe as anything else than magic.

You picked up a bottle of water and a sandwich from the snack table, getting caught up in a short conversation with one of the producers. Your scalp was beginning to hurt from the tight ponytail your hair was trapped in. With a pat on your shoulder, the producer left to find the head of the costume department.

Jimin and Jin were sitting on the smallest couch, away from the table in the middle of the room. Jimin’s ears twitched as you settled on the armrest. You handed him the sandwich.

“For me?”

“You have been looking at it as much as you have been looking at the actors.”

Jimin still didn’t take a bite. “I already ate two.”

“And now you will eat one more.” You nudged the sandwich closer to his face. “They are quite small. I think Will has eaten seven since we started.” You glanced at your assistant, he was talking with two of the actors.

Jimin smiled at you like you were sharing a secret before diving into his sandwich. You opened your water bottle and gulped down half of it in seconds.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go? It’s past eight and it will take at least one more hour to finish the last two scenes and wrap everything up.” You had asked them if they wanted to leave three times since you’d arrived and the answer had been the same each time.

“It’s eight?” Jin asked, pulling out his phone from his pocket. You leaned over Jimin to peek at the screen seeing a few texts from Namjoon and Jungkook and notifications from the various apps Jin used. You had texted Namjoon earlier so he wouldn’t worry that Jin and Jimin hadn’t returned home.

“And it will be at least nine by the time I’m done,” you said.

“We’ve been here for three hours. We can wait for you one more.” Jin opened the messages app reading the texts, a smile appearing on his face.

Jimin had eaten more than half of the sandwich, crumbs sticking at the sides of his mouth. “I want to see what happens at the end. Pretty please?”

“We will wait for you,” Jin said. “We don’t have anything better to do,” he added, to which Jimin agreed enthusiastically. You scratched the cat hybrid's ears while he devoured the rest of the sandwich.

What you hadn’t considered before taking them with you was that the table reading would give away many spoilers for the show. Spoilers were the bane of your existence. Not everyone minded them but you disliked them with passion. You had almost strangled Zayn when he had told you a spoiler he had seen on Twitter for the ending of Avengers: Infinity War, minutes before the movie started. Zayn had been very lucky the lights hadn’t gone out yet. The suspense was one of your favorite parts and that was ruined for you when you knew what would happen.

At least it was the first episode but there was a lot of discussion on how certain parts or pieces of dialogue would connect with later episodes. The fact that it was an adaptation also changed things. You had been adamant about staying true to the original story and keeping in as many scenes from the book as you could. Your additions revolved around character development, the relationships between the characters, and some conflicts that hadn’t been in the book but you had discussed in length with Maggie. In this case, you didn’t know exactly how to define spoilers.

As expected, you finished the table reading twenty minutes past nine. Gathering all your folders from the table, the scripts, and various notes from the writers and producers, you hid them all away in your backpack. Henrietta and the magical forest were coming to life from their voices alone. You could already imagine how captivating it would be on screen.

Jimin was laying his head on Jin’s shoulder with his arm wrapped around the older’s waist. It had taken some time for them to relax in the room full of strangers, some of who hadn’t been subtle about staring. One look from you and their gazes had darted away. It still wasn’t common to have a hybrid, much less three, but you didn’t care how curious they were if they were making Jimin and Jin uncomfortable.

During the first break, early at the table reading, you had been roped into a debate about a possible change in one of the scenes. The two hybrids had kept to themselves, staying quiet and watching. The actress playing Blue had walked up to them with a wide smile and introduced herself. The remaining tension in them was released when she struck up a conversation with them.

“Time to get going,” you said. Jimin looked up at you, blinking drowsily. “Should I tell John to carry you to the car?”

“We’re leaving?” he asked, rubbing at his eyes.

“Thankfully yes so you need to get up.” You had wrapped everything up, saying goodbye to everyone and you were ready to go.

Jin kissed Jimin’s blond curls. “Let’s go and get you into an actual bed.” He got up and pulled Jimin with him, the younger hybrid was clinging to his back like a koala from the hallway where you met up with John to the parking lot.

In the car, you looked at them through the rear-view mirror. Jimin’s eyes were closed, laying his head on Jin’s shoulder.

“Hard day?” John asked, moving the gear shift to the left and then up.

“I’m a little afraid that my scenario might be a little boring,” you said glancing behind you. “It’s too early for him to be falling asleep.”

The car started moving, leaving the dimly lit parking lot behind. “He’s not used to being out for that long,” Jin said smoothing down Jimin’s hair with care. Jin cared for you with everything he had, you tried to do the same but it was close to impossible with how busy you were.

“If it’s my scenario though, I need to rewrite that thing from beginning to end.”

John chuckled. “Good luck telling that to the writers and the producers. They’ll love it.”

They’d love it as much as cats loved swimming.

♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩

You took the day of the gala off. If you went to the gala tired after work, you wouldn’t be able to put a smile on your face and keep it there. It wasn’t so much that the galas were awful but that you felt out of place in them. Your mother had many connections and she would invite the “best” of her world. Some faces had become familiar, a steady fixture in your mother’s guest lists. Some faces you should be able to recognize but you didn’t, resulting in interactions based on pretending.

At the after-parties of award shows and premieres, you were more at ease. The designer dresses and suits were the same, worn by rich and influential people, but it was people you knew and respected. Your skin wasn’t prickling at the tension, lost somewhere between remembering a name or a company and ignoring the jabs at other guests or the rumors spreading like vines.

The last event you had attended was in New York last September, it had been the event of the year according to your mother. Jacob had accompanied you, hugging your mother and shaking hands with your father. He had stayed next to you from the moment you stepped into the place to the moment you got into the car to leave. You had to somewhat agree with your mother. A lot of interesting people were in attendance, famous writers and journalists, and you succeeded in ignoring the less favorable situations.

Your parents had changed a lot, or maybe it was just the circumstances that had changed and the different perspective you had as an adult. You used to cast them as the absentee parents, an overused trope you didn't find much merit in. It was too simple, too straightforward. They didn't disappear from one day to the next, cutting all contact with you. It was more like the times they were there grew fewer and fewer until they had moved permanently to New York by the time you were eight. Your father had been offered a position he couldn't refuse and your mother loved him too much to leave him alone there. She tried, she tried to stay for you but she had been trying to find a reason to leave your hometown since she was a teenager. The penthouses and neat offices fit her far better than the beaches and town squares ever did.

It started as a few weeks at first. Your father would be staying in the city for some meetings and your mother wanted to join him. His job involved a lot of traveling and in most of your memories, he was holding a suitcase. A few weeks turned into a month the next time, then into a few months you had to stay with your aunt and your cousins. After you turned eight, they were coming back only for a few weeks every year.

When you were ten you stopped answering their calls and refused to talk to them. Your mother still tried, even traveled back to be with you. Instead of staying at your house with her, you stayed with your aunt. Your mother left defeated. It took a year for you to speak to them again. Childish, but you couldn't blame your past self. The cracks in your relationship with your parents were still there. As an attempt to prevent them from widening and growing, you at least tried to attend the events your mother invited you to.

Another one to add to the list.

"Does the duck look ready to you?" you asked Jin. Roasted duck wasn't a dish you had experience with but that wasn't the only reason you called for Jin. Being home for the day you had offered to help Jin cook lunch. Cooking helped take your mind off, focusing on the recipe and chatting with Jin.

Jin left the lettuce he was washing in the bowl and dried his hands in a towel. His steps were careful and measured, one of his hands holding on the counter.

"It looks good," he said. "You can take it out."

You opened the oven, pulling back last minute so the heat wouldn't burn your face. "It smells incredible! I think I got ten times hungrier just smelling this."

Jin chuckled but it was strained. "I'm too good at this." He was still holding onto the counter.

"You won't catch me complaining."

He went back to the lettuce in the sink, his bangs falling into his face and covering his eyes. You wrapped the chicken breasts in foil and let them rest for a few minutes. The figs were caramelized and the potatoes fried until golden. That was about it for the main dish.

Jin was cutting the lettuce so you occupied yourself with making the salad dressing. You worked in silence. It wasn't for the lack of anything to say but a flinch from Jin earlier, while you had been talking, had you lowering your voice and then closing your mouth when you were finished with that sentence. It was only for a moment before he turned away, but it was enough for you to notice. You had asked him if he was alright twice and both times the answer had been the same. After that, it was clear he wouldn't tell you anything else regardless of how many times you asked.

A thud echoed in the room followed, not a second after, by the sound of metal clattering on wood. The spoon you used to mix the ingredients of the salad dressing stilled in your hand. Jin had fallen to his knees on the floor, holding the counted with one hand and his head with the other. The knife laid abandoned on the cutting board next to the lettuce.

For a moment your surroundings blurred from the surprise before coming into crystal clear focus. You rushed to Jin's side, who was trying to pull himself back up to his feet.

"I'm alright. I slipped," he said.

"You slipped? Seriously?" You had one arm around his waist and it stayed there as he leaned back against the counter. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just a little dizzy," Jin muttered. That close to him, only a breath away, you could see how pale he was, the dark circles under his eyes standing out against the white of his skin.

"You haven't been alright since we started cooking. You aren't just a little dizzy, that's not how someone is when they're a little dizzy."

Jin turned his head to the side, avoiding your gaze. "Let it go, please. Only the salad is left. I'll rest after we eat."

"Jin, that's not..." Clueless about how to continue, you pressed your palm to his forehead. In winter your hands were always freezing cold, it didn't matter if the temperature wasn't that low they would turn into popsicles mere seconds after going outside. Only that it wasn’t winter but spring and your hands were as warm as they could be, that’s why it was that much more concerning that his forehead was warmer than it should be under your touch. “You’re burning up. How are you still standing?”

“It isn’t that bad,” Jin said. He wasn’t looking at you.

“It isn’t that bad?” you repeated in disbelief. “Forget about the salad, I’m taking you to your room.”

You were about to turn around when Jin gripped your elbow weakly. “You don’t need to, really, I can finish up here, it isn’t the first time. I can do it.” The sweat that was gathering on his forehead and his tired eyes told a different story.

“You have been cooking while feeling sick?” you asked. Being out of the house almost all day it wouldn’t have been hard to miss and when you came back at night you weren’t that aware of your surroundings, but the other hybrids would have been able to see past Jin’s pretenses.

“Not here,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

That’s something you should have expected. You had never met his previous owners but you couldn’t stop yourself from hating them for what they had done to him. Hate was too strong of a word but you didn’t have any other name for the burning in your chest whenever you witnessed how insecure and self-conscious Jin had become of them.

You cupped his cheek in your palm turning his head to face you and you rested your forehead against his, your noses bumping. At the touch his shoulders slumped, his back muscles unraveling under your hand. Jin joked that it was weird that his scent glands weren’t in the same places as other hybrids’ but in strange places like his forehead. You couldn’t agree with him because standing there with your foreheads touching it was just as intimate.

The walk to his room was silent. You opened the door for him and watched him hide under the covers, between the countless pillows and stuffed animals. Before leaving, you placed a kiss on his forehead your lips warming up because of his fever. You wanted to stay there with him and with the way he was holding your hand he wanted the same but the lettuce was waiting for you back in the kitchen and there were five hybrids you had to feed.

Finishing up the meal was a matter of minutes. The dressing for the salad had been made and you only had to finish cutting the lettuce and a few fresh tomatoes before mixing everything in a large bowl. You unwrapped the foil from around the duck breasts and arranged them in plates, adding the figs with the pan juices and the fried potatoes. It looked like something you would order at a five-star restaurant, most of Jin’s cooking did.

The mouth-watering aroma must have drifted downstairs because as you were putting the last touches on the plates two sets of feet were running up the staircase. Jimin looked like he had been lured into the kitchen by some magical force, transfixed on the plates on the counter. He sniffed, making tiny happy noises.

“This smells so good. I’m hungry!” he whined.

Jungkook followed behind, taking a look at the plates and turning to you with pleading eyes. “When are we eating?”

You shook your head at their antics. “I just finished up, you can take them down if you want so stop looking at me like that.”

Jimin pouted, his shoulders raising. “Looking at you like what?”

“Stop that, I know what you’re doing.”

Jimin continued on, batting his eyelashes at you. “What am I doing? Am I not doing good?”

You pinched his cheek, making him giggle. “I thought you were hungry but apparently you aren’t hungry enough if you’re still here instead of taking the food down.” At that Jungkook was quick to take out the large trays and fill them with the plates and bowls.

Jimin went to help before pausing. “Where is Jinnie?”

Jin was always in the kitchen before meals, helping the two youngest carry the trays to the backyard. You didn’t want to worry Jimin, he was very sensitive to how others were feeling. His emotional walls were so thin that your blues and grays bled into his yellow. “He’s in his room resting, he’s feeling a little under the weather today.”

“But…How didn’t we notice anything?” Jimin asked.

You patted his shoulder. “I didn’t either until we were cooking lunch. He just needs to rest and he will be better in no time.” Jimin gazed at the food like it could give him the answers he was looking for, you continued. “The duck is his recipe, he only went to his room after the food was ready.” You didn’t mention how he had collapsed while cutting the lettuce, a knife in his hand and way too many grievous possibilities.

Jungkook picked up the nicest plate, you had made it last and having used the previous six ones as practice it had come out looking the best. “Can I take it to him?” It was well-known that he had a soft spot for Jin, sneaking into his room the nights he was running away chased by guilt. Jin had been the only one he had let in then. But again, they all had a soft spot for each other, it may translate differently into actions but it was the same at the core.

You pulled out a smaller bowl from the cupboard. Let me put some salad in this first.” This was one of the only salads everyone liked, even Jimin who was firmly against eating most greens (Namjoon didn’t like them much either but at least he was trying). You filled a glass with water as well and placed it on the smaller tray Jungkook had prepared. “Don’t wake him up if he’s sleeping, he looked really tired.”

“I’ll be quiet,” Jungkook promised picking up the tray and leaving for Jin’s room.

Jimin went back to arranging the plates on the trays. “He’ll be alright soon, right?”

“Of course he will,” you reassured him. “In no time he will be shouting at Jungkook for eating his ingredients and having fights with any insects that find their way to the garden. Now, let’s take these down because having the food right in front of me and not eating it is killing me.”

♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩

Jin had a terrible headache, that’s where everything had started. He had woken up and instantly wanted to roll to his other side and fall asleep again covering his head with the blanket. His eyes refused to stay open and everything around him was like he was in a fog. His body wasn’t his own, it was like watching someone else execute each move he commanded, like he had lost parts of his senses. Everything was duller.

Powering through, he got up and made his bed, throwing the blankets over it with less precision than usual and arranging his stuffed animals against the pillows. It was your day off because of the gala and he had to make breakfast for you and the other hybrids.

It was enough that he got a few more hours of sleep as a result of the lack of your morning schedule. He could deal with the world being a little blurry at the edges and his body not cooperating every few minutes.

He made an easy breakfast for the day, which was a little disappointing when you were able to sit and enjoy it for once, but he was physically unable to do anything more. Sitting down would help. After breakfast, he would lay down on the couch and he would be better in no time.

Breakfast came and went and in a few hours, he had to start making lunch. Your offer to help was a godsend with his feet feeling like jelly. He thought he had it under control, that he could get through lunch then go to his room and hide under the covers where no one could see him. Until his legs gave up on him.

The knife slipped out of his hand and he watched its slow descent to the cutting board. In a blink he was on his knees, he blinked again and you were next to him helping him up. Hybrids weren’t supposed to get sick, scientists had engineered their whole being down to the color of their hair and eyes, they could strengthen their immune system as well. His past owners used to say that it was in his head because he was living with humans, that if he got sick the center must have given them a problematic hybrid and that couldn’t be true. He had paid a lot for Jin.

The door opened just enough for you to poke your head in. “Jin?” you whispered, quiet enough to not wake him up if he had been sleeping but loud enough for his hearing to pick up while awake. He lowered the blankets from his face. “Hey, did you finish with your food?”

“Yeah, it’s…” He pointed to the tray on the nightstand, he didn’t have enough strength to take it to the desk. You didn’t comment on the food that was left on the plates.

“Are you feeling any better?” you asked. His head still hurt and the heaviness of his body didn’t subside, but it was much better than when he had been standing so he nodded. “Do you need anything else? I brought some medicine if you want, I read that it’s alright for hybrids to take.” Despite the pain and the weariness of his body, he smiled at you and your research. The way you cared about them was endearing. You pulled out a packet from your back pocket.

“I think I’ll take one.” The constant drumming behind his temples and the back of his head was getting too much. It was so bad it wouldn’t let him sleep.

“I’ll go get some water for you.” You left the packet on the nightstand and picked up the tray with the leftovers.

Jin rolled to his back staring at the ceiling. He didn’t get sick often and he hated how his body was betraying him. You returned with a glass filled with water in one hand and a jug in the other.

“There you go,” you said handing him the glass. You opened the medicine packet and pressed a white tablet out. It was light in his palm, almost as if it wasn’t there. He put it in his mouth and washed it down with water. “You’ll feel better in no time.” You stroked his hair and he had to hold himself back from purring. Being sick he craved affection more than ever before.

“Don’t come too close, you’ll get sick too.”

You didn’t pull back. “Then I’ll have a reason to stay at home. It doesn’t sound so bad.” You tugged at the blanket. “Fancy some company?” Jin scooted to the side, letting you slip in next to him. Something inside him rejoiced at having you in his nest with him. It was ridiculous, having the need to nest was ridiculous, but he couldn’t suppress it. You turned around to face him, your head on a light blue pillow you had picked up from the pile. “Do you mind if I stay here for a bit?”

In the absence of words, he nodded his head. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes. You weren’t wearing makeup today in anticipation of the heavy makeup you would have to wear for the gala. The shadows under your eyes, concealed any other day, were threatening to spill over the rest of your face. The late nights had been many in the past few days, making up for the breaks you were taking. More and more he came to realize that work was your life and you were like a fish escaping water pushing it back.

You didn’t speak, basking in the silent company of each other. Jin let his worries go and, thanks to the medicine, his headache got duller until he couldn’t feel it. He didn’t notice when he fell asleep, waking up to voices.

“…feeling better, the medicine must have kicked in. His temperature has gone back to normal too,” you whispered.

“Okay, that’s good. Our Jinnie is strong,” the other voice said and heat traveled up to the top of Jin’s ears. The voice was unmistakably Namjoon’s and it was so warm Jin wanted to wrap it around himself and never let go. “I think we woke him up.”

“Oh no,” you complained, still whispering. “Jin?”

He opened his eyes, abandoning the comfort of the familiar darkness. You leaning on your forearm peering at him. His heart was beating faster.

“We woke you up, didn’t we?” you asked, looking guilty.

“It’s alright.” He could hear how rough his voice was from sleep. “What time is it?”

“Five,” you said.

He had been sleeping for more than three hours.

Namjoon took a step forward from the door. “I brought you some tea and biscuits,” he said, placing the tray on the now-empty nightstand.

Jin sat up on the bed with his back against the headboard. “Thank you. Can you…?” You picked up the steaming mug and handed it to him, holding it carefully so he wouldn’t burn himself. The plate of biscuits was placed on his lap over the blankets. It was a warm day but the air-conditioning was on in Jin’s room, the weight of the blankets over him promised safety and he didn’t want to be sweating from the heat.

“I’ll be going then,” Namjoon said with a small smile, the two of you exchanging a look.

“Wait.” Namjoon stopped in his tracks. Jin blamed his impulsiveness on the part of him that was controlled by the sugar-glider’s nature. Namjoon shouldn’t be leaving. Namjoon was pack and he should be with him when he wasn’t well, he should be taking care of Jin. One followed the other and it didn’t listen to logic. But he was tired and although the headache was gone, his head was still hazy, so he gave in. “Can you stay?”

The soft smile on Namjoon’s face was enough to wipe away any of his lingering doubts. “Of course I can.” Jin pulled up the blankets inviting him in. Namjoon pulled him closer bringing his forehead to his. The mug shook in Jin’s hold, you covered his hand with yours steading it. Jin realized it wasn’t only his hands shaking as Namjoon scented him tenderly. He felt so weak between the two of you.

♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩

The makeup artist asked you to close your eyes again to finish your eyeliner. Your makeup had to compliment your dress, like you were a model on the runway and your purpose was to sell the design. You had to admit that it looked beautiful so far, the gold eyeshadow and the dramatic eyeliner. She completed the look with a matte red lipstick while the hairstylist was releasing the last loose curl from the curling wand. You looked like someone out of a movie and tonight you would have to own that.

They helped you put on the dress like you were incapable of doing it on your own. In these cases, everything had to be perfect, including the most mundane of things. The jewelry was modest as not to take the attention away from the dress but enhance the look. A golden necklace with a ruby surrounded by tiny diamonds to decorate the skin the plunging neckline left bare, small diamond earrings, and golden bracelets.

Half an hour left before the gala and you were ready. The charm was arriving a little late so you had to wait before leaving. The stylists took their leave but you stayed at the fitting room/styling section of the closet, which was right under the actual master closet.

The dress fit you like a glove, bringing attention to all the right areas and burying any imperfections. It was the kind of Cinderella transformation the protagonists in older movies used to go through before getting the guy, but it happened all the time to you. A spy in an action movie, a confident heroine knowing how to use her looks, a girl going to a party to have fun and get drunk, that’s more along the lines of the characters you liked to imagine yourself as. You were far from being any of those characters but it was fun to daydream sometimes.

One last look in the mirror and you climbed up the spiral staircase to your closet, turning off the lights behind you. The designer you had met had been pleasant and your conversations hadn’t been awkward. If the rest of the guests, or at least the majority, were like him then the night could be fun.

The hybrids were all in the living room, even Hoseok and Yoongi. Yoongi wasn’t sitting far from them, in a separate sphere, but next to Jimin who was pointing at something in a book. They all looked at you when you came in, the back of the dress sweeping the floor behind you.

“How does it look?” you asked, doing a twirl. The response was delayed by a few moments.

Namjoon snapped out of it first, coming closer to you and taking your hand. “You look beautiful.” He leaned in for your neck before his face scrunched up in displeasure.

“What?” you asked.

He sniffed at the air. “You…”

“Oh, oh,” you said in realization. “It’s the perfume, it’s quite strong, isn’t it? It’s a Christmas gift from my mother, she said she really liked it so I thought I would wear it for her.”

Namjoon tamed his expression but the frown didn’t disappear. “It’s a little overwhelming. It overpowers everything else.” The perfume was too much for you too, it wasn’t surprising that it was too much for the keen noses of the hybrids. The perfume you wore day to day in spring was a lot lighter and you didn’t put on a lot. You had never stopped to think about how perfumes would affect the hybrids.

“I’ll be sure to not wear it again then,” you said, giving his hand a squeeze.

“That isn’t what I meant.” Namjoon scratched the back of his neck. “You can wear it if you like it. It’s just a little much.”

“Well,” you looked at him and the other hybrids conspiratorially, “it isn’t my favorite, either, and if it affects you like that why would I keep wearing it?” Namjoon’s face smoothed out and you noticed Hoseok looking at you with amazement.

You opened the leather clutch and put in your phone and your keys. Your lipstick and powder were already inside along with a pack of tissues. It didn’t fit any more things.

“I’ll be going now. I’m fashionably late enough.” Before going, Jungkook and Jimin kissed you on each cheek careful not to ruin your makeup. Jin had fallen asleep again and none of you were willing to wake him up.

The night could become difficult so you ignored Yoongi’s eyes on you. You didn’t need any more people judging you.

A limousine was waiting for you outside, limousines were practically part of the dress code in these events. John wasn’t with you this time, you had given him the night off. These kinds of events starred in his nightmares, standing in the corner all night not saying a word. That’s how they kept up the illusion. Regardless of how many times you told him you didn’t care about it, he would follow what was expected of him.

The bright lights blinded you when you arrived. Everyone seemed to want to take a look at you. Your heels sunk into the red carpet at the entrance hall, large paintings in golden frames hanging from the walls. You were led up a grand staircase to the hall the gala was taking place. And so the night began…

You listened through speeches about fashion and the vision of the fashion industry and each individual designer. A few parts were quite interesting, but most of them failed to do anything more than repeat the same old ideas again and again. However, the champagne did make everything a little more tolerable. Your mother had been very happy to see you there and she had told you at least three times how beautiful you were. Your father smiled at you, a smile that looked way too political to be for his daughter, the same smile he would put on when greeting the president.

After the speeches were finished, your mother linked your elbows. It was time for the introductions. You put on your camera smile and shook more hands than you ever did at work. The compliments on your work were many, which ones were genuine was a mystery. But it did feel good when the daughter of one of your father’s associates told you how much she loved the finale of season 4 of Paper Hearts and asked you about Six of Crows.

You said goodbye to an older couple and your mother led you to the buffet. A sculpture of a man pinning fabrics on a mannequin stood proudly in the middle, surrounded by plates of food so perfect that it looked more fake than the decorative food pieces you used on set.

Your mother took another flute of champagne from a waiter. “Mr. Jones will be retiring soon but his son doesn’t want to take over the company. It causes a lot of family drama. I heard they only exchange a few words when they meet but Mr. Jones isn’t backing down.” You had no idea what company they had or who their son was but you nodded. “Ah, I wanted to ask you. You didn’t say anything about adopting hybrids.”

Your hand stilled before you could taste the hors d' oeuvres that looked like a sandwich but was too fancy to call it that. “Hybrids?” you repeated.

“I didn’t know you were interested in them,” your mother continued, unaware of how tense you had become. “Certainly not interested enough to adopt four. Are you making a collection?” She laughed at her joke but you only felt ill.

“No, I wouldn’t say that.” You took a bite of the food, trying to swallow it down. You had lost your appetite.

Your mother sipped on her champagne. “That would be a unique one, it could be showcased.” The churning in your stomach got worse. You left the piece that looked like a sandwich aside.

“How did you learn of it?”

“Don’t you read any magazines? It was front-page news.” You had expected that the information would be published sooner or later, you hadn’t been exactly hiding it, but sooner or later was in the future not now. “You should have told me, I would have looked for some high-quality places to buy them from. There are some very beautiful exotic pieces I have seen. Mrs. Anderson, do you remember her? She couldn’t make it this time but she was at the charity event last September.” You didn’t remember her but you nodded again. “She has such a cute chinchilla hybrid and he’s so well-trained too. I hope yours were trained well, I heard it’s difficult to train them yourself. Where did you adopt them from?”

You swallowed down the lump in your throat. “An adoption center in Los Angeles,” you lied easily. Spending hours and hours every day with actors, instructing them about how each scene would seem more natural, you had picked up a few tricks. “I just really liked them and they were already a pack, I didn’t want to break them up.”

Your mother arched a single perfectly-drawn eyebrow, a skill you had sadly not inherited. “A pack? Does that actually exist? Dear, the center must have been trying to give you four hybrids instead of one. Pack,” she tried out the word and she didn’t particularly like the results. “That certainly sounds like some kind of con. What are they? Are all of them wolves?”

“No, they aren’t all wolves. And it was three hybrids, I adopted the other one later from Tennessee with Taylor.”

Taylor’s name brought a spark to your mother. “Oh, how is Taylor? Such a sweet girl, I should have invited her. I will next time.” Your mother had met Taylor exactly once during one of the few of your movie premieres she had actually attended. “Which one did you adopt from there?”

You gritted your teeth, debating how much information was wise to give your mother. “Jin, he’s a sugar glider hybrid.”

That seemed to please her. “Sugar glider? That sounds fancy. I would like to see him up close.” Like you would ever allow that to happen. “He must be a rare breed.”

“He is.”

“Of course, I should have expected that my daughter would decide on a rare breed,” she said as if she was congratulating herself. “I insist you bring him to the next event. I was never that interested in hybrids, too much work, but one would look good in photos.”

“Yeah, I guess he would.” You took a deep breath, it wasn’t the time to throw a tantrum like you were five years old again or puke all over your expensive dress and shoes.

The expression on your mother’s face grew somber. “But four hybrids are a lot, I don’t think I know anyone who owns that many.” She twirled the flute in her hand, waves of the golden liquor hitting the glass and bubbles rising to the surface. “After what happened with Jacob I understand you have been feeling lonely, but hybrids aren’t good substitutes for human company, dear. You can’t rely on them as you relied on him or another man.”

A waiter offered you a glass of champagne from a golden tray. You couldn’t drink too much and risk your tongue loosening but you could allow yourself one more glass to get through this. “I’m not trying to replace him. They aren’t some kind of rebound.”

By her pinched expression, she didn’t believe you. “It’s alright to look for company somewhere else when you feel lonely. I don’t want you to think I’m judging your choices, you are an adult and free to make your own decisions but I’m your mother and I’m worried. You and Jacob were together for so long, we were sure he was the one for you. He was so nice and he took care of you. Your father and I were so happy for you.”

“Not all good relationships last. People change, they grow apart.”

“That’s true. It’s difficult getting out of a relationship after being together for so many years and getting back to your feet. That’s why I understand. I understand that you don’t want to be alone right now but don’t put all of your energy into hybrids. It just isn’t the same. Whatever some people like to say, hybrids are hybrids. They are different from us, they are on a different level. You can’t have the same connection with someone you own.”

Her words continued ringing in your mind for the rest of the night. Your father soon called you to introduce you to one of his colleagues, a successful businessman and politician you had never heard of. The glass of champagne was replaced by another one. You promised yourself it was the last. The owner of a luxurious brand talked with your mother about his plan to expand to more countries and the rehearsed and repeated vision to connect the world through fashion.

You peered at the other guests, all mingling, talking, and laughing. A man only a few feet away from you slapped a girl’s ass. You couldn’t believe your eyes, stuff like that didn’t happen at an event like this. You expected a scene, shouting and screaming and everything in between. Nothing happened. The man that had his arm around her waist only laughed. That’s when you noticed the black fluffy ears on top of her head, they were the same color as her hair and easy to miss. She didn’t have a tail. A silver collar with blue stones the same shade as her dress was secured around her neck. Her shoulders were tense and her head lowered.

In any other situation, any other time, you would have done something. You would have walked up to them and said something, anything you could think of on the spot, even talked to her, made a few minutes more tolerable. You did none of those things. Your parents were there and you had avoided embarrassing them all your life.

The guilt was eating you up, wrapping around all your organs and squeezing, hissing, and calling for your attention, not letting you forget. You had done nothing. If someone had touched your hybrids like that you would have cut their hands off. But that hadn’t been your hybrid, it hadn’t been your place. It hadn’t been your place like it hadn’t been your place to adopt Jin and go against his owner, like it hadn’t been your place to get involved with Namjoon’s pack or Yoongi and Hoseok for that matter. Maybe you had been tricking yourself all along, hiding your selfishness and fear behind the pretense of “not my place”.

Your mother was wrong, you hadn’t been looking for company when you and Jacob broke up. On the contrary, you disregarded everything except work, distancing yourself from all of your friends. It was easy with how busy you were at the time. You would have continued hiding in the Castle and spent your break alone if you hadn’t asked John to stop the car that night. They were what you didn’t know you needed. You had to stop being alone first to realize how lonely you had been.

You couldn’t go back to living like that, waking up and returning to an empty house, having no warm meal and warmer hugs waiting for you. That’s what your life had been like for the longest time and you wondered how you used to live like that. The hybrids were so tangled up in your life you couldn’t find where each thread ended or started. They merged and divided, connecting you all in ways you couldn’t describe.

Taylor had asked you about any crushes when you had been in Virginia, everyone was expecting you to find a new boyfriend after six months or at least start dating but you couldn’t bring yourself to do that. No one had piqued your interest and it wasn’t for lack of meeting new people. It would feel wrong going on a date with someone when the hybrids were waiting for you back home. And that’s where the problem was; it shouldn’t feel wrong. Many people who had hybrids went on dates, couples adopted hybrids together and it should be like that for you. But it wasn’t.

Overthinking was one of your talents and you had avoided like you were being chased by wild dogs. You weren’t one to simply go with the flow but Namjoon’s lips on your own had changed your mind. You were too afraid of losing that that you hadn’t allowed yourself to analyze what you were doing, what that meant for you. Namjoon was your hybrid, you may not act like it or think of him like that but you were his owner in the papers. And it wasn’t only Namjoon, the way you cared about the hybrids was different from the way you felt about anyone else. It was all-consuming and too bright. You felt more for them than you had ever felt about Jacob and that was dangerous.

You excused yourself from the event as soon as it was proper for you to do so. Tomorrow morning you had to wake up early for work and you couldn’t stay late into the night. It was true but not the reason you left. Your mother hugged you and thanked you for coming, inviting you once again to their house in New York. She had been inviting you every time you met and you hadn’t once been to their house.

The window of the limousine was cold against your cheek, your foundation staining the glass. Maybe your mother wasn’t that wrong. You didn’t dare put a name to your feelings but you couldn’t deny that they were there. Were you really that lonely that your mind was playing tricks on you? Groaning, you knocked your head against the glass, hard enough to hear a small thud. You shouldn’t be thinking of them like that, it was wrong, so wrong.

Was it the way the world viewed hybrids messing with you, bleeding into your subconscious? They were presented as the answer to any and all desires, transformed into wet dreams. The media had the power to influence behaviors and thoughts little by little without the person noticing. You had thought you were too clever to fall victim to their molded reality. You knocked your head against the glass again, the driver must have been thinking you were crazy.

The limousine parked in front of the Castle. On other nights the lights would have been turned off by now but tonight they were all shinning, welcoming you home. You fished your keys out of your bag and unlocked the door. The lights were on in the living room in the lowest setting.

“Welcome.” You jumped, almost tumbling to the floor at being startled while taking off your heels.

“Every. Single. Time.” Namjoon laughed quietly. “How do you do this every single time?”

“I was already here, I couldn’t make any more noise.” He got up from the couch, extending a hand to you. You took it and he guided you to the couch. “Did you have a good time?”

The dress wrinkled as you pulled one foot under you but you couldn’t care less. “It was… bearable. I didn’t-” You let your head fall on the back of the couch. Seeing Namjoon up close after the night you had, looking at you with soft eyes like you held the sky in the palm of your hand, everything was coming back. What were you doing here? Your heart shouldn’t be racing like that when you were thinking about the wolf hybrid, your hands shouldn’t be itching to touch him.

“You’re here now, you can relax,” he said trailing his hand from your arm to your shoulder and up your neck. Goosebumps raised on your bare skin. “You’re home.” His breath tickled your face, his lips were so close and you wanted, you wanted… You pushed him back.

“I should go take off my makeup. I’m exhausted.”

Namjoon frowned but he didn’t question you. “Okay,” he said softly. “Your bed must be calling your name.”

“It is,” you said slipping away from him. The absence of his touch left a void inside you. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

You went to your room with a heavy heart, leaving Namjoon alone in the living room.

♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩ ♩♪♩♬♬♩♪♩

You found the offending magazine in a store close to the studios. Copies of it filled a whole stand. The cover was a photo of you with Jin and Jimin in front of the waffle place the day you had taken them with you to the table-reading. It really was front-page news.

In A Stunning Display of Power And Wealth Y/N Y/L/N Adopts Four Hybrids

Straight to the point, every word chosen precisely to attract attention. A display of power and wealth. Of course, that’s what sold copies. That’s what people wanted to read; how one of the richest and most famous directors of your generation was showing off their wealth and power. Hybrids continued to be a sign of money. To adopt four hybrids meant you were crazy rich, but people already knew that when similar headlines had swept all tabloids just a year ago, brought on by the outrageous purchase of the Castle.

Four pages were dedicated to you and your hybrids, completed with more photos of the same day and quotes from “insider sources”. You closed the magazine and went to the counter. The cashier scanned it without glancing at your face, which saved you some trouble. You almost thought you would have to re-enact the comedic scene of the cashier looking at the magazine, then at you, then back at the magazine, then back at you like a robot that had stopped working. You shoved the magazine in your bag, self-conscious of anyone seeing it on you, and went back to the studios.

Filming would begin very soon, which meant you were swamped with work. Everything had to be perfect because that’s the kind of director you were. A perfectionist. If it also gave you an excuse not to think about the hybrids and all of the implications of the flutter of your heart when you were with them, you weren’t complaining. And if you were a little more distant, that could easily be attributed to your work too.

Sleepless nights became too common, your head was too loud and Jimin laying next to you only made it louder.

Filming started and your schedule changed. Most days you still woke up early and returned late at night, but because each scene required a specific time of the day there were nights you came back hours after midnight. You had promised the hybrids you would take them with you on set but every morning you got in the car alone.

Fourth day of filming and unexpected rain forced you to cancel the outside shooting. You only had outside filming that day. You rushed to make adjustments and switch to scenes that could be filmed inside the studios. The crew would need time to prepare everything for the filming so you had been left with the morning off.

You unlocked the door, hiding inside the house from the rain. It hadn’t rained like that in a long time. The heavens had opened up and the rain refused to stop coming down like it was determined to turn Los Angeles into a gigantic lake. Your shoes left puddles wherever you stepped, you would have to mop the floors later. You took them off and placed them by the door. They had suffered the most, the rest of yourself was relatively dry with the exception of the lower part of your pants.

No one was attacking you with hugs as you closed the umbrella someone from the staff had handed you, the hybrids mustn’t have heard you coming in. If they had heard you, you would have had an armful of Jimin and Jungkook by now.

“Oh, hey Yoongi,” you greeted the panther hybrid coming out of the kitchen. Your tactic with Yoongi was to act like you were talking to someone who didn’t strongly dislike you. The scowls and the sneers had decreased turning into a plastic sort of indifference and that’s what made you pause. His scowl could cut you like a knife. “Are you alright?”

Yoongi stalked past you. “What are doing back?” he asked harshly.

You were taken aback for a moment. He hadn’t spoken like that to you since before you had left for Virginia. “I have the morning off because of the rain. Did something happen here?”

“Why do you care?” Yoongi stood by the staircase, his black tail unmoving behind him.

“Why would I not care?” you shot back. The rain had already ruined your plans for the day and caused you enough stress to last you for a few more, you didn’t have enough energy to deal with Yoongi. “Seriously, what happened? Is Hoseok alright?”

A low growl vibrated through the room, you almost took a step back at the threatening sound. “Don’t you speak his name. Was caring for him another way to make you feel powerful? Is this some kind of sick way for you to gain power over someone?”

You were too tired to handle this delicately as you should, you recognized that and proceeded to ignore it. “What the hell is this about? I just came back from work.”

Yoongi scoffed, it was an ugly sound. “Because you have brainwashed everyone else, don’t think I don’t see you for who you are. Have you sold our story yet? About how you saved Hoseok and nursed him back to health? I am sure that will sell many magazines. Show them all how all-powerful you are.”

Through the haze of the day, the words started to click. “You found the magazine.”

“You didn’t try to hide it.” You couldn’t remember where you had left it, it had probably ended up in the stack of magazines under the living room table. “I knew no one would take four hybrids in out of the goodness of their hearts. Did it work? Was it worth it or are you already getting bored? Maybe you should adopt a couple more. Make more headlines.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” you gritted out.

“That’s what you’d like to think,” Yoongi sneered. “All of you are the same. Hiding in your mansions and looking for the next chance to brandish your name. It’s a constant chase of power and standing, isn’t it? And you’ll use anyone you’ll find in your way to climb higher. I know how it is. You can’t fool me. I’ve been dealing with people like you for years!”

Your pants and your wet socks were sticking uncomfortably to your skin. Your head was buzzing. It hurt because that’s everything you had been trying to avoid. Everything you had promised yourself not to become. Everything you had criticized your parents and their circle for. You weren’t like them. You had never been like them.

“You don’t know me, don’t pretend you do,” you said forcefully. “Do you really think that’s how magazines work? I just call them and tell them I want them to write about me? Put me on the front cover? That’s not it. Even if it was, why would I do that? I couldn’t care less about the power-plays you’re talking about. I’m a director and my work speaks for itself. I don’t need magazines to brandish my name because my movies and my shows are more than enough. The paparazzi saw the chance and they took it. Their goal is to sell and their headlines showcase exactly that; what people would buy. I never hid the fact that I adopted hybrids but I wasn’t flaunting it to the media either.”

“Why should I believe you?” Yoongi growled.

You sighed, a sound full of frustration. “Frankly, I don’t see what else I could do to make you believe me! I tended to Hoseok. I didn’t ask any questions. I tried hard not to cross any boundaries and to make you feel welcome. What more do you want me to do?”

“Nothing,” Yoongi said simply. “Nothing you do can change my mind.”

It was like a stone dropped in the pit of your stomach. You shouldn’t have expected anything else. Yoongi had been through a lot, that much was clear, but it was unfair that he was taking out everything on you. You were paying for the scars other humans had inflicted on him.

“I’m not who you think I am.”

“You don’t know what I think.”

“It’s pretty clear,” you muttered. “Alright, I can’t change your mind, I won’t even try. I know how to pick my battles. But if you really despise me so much then why bother? Nothing you say will change anything. Are you trying to uncover some hidden truth about me and how evil I am? Then what?”

The fur on Yoongi’s tail and ears stood on end. “I don’t care. I don’t care about you, about what you have done and what you will do as long as we’re gone from here. I don’t care for your charity or your pity. Did it ever occur to you that I never wanted to be here in the first place?”

You swallowed, willing your heart rate to calm down. “Then tell Hoseok and Jimin yourself. The keys are by the door.”

You didn’t wait for Yoongi to say anything else, turning around and locking yourself in your room. You laid down on your bed, your hands gripping your hair. The exhaustion this time was beyond physical, beyond mental. Your hands retreated from your hair, sliding down your cheeks. Your fingers were wet.

Later when Jimin and Jungkook knocked on the door, you had to open the door or risk worrying them. They jumped on the bed and snuggled close to you. You held your phone waiting for the call to go to the studios.

You didn’t face any new problems with filming. The actors were all incredible, seemingly one with their characters. You did a lot of filming at 300 Fox Way, the psychic’s house with its mystic aura and weirdly compelling assortment of objects. You instructed the actors, talked with the crew, and analyzed the script down to each comma. Focusing on anything other than Yoongi’s words and your hybrids had turned into an art form.

The sleepless nights didn’t cease, you and the moonlight had become good friends. Jimin’s visits to your room thinned out. He had noticed you pulling away. You didn’t hug him anymore or kissed his forehead before falling asleep, you couldn’t come to terms with doing that after everything that had happened. You had thought that maybe you would sleep better alone but that had been proved false soon after.

You got out of bed for the fourth night in a row. Every position was uncomfortable. Keeping your steps light you left the room. The large house was eerie at night, the living room area with its glass walls looked endless, combining the actual living room, the dining room, and what the real estate agents had called the family room that was really just another living room.

You couldn’t stay in your room on nights like these, it was too contained. The night air on your skin sent shivers down your frame as you walked out on the balcony. It was two days before the full moon and its glow illuminated the world.

What had you gotten yourself into? You wished you could go back to that morning and decline your mother’s invitation to the gala. Maybe, just maybe, then you would be able to sleep, your head wouldn’t be fighting you at every turn, at every chance.

Little pieces of moonlight shimmered and danced on the lake. The calmness of the world was a stark contrast to the mess in your head. You remembered how Jungkook had looked at the lake in awe that very first night, you had noticed then that he looked at Jimin the same way. You wondered how you looked at them and if anyone had noticed.

The moon had no answers for you.

Two golden eyes were looking up at you from the garden, they shone like the fires that had been extinguished earlier. Namjoon tilted his head, inviting you down. A weird sense of deja vu took over. You had lived something very similar before, a night that had changed so much.

You shouldn’t go. You should stay where you were, alone and safe, away from fluttering heartbeats and dangerous warmth. But the night had its way of calling out the risky nature of people. The thrill was so much more enticing when darkness ruled.

Climbing down the stairs, you kept your steps quiet. You never knew which sound would wake up the hybrids. Namjoon was standing by the flower bushes close to the curtain of vines that lead into the forest. He was wearing a dark blue pair of pajama pants and a simple black T-shirt.

“What are you doing awake so late?” you whispered, like everything around you had ears.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

You shook your head. “I have trouble sleeping, remember?”

Namjoon had caught you a few times wandering the house at night, he was the only one who knew that a lot of nights sleep didn’t come to you willingly. His own nightly adventures were more complicated.

“Why are you awake?” you asked him again. “Please don’t tell me you smelled distress or something again or I’ll freak.”

Namjoon chuckled, you had missed it. Keeping your distance meant you only saw them for barely two hours every day. They all tried to not make too much noise with you in the constant mood of ‘tired and gloomy’.

“No, that’s not it.” He looked up, over the trees. “It’s the full moon.”

“You have to be kidding me. Do you turn into a wolf too?”

Namjoon raised his hands in surrender, his dimples on full display. “I’m joking, I’m joking. I couldn’t sleep either and I like being outside at night like this. It’s peaceful.”

You couldn’t disagree with that. There was something alluring about the quiet of the night. You would describe yourself more as a morning person than a night owl but both of them were true, waking up early for work then staying up late for it too.

“Are you alright?” The smile had fallen from his lips.

You squirmed under the intensity of his gaze. “I’m just tired, that’s all. Filming takes a lot out of me.”

Namjoon sighed. “Are you sure that’s all there is? You have been acting differently, did you think we wouldn’t notice?”

You knew they would notice but you had hoped they would think it was because of your work. Work did take a lot out of you but it also used to be the reason you were so much happier returning home.

“It has been going on for too long. You don’t spend any time outside your room or your office if it isn’t to eat. You are avoiding us. Jimin and Jungkook stopped scenting you because they think they’re making you uncomfortable.”

“It isn’t- They aren’t making me uncomfortable. I’m just tired from work and I don’t-” you tried to deny it but you fell short of excuses.

“You were working before too, but it wasn’t like this,” he pointed out. “You were tired then too. Some nights you came back and I could smell the exhaustion around you like a disease. But you smiled when Jimin and Jungkook ran up to you and didn’t let you go, you laughed at Jin laughing at his own jokes. You came to me when it got too loud here.” He pointed to your head.

“We weren’t filming then.” It was a weak attempt but you had to make it.

Namjoon regarded you carefully. Beams of moonlight got tangled in his gray hair turning it silver. He looked at home right there at that moment, close to the trees with the moon shining on him. He was every bit of magic you had ever witnessed.

“This started before filming did. I knew there was something wrong when you came back from the gala. Something happened there,” Namjoon concluded. “I should have come with you.”

You shook your head vigorously. Imagining him next to you while your mother spoke about hybrids like that was torture. “No, you shouldn’t. You shouldn’t have been with me.” You paused to compose yourself. “It wasn’t good, it was really bad actually. It wasn’t the gala itself, there some interesting people and… My mother…” You took a deep breath. “I don’t think I like my parents very much,” you admitted.

It was hard to say after years of half-hearted attempts at mending your relationship with them. All those years apart you had become very different people. You had trouble remembering what they were like before they left you in your aunt’s care. You couldn’t see any traces of them in yourself, you didn’t enjoy what they enjoyed, your interests and priorities, the way you viewed the world were very different.

In the past few days, you had grown to hate your mother’s voice in your head but you had a feeling that it had been much longer than that. The only difference was that before, you had been able to ignore it.

Namjoon came closer, his hand touching your palm waiting for you to make the first move. You took his hand in yours, laying your head on his chest. “That’s alright. You don’t have to like them, no one is forcing you to.”

“But they are my parents.”

He stroked your back gently. “It doesn’t matter, that isn’t enough of a reason.”

“They aren’t bad people.”

“They don’t need to be bad people for you to dislike them.”

You stayed like that for a few moments, taking in his presence. You had missed being in his arms so much, like an ache that couldn’t go away.

He stopped stroking your back, cupping your cheek and pulling back so you were facing each other. “I’m always here for you. I don’t care about anything else but seeing you happy. I’m here.”

“I missed you,” you admitted like it was a secret.

Namjoon smiled softly. “I missed you too.” His thumb caressed your lower lip. There was a tingling sensation all over your skin. “Can I?” he asked just like the very first time.

You let out a shuddering breath. “Should we be doing this?”

“Do you want to?” he asked carefully.

You bit your lip before nodding. He leaned down connecting your lips. It was soft and careful, all the longing and hurt of the past days poured into the kiss. You pulled him closer and he came willingly. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears.

An awful laugh cut through the night. You pulled away from Namjoon like you had been burnt. Yoongi was one with the night, dark like a shadow.

“So this is it? Is this why you adopted them all? So you can have your pick when you’re in the mood?” The expression on his face was cruel, twisted up in disgust.

Namjoon growled, his sharp canines shinning in the moonlight. In that moment, Namjoon looked more dangerous than ever before. “Shut your mouth.”

“I see she has turned you into her dog. How long did it take to tame you?”

You held Namjoon back before he could lunge at the panther. You were afraid that if you let him go, there would blood on their clothes. “Don’t.”

Yoongi took a tense step forward. “That’s right, listen to your owner. Is that what she has turned all of you into? Her toys? Just for a roof over your head and food?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Namjoon growled. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that. You have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.”

Yoongi clenched his fists. There was anger and something else you couldn’t see in the night amidst your panic. “I knew it. I knew no one did what you did without any kind of agenda. Seems like the magazine was right, at least in part. You can’t fool me, even if you managed to fool everyone else.”

With that he was gone, like he was never there.

You couldn’t breathe. Your hand was still wrapped around Namjoon’s wrist and you couldn’t breathe. You counted in your head. One, two, three…

When Namjoon tried to touch your shoulder, you pulled away. “I’m going back to my room,” you said. Your voice sounded shaky to your own ears. Namjoon called out to you but you didn’t stop. He didn’t try to touch you again.

Please comment and reblog it motivates me to keep writing

#btscreatorscorner #castlebangtan #bts #bts hybrid au #bts x reader #jungkook x reader #jimin x reader #namjoon x reader #seokjin x reader #yoongi x reader #hoseok x reader #taehyung x reader #poly!bts #poly!bts x reader #bts poly au #bts fanfic #bts scenarios #bts angst #bts hurt/comfort

2K notes · View notes

babbushka · 4 years ago

Text

Flip Zimmerman x Reader N/SFW Imagine Masterlist

Because I’ve written so much content for Flip, tumblr officially won’t let me add any more links in the initial character masterlist post. As a response, I have copied all the current N/SFW headcanons and imagines, and pasted them here in their own post, to hopefully avoid this from happening again.

This subdivision serves as a directory for within the larger Flip Zimmerman Masterlist. I’m very sorry for the additional step to get here, but we gotta do what we gotta do to make sure all the links work! All the links are under the cut.

NSFW:

Carving pumpkins with Flip

Flip fucking his wife at a pool party

Flip fucking you before he has to go to work

Flip running his goatee up and down your thigh post-sex intimacy

Rough public sex at the gun range with Flip

Thigh riding Flip in the backyard during a pool party

Skinny dipping with Flip on a camping trip

Flip loving his wife’s tits

Blowing Flip on his birthday at the station

Flip fucking you to get you pregnant

Flip fucking you in the back of his pickup truck at the drive-in

Holding onto Flip’s shoulder holsters while he rails you at work

Flip’s favorite sex position HCs

Young Flip taking you on a romantic date in the park

Flip eating you out for breakfast before his coffee

Flip Zimmerman loving fucking you in his office HCs

Flip Zimmerman being subby despite looking like a dom HCs

Sex in the woods with Flip Zimmerman on a family camping trip

Flip Zimmerman being very possessive & beating the shit out of some creep

Flip Zimmerman fucking you rough and dirty at a discotheque

Flip Zimmerman being gentle and tender, wanting a baby

Riding Flip Zimmerman’s thigh in a ceramics studio

Flip Zimmerman fucking you rough and dirty in his cabin

Flip Zimmerman roleplaying with you rough and filthy

Flip Zimmerman fucking you to get you pregnant

Flip Zimmerman fucking you by the fireplace on the last night of Hanukkah

Flip Zimmerman giving you a sexy massage after your Hanukkah party

Flip Zimmerman giving you his dick in a box

Flip Zimmerman bitching about how he’s cold from the snow

Flip fucking you hard and possessive in the back of a disco

Flip getting possessive and fucking you in the bathroom of a bar

Flip fucking you in a tent on the CSPD camping trip

Making out with Flip

Goofy silly sex with Flip

Cockwarming with Flip

Flip Zimmerman being an exhibitionist HCs

Flip fucking you loud hard and sloppy

Flip fingering you during a massage

Roleplay & strip poker with Flip

Teasing Flip at the bar and getting fingered for it

Sitting on Flip’s lap and making out with him

Flip getting all lovey-dovey and starry eyed after sex with you

Flip Zimmerman jerking off while you’re away HCs

Flip fucking you in a seedy bar

Flip fucking his anger into you by the fireplace

Flip loving sex with you

Flip fucking you secretly in a closet at a party

Flip giving you a massage

Flip admiring the bruises you give him during sex

Flip jerking off missing you HCs

Giving Flip Zimmerman hickies/him loving when you mark him up HCs

Flip Zimmerman public sex/wall fucking HCs

Sex outdoors with Flip Zimmerman HCs

Flip being protective and not letting you work on a case

Flip making you come so hard you cry with pleasure

Having sex on the floor with Flip because you fell off the bed

Super soft sex with Flip

Flip fucking you so hard at the station that you can’t walk

Flip fucking you hard at the station

Flip eating you out by the fireplace

Flip’s dirty talk HCs

Riding Flip’s thigh HCs

Flip using ice cubes on you during sex

Possessive Flip kissing you in public and defending you

Flip using handcuffs on you during sex

Flip aggressively and eagerly eating your pussy

New rookie hitting on Flip, you decide to teach her a lesson

Handyman roleplay with Flip

Sex HCs

Even more sex HCs

Flip’s biting obsession

Phone sex at the station

Showering with Flip

Fucking in the interrogation room at the station

Annual camping trip

Cabin sex

Rough sex after Flip comes home from work

Mirror sex with Flip

Being naked at home, Flip fucking you lol

Flip walking around nude at home

Body worship HCs

Blowing Flip in his truck

Flip spanking HCs

#flip zimmerman #flip zimmerman x reader #flip zimmerman/reader #flip zimmerman x you #flip zimmerman/you #blackkklansman #adam driver fanfiction #adam driver fanfic #adcu #flip zimmerman smut #flip zimmerman imagine #flip zimmerman fanfiction

312 notes · View notes

simschitect0 · 3 years ago

Text

Castle of Cassaundra

This massive castle houses 8 bedrooms (one of them for a toddler and one for 1 or 2 children), each with its own bathroom and dressing area (except the toddler room doesn’t have a dressing area). There are 11 bathrooms total. There is also a dining room, kitchen, lounge, game room, ballroom, art studio, music performing space, office, private reading room, library, chapel, storage room, playroom, and beautiful courtyard. The basement is half a dungeon (which technically includes more bedrooms) and half a spa/wellness space with a hot springs, a sauna, showers, massage tables and chairs, a yoga space, and a small meditation room. It really is built for the Hound’s Head lot in Brindleton Bay, perfect fit with the gate, fountain, and cliff edge.

Lot size: 64x64 Type: Residential Cost: 1,204,688 simoleons Bedrooms: 8 Bathrooms: 11 File size: 576 KB Lot traits: Peace and Quiet, Penny Pixies, Convivial Lot: Hound’s Head, Cavalier Cover, Brindleton Bay Packs used: Snowy Escape, Discover University, Island Living, Get Famous, Seasons, Cats & Dogs, City Living, Get Together, Get to Work, Realm of Magic, Jungle Adventure, Vampires, Dine Out, Spa Day, Outdoor Retreat, Vintage Glamour Stuff, Backyard Stuff, Kids Room Stuff, Romantic Garden Stuff, Spooky Stuff, Cool Kitchen Stuff, Perfect Patio Stuff No mods, no custom content

#Castle of Cassaundra #Sims 4 #Sims 4 build #Sims #Sims build #Sims build buy #Sims 4 build buy #build buy #castle #architecture #Sims castle #Sims 4 castle #Simschitect

4 notes · View notes

oftenderweapons · 4 years ago

Text

Mold Me New (3) — Taehyung

A Small Town Swoons Story

Pairing: Taehyung x reader (nicknamed Frog — for now)

Wordcount: 3.7k

Genre: ceramic artist!Taehyung, divorced!reader, Strangers to Lovers, Fluff, Angst, Slice of Life

Rating: 18+ (for future smut and explicit thoughts)

Hello to my readers!!! Welcome to the Small Town Swoons Universe! 🥰✨

In this episode: Terry has given very generic instructions to Frog about how to retrieve her birthday gift. A more then welcome surprise follows.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: None. (Wow. I’m shocked.)

Once more let me thank potter supreme @joheunsaram (I’d be wandering in darkness and despair without you. Lob U)

Here is my complete masterlist and in case you need it, here’s the Spotify music companion.

Navi: Chapter 1 — Chapter 2 — Chapter 3 — Chapter 4 — Chapter 5 — Chapter 6 — Chapter 7

“Hello?”

You felt deeply embarrassed venturing into the backyard of a stranger.

“Excuse me? Hello?”

The heavy sound of something slamming against the floor of a garage had you slightly worried. You were ready to run away when the door opened. The neighbourhood wasn’t familiar to you and Terry’s refusal to tell you anything about the specific address she had given you scared you even more.

You feared you’d end up at one of Terry’s friends with benefit’s house.

You changed your mind, however, when you recognised the man standing out of the door.

“Frog? Is that you?”

“Taehyung?” You said, recalling the name of the man. You had met him only a couple days before, spending a good time with his friends while your own had ditched you.

“Hello Frog!” He exclaimed, incredibly happy to see you. “Are you here for a four pm meeting?”

“All I know is that Terry told me to be here by four. She gave me the address but,” you laughed, shaking your head and touching your hair nervously. “She didn’t mention it was you. She didn’t say anything. She only said it was a surprise.”

Taehyung’s laugh exploded suddenly, deep and loud. “That explains many, many things.” He nodded to himself, waiting for you to get closer. “Welcome to my studio,” he said, letting the door open a bit wider.

The space inside was bright and airy, with a wall that resembled a glasshouse, while the others were made of brick and lined with shelves. In a corner you noticed a strange contraption, like an iron cauldron, and an unfamiliar machine close to a basin. There was also a large table all along the glass wall, like it was waiting for plants to be hosted, but none were found.

“With me you’ll learn the humble, raw art of modelling clay.”

You turned to him with a furrowed brow, completely confused. “Clay?”

“Yes. Clay.”

“You model clay?” You asked, giving him an amused look.

“I am an artist,” he stated clearly. “I also model clay but that’s not all I do.”

“So that’s my gift? A clay lesson?”

“Ten clay lessons. I’ll make you an intermediate.” Taehyung reached a wooden cabinet, opening it and taking out a large block of clay, grabbing something from his apron and detaching a smaller part before putting the clay back in the cabinet. “But first, let me get you an apron.”

You felt your eyes blink in confusion. “You teach?”

“Art should answer anyone’s calls, in my opinion. I help people learn how to call.”

You were positively impressed. The quiet, if a bit Darcy-esque man, seemed relaxed and talkative in his natural habitat.

Taehyung reached a coat hook on the wall, giving a good look at you before choosing a garment suitable for your height. “This should do,” he said, offering it to you and letting you put it on.

You appreciated the independence he allowed you, allowing you to wear it yourself. You hung your tote on the now free hook and slipped your arms and head into the different loops before closing the tie around your waist in a cute ribbon.

“You'll want to fix your hair before your hands get messy,” Taehyung suggested, watching you carefully get it out of harm's way, since the last thing you wished for was dirt in your hair.

“You didn’t mention you teach art the other night.”

He smiled shyly. “The night you introduced yourself, I remembered I had gift lessons booked under your name. I wanted your birthday surprise to stay a surprise.”

You were entirely endeared at the thought. “That’s very sweet of you!” You exclaimed, watching him collect the piece of clay he had previously cut.

“It’s not a big deal,” he murmured, looking away as his cheeks blushed.

He was eager to watch you learn. He already felt like your hands could have so much potential. He had studied them all night after he met you, watching the sinewy fingers arch and straighten and hold and curve. “Okay, let’s start from a little bit of theory.”

He moved to the table by the window, “Would you mind grabbing a bowl with some water, there?” He pointed to a large utility sink in one of the corners, where you found a bowl and filled it halfway with water.

You made a careful work of walking to the table, placing down the bowl and sighing in relief once you realised you had caused no issues so far.

“Two questions. Have you ever used clay before?”

You snorted and shook your head. “Nope.”

“So you supposedly know nothing about it?”

“Exactly.”

He chuckled and bobbed his head. “That’s okay. All you need to know so far, is that clay is a mineral, and it can have different compositions which make it more or less difficult to model and to cook. I’ll have you use very generic clay, which is suitable for beginners, isn’t too picky about cooking and will look a bit plain, but is also pretty easy to shape. You’ll thank me later.”

You raised your eyebrows and smiled.

“It’s easy to work with, it cooks at low temperature and is also cheap, which will make it better if you ever choose to continue this hobby,” he explained. “It will take a fairly long time for you to master several techniques with this one, so no use spending money on fancy stuff. We’ll keep that for when you’re an upper intermediate. All cool?” He asked, checking in on you with his beautiful, dark eyes.

He had very pretty eyes, you noticed.

“Yes, got that.” You confirmed, startling when he slammed the clay against the table.

“Cool.” He replied with half a grin. “Let’s start from zero.”

Once more he extracted a tool from the pocket of his apron, showing it to you. “This is a wire. You’ll find one in your apron too.”

You rummaged in the pocket and found it. “This will help you with step one — Wait. Lemme start from very very zero.”

He walked back to the cabinet and dragged a block of clay out — the one he’d cut a piece from a few minutes ago. “This is called craft clay or potters’ clay. It’s ready-made and you can buy it in any diy shop. Some artists make their own mix, but let’s start with this since it’s specifically made for learners.”

“It looks very tough,” you commented, testing the small amount he’d cut before, prodding it with your finger.

“It just needs some love,” he explained, pouting sadly. “Clay is so misunderstood. It needs to be firm. But it’s pliable, as long as you treat it appropriately.”

You arched your eyebrows. “I just thought it was softer. Messier, somehow.”

“It is once you wedge it and moisturise it.” Taehyung acknowledged. “Clay contains platelets. Platelets make it solid, but also plastic as long as it’s not dry. Right now you have two enemies. Shape memory and air.”

Taehyung’s hands got on the piece instinctively. “Today I’ll only manage to explain wedging and centering. So be careful and pay attention. If you mess up wedging, your life will get ten times more impossible on the wheel. Let’s start.” He brought the main block back in the cabinet. “That one needs to stay fresh.”

Once at the table he settled beside you. “What’s wedging?” You asked, staring at your piece of clay.

“Wedging is your starting point. As you saw earlier, ready- made clay comes in blocks. Which means square. On the wheel, you’ll always start from a cute soft ball. Which means round.”

Taehyung’s hands massaged the clay for comfort. He felt somehow uneasy at the way he was going to interact with you. “Basically clay holds memory of the shape it was in. You want to erase it to make it more pliable. Like… When an introvert is in their comfort zone for too long and you need to get them back in society and you just… force them in several different social circumstances to warm them up, make them more versatile. More sociable.”

God, he felt ridiculous. He was using his inner turmoil to explain pottery.

He was going to defenestrate himself.

“Okay,” you laughed. “I got the introvert thing. I like the parallel.” You smiled and for a second you thought about all the years you’d been there, shaped like a block to fit inside someone’s life — or to fit them in yours.

You could use some wedging too.

“We usually wedge on plaster, or concrete or wood, because they get the extra water out of the clay. You want it to be a tiny bit humid. But not wet.” Taehyung spread his large hands over the small disk in front of him. “You want to make it more homogeneous. Uniform. For today let’s use the ram’s head method. It’s basically like kneading dough.”

His hair fell over his eyes as he bent down, leaning towards the table. “We have a small amount of clay, since you’re starting. You basically want it to become a thick block first.”

He bent the disk in two, turning it in a thicker, longer rectangle before placing his hands to the opposite sides and pressing, making the clay become more compact.

“Okay, try,” he invited you to do the same.

You mimicked his actions, focusing on the cold, solid feeling of the material under your fingertips.

“Use your palms. Don’t be afraid to get your whole hands on it. You’ll need all your strength.”

You nodded and followed his lead, the cold expanding to your palms, the feeling amplifying beautifully. It was somehow reinvigorating after the initial strangeness.

“Good. Now. Ram’s head.” He inhaled and regained his position. “These,” he said, wiggling his fingers, “and these,” he explained circling his hand around his shoulder. “That’s where you want to focus. All your strength resides there. You won’t feel it right now, but you will once you work with larger pieces.” He steadied himself and placed his palms on the sides of the piece. “Palms on the sides. Your wrists will do all the work. Your thumbs wrap around the top of the piece. The other fingers on the back of the piece. Focus on the wrists. You want to push the clay downwards first, then outwards, to the back of the piece. Okay. Position your hands.”

Taehyung stood straight up, allowing you to see his clay, on top of which he was previously bent over.

“I’m not…” You frowned and tried to feel the clay under your hands, trying to recognise the different sides.

“It’s okay. May I?” He asked, bringing his right hand close to yours.

You nodded, waiting for the contact.

It was chalky, somehow, almost dusty with the way the clay was already drying up, but it still held some cold dampness.

He corrected your fingers, staring at them and giving them a slight twist. “This way your wrists should reach just fine.”

He stood at your side, respecting your personal space even though his hand touched you. The smile on his face was the gentlest, most exciting thing you had felt in a while.

“Okay, mirror it with your left,” he told you as he stepped back, regaining his own space.

“This feels nice,” you admitted, giving the first twist of your wrist.

“Let’s see if you still think so after wedging for twenty minutes,” Taehyung chuckled.

“Twenty minutes!?” You said, already worried.

He giggled and shook his head, his curls brushing against his forehead, which you didn’t notice, because you were too busy focusing on the clay under your hands.

“Ten, usually. Twenty if you need very pliable clay. Like if you’re doing hand-building. But we can use something a bit rougher.” Taehyung helped you get out of the position your clay body was stuck in. “Help it with your fingers. Bring it back, yes,” he encouraged you once the position was right. “And now your wrists. Exactly. Look at you. You’re learning!”

He looked excited when you turned to look at him. He was literally shining with the meek sunlight coming from the window.

“I’m learning!” Your excitement mirrored his own.

“Okay, now, watch. This is why it’s called ram’s head.” Taehyung showed you the spiral on the sides, and the elongated triangle on the front.

“That looks fancy!” You said, feeling curious about the shape.

“Keep going and yours will be just like this!” He spurred you on, making you work harder and faster, which eventually led you to the ruthless burning that possessed your arms afterwards.

With his elbow, Taehyung pointed at your shoulder blade. “Just push your body weight into the clay. The whole motion should mimic a wave,” he showed you how. “If your hands are positioned right, you only need to lean in to wedge— Just. Like. That! Good job, Frog!”

You smiled and went on, paying attention to his corrections, and his gentle advice, enjoying the gentleness with which his pinkie finger pointed to a specific direction, or a finger that was in the wrong position, realigning it.

“Nice! Now, tuck the corners in in a cute fluffy ball. See how soft and warm and round it feels now?”

You nodded enthusiastically. There was something in menial tasks that always made you happy with yourself. Seeing the results of your efforts and hard work always made you feel accomplished, productive.

And it’s been a while since you felt that rush, except for seeing an organised shelf in your shop, with books neatly aligned and rated.

“Okay. I’ll show you how to work the wheel. We got little time left, so maybe I can show you the groundwork and then you can toy around with the body I centred, so you can get familiar with the feeling.”

You agreed.

Taehyung gave a few more twists to your clay body and brought it to the wheel. “Okay. Here we go. Forget Ghost, this thing is a lot more difficult than that. And forget all that water. Too messy. Bowl?” He asked.

Your forehead creased as he pointed to a small stand with a basin. It looked like a short version of a vintage stand for those porcelain bowls used in bedrooms.

You moved it closer to him.

“Thank you,” he smiled and caught the clay body, throwing it on the middle of the turning plate, currently still as he hadn’t yet activated the wheel.

“You can aim for the centre. There’s an indentation to show it. See,” he pointed to the plate. “There are all these circles to show you if you’re actually following the shape.”

He dipped a finger in the bowl, letting the extra water drip down, until it was just slightly damp. “You run around the base to seal it. That way you don’t need to slam it down and you don’t risk watching it unstick and mess around with you.”

“Okay. Great!”

“Now. Position is very important. With your legs you hold the holster and the wheel. Don’t worry about getting too close. Check three things. Knees around the wheel. Elbows braced on your thighs — that will stabilise you. And your torso leans forward. Not angled but perpendicular to the wheel. You need to be right on top of it, so your weight sinks down. Not across.” He showed you the correct position, his lean frame protecting the ball of clay like a hen defends her chicks.

Watching him become so tactile and connected with the material under his hands was endearing, but also fascinating, especially with the way his hands wrapped around the body.

“Okay, let me centre it for you, then you can try. It’s a procedure that can go back and forth, so I’ll have you doing this over and over for a few times. It will help you familiarise with it.”

“Thank you,” you replied, watching his fingers sink in the water. “Now, trick. You wet your hands. Let them drip down just a little, so you don’t drench your piece. If the piece is drenched, the platelets will loosen and the walls of your cup, bowl, vase, whatever will collapse. And we don’t want that, right?”

The way his head snapped towards you with an inquisitive look made you shake your head and reply readily, “nope.”

“Exactly. So, we sink our hands in, rest, and— one, two three, drip and—” he moved his hands over the clay body, letting a few tens of droplets fall onto the material. “Nice and wet. Not sodden, of course. We don’t want that, remember?”

You blinked and nodded as his hands started moving.

Taehyung grinned as he noticed your captivated gaze. You were learning. You were curious, interested, completely amazed. It was the most satisfying look he had ever seen. “This is your treasure now. You curl yourself around it and protect it. Like a dragon hoards its gold.”

He leaned down into the piece, his foot looking for the pedal and pressing it down very, very delicately.

“Your pinkies and ring fingers are doing all the work right now. They seal around the base, reinforcing the sealing we did before. Once you gave enough spins around the base — oh, feel the plate with the side of your pinkie and palm!” He reminded himself, showing you the part of his hand and securing it around the wheel once more. He corrected his position. “You will feel the clay push you up. That’s when your palms close in. You want to make sure it goes up.”

The wheel suddenly stopped and Taehyung showed you the result. “See. Cute mushroom shape. A two inch stem, and then the round hat.”

You bent down to check and studied the way the table started spinning slowly again, showing you the consistent shape.

“More water. Same technique.” He repeated the dip-drip process. “Now. Pinkies stay in. Lots of pressure. And your palms are going to push the hat of the mushroom up. You want it to turn into a cone. So once the hat disappears, you’re gonna keep your hands steady, with a lot of pressure, and drag them up, slowly. And bend them inwards slightly, into a tip.” He followed the process with his hands, his fingers steady and his veins thicker at the effort and the pressure. The way his elbows braced against his hands brought even more blood to the back of his palms.

Still, you didn’t let that cloud your focus. You stared at the process, especially once he stopped the wheel and took his hands off.

“Now we’re bringing it downwards with the thumbs. We’re helping it regain the center. This,” he prodded the ball of his thumb, the soft part where the finger could sink, “is the part that gains the centre. You push it down, while your fingers lean over. Like you’re projecting energy from your palms.” He finished showing the procedure, showing how the ball of clay was a perfectly round dome, placed in the exact middle of the wheel.

“Now you take the lead!” He turned to you with a grin.

With a shy blush you watched him stand up and gesture to the seat elegantly.

You settled down and fixed your position around the wheel, following the instructions he had given you previously.

“That’s nice. Closer.” He corrected you helping your seat closer to the holster of the wheel.

“Now we’re ready to go. Wet your hands—” he directed you, helping you count the dip and drip. “Steady.”

You placed your pinkies tightly around the base, feeling the dome a bit too large for your hands. That’s because it was shaped for his large hands.

“Yes. Steady,” he encouraged you. “Go.”

The taglist is open!

Navi: Chapter 1 — Chapter 2 — Chapter 3 — Chapter 4 — Chapter 5 — Chapter 6 — Chapter 7

#taehyung fluff #taehyung x reader #kim taehyung fanfiction #thetruthuntoldnet #thebtswritersclub #Taehyung strangers to lovers

42 notes · View notes